A "casual courier" is an everyday traveler that informally delivers packages for shippers. The term describes an alternative delivery practice of sending items from one place to another via independent traveler.

Casual couriers usually have existing travel plans before agreeing to deliver a package for a sender.

Casual couriers may receive a fee directly from the shipper for delivering a package to its destination. The casual courier's fee is typically significantly lower than traditional overnight delivery services.

Delivering packages for others is a common practice around the world, especially among close-knit ethnic communities. In the Philippines, for example, the Tagalog

Tagalog language

Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...

 word "Pakidala" means "can you take a package for me?"

Delivery costs can be substantially reduced by using a casual courier and for the courier, carrying a package may help to subsidize the cost of a trip.

Casual couriers vs. air couriers

A casual courier is very different from an air courier

Courier

A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...

. Typically, air couriers work for traditional courier companies as employees and may receive discounted airline tickets. Air couriers are very limited when it comes to dates of travel, destination, trip duration and baggage.

In contrast, casual couriers are completely independent travelers. They purchase their own transportation to the destination of their choosing and are not limited by their casual deliveries. Furthermore, if a casual courier is not invited to deliver a package, then they travel anyway, as previously planned. Unlike air courier delivery, casual couriers are not restricted to only air travel—they deliver packages around the corner or around the globe, by air, sea, or land.

See also

• Bike courier
• Post riders
  Post riders
  Post riders or postriders describes a horse and rider postal delivery system that existed at various times and various places throughout history...
  
  
• Mail carrier
  Mail carrier
  A mail carrier, mailman, postal carrier, postman, postwoman , postman/postwoman , letter carrier or postie is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses...
  
  
• FedEx
  FedEx
  FedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
  
  
• UPS
  United Parcel Service
  United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
  
  
• DHL
  DHL
  DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
  
  
• USPS
• Mail
  Mail
  Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
  
  
• The Casual Courier
  The Casual Courier
  The Casual Courier, Inc. is a corporation that developed an online forum where people with packages to send can efficiently meet casual couriers who are awaiting packages to deliver...