How do I tell if a courier firm’s drivers get paid on time and accurately?

Start with how drivers are paid: by route, by stop, by hour, or by a mix. Whichever it is, ask how the calculation works and who checks it. Request a sample of recent pay runs and match them to delivery or route records. Differences between what was delivered and what was paid are worth a question.

Ask whether pay has ever been late, and how the owner handled it. Look for records of corrections, adjustments and complaints. A tidy list of disputes with clear resolutions is better than none at all, because it shows someone is paying attention.

Then talk to drivers. Ask whether pay arrives when expected, whether mistakes get fixed quickly and whether fuel, tolls or tickets are treated fairly. Notice what they say about the dispatcher or owner. Turnover is a clue. If drivers leave often, ask why. Your accountant should confirm how drivers are classified and whether payroll records are in order, since that affects what you take on. Ask the seller how the pay process will work during the handover, so drivers are not worried about their next pay run while ownership changes. Compare what you hear with the written records and note any difference for your accountant.

Key takeaways

• Match pay runs to delivery logs and look for differences.
• Ask about late pay, corrections and how disputes were settled.
• Talk to a few drivers and ask why others left.