What should I ask a print shop’s delivery driver about route habits and customers?
Ask the driver which customers they visit, how often, and who they deal with at each stop. Find out about late deliveries, damaged goods, signatures and any informal arrangements. The driver sees how customers really treat the shop, so listen for patterns, then check them against the records.
Delivery drivers see what the office does not. Ask which stops are easy and which are difficult, and whether any customers have receiving problems. Ask about the busiest days and what happens with rush work. Find out who signs for packages, and whether the shop keeps proof of delivery.
Then ask about customer attitudes. Do customers greet the driver, mention the shop or complain about quality? Do any customers pick up orders themselves, or ask for favours outside the invoice? Informal arrangements, such as free delivery or leaving goods unattended, may not appear in the books but can cost money. Ask what the driver does besides driving, such as loading, collecting payment or taking orders. Those extra duties tell you how much the shop leans on one person.
Finally, ask about the vehicle and the routine. Who maintains it, and what are the driver’s own duties? Be clear that you will check what you learn against delivery records and customer contacts, since one person’s view is not complete. Ask the seller first before speaking to staff, and ask your lawyer about the driver’s status and the vehicle’s paperwork. Write down what the driver says soon afterward, so you can compare it later.
Key takeaways
- Ask which stops are difficult and what proof of delivery exists.
- Listen for informal arrangements that the invoices do not show.
- Check the driver’s answers against delivery records.
- Confirm the driver’s duties and licence requirements with your lawyer.
Related reading
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Due diligence
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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