T
here was a time when all a driver needed was a license , a car , and a beeper . Those days are long gone . Today ’ s independent drivers must be solid businesspeople , with up-todate knowledge , solid insurance protection , and other credentials .
Two organizations - the Courier Business Academy and the Association for Delivery Drivers ( A4DD ) - are making it their business to bring in new drivers , to make sure they have the knowledge and resources to stay in the game , and to help them become successful business owners .
COURIER BUSINESS ACADEMY – Developing Drivers into Businesspeople
Bringing more people into the business and developing them professionally were the goals that motivated Daeron Myers to start the Courier Business Academy in June 2022 . A former IC , he got into the business the way many did in 2015 . “ I started with a cargo van that I paid $ 2200 bucks for ,” he recalls . “ I just needed to find a way out . A way of getting income while still being flexible . I partnered with courier companies here in Baltimore and was able to gain some great partnerships . I was able to become viewed as a valued partner and opportunities just came my way .” As his business grew , he met other ICs that had been in the business for many years but hadn ’ t made it to the next level . “ I remember a guy came to me and said he ’ d been in this industry for 20 years as an IC and had never hit six figures in a year . He didn ’ t even think of himself as having a business . I said , ‘ That doesn ’ t make any sense to me . Let me help you out .’ He was like a lot of ICs . They can ’ t get to the next level . Everybody wants to grow , don ’ t they ? I decided I had to find a way to help them do that and that ’ s how the Courier Business Academy was born .”
Today , the CBA has between 700 to 800 students with 60 to 100 students enrolling in a typical month . The school is set up to teach drivers / business owners how to be their own bosses and establish financial freedom . Students can access digital downloads of the topics most relevant to their businesses or interests . “ Once you buy into the program , you get courses to help you build out as a company . At the CBA we see a lot of drivers that have an employee mindset . We want them to think of themselves as having independent companies instead of as independent contractors . We provide the coaching and the tools for them to be able to do so . You want them to operate like a business from day one ,” says Myers .
The Courier Business Academy starts with the basics . “ The school teaches things like how to start a courier company with the vehicle that you have ; how to partner up with a courier company ; how to leverage those partnerships That ’ s level # 1 ,” Myers says . “ Level # 2 is how to become a master contractor . How to build out a team of your own drivers . Level # 3 is all about getting your own contracts .”
There ’ s also specialized training with subject matter experts in the industry . “ For example , we might bring in an industry expert , like Jason Burns , to present more specialized information . Say you want to know how to become a standout medical carrier or air freight carrier . We bring in the experts to teach a variety of topics every month ,” says Myers .
A Changing Landscape
Creating and managing the Courier Business Academy has given Myers a front-row seat on recent changes in the industry . He outlined five of the more significant ones :
• More women entering the business .
• A change in the way drivers are paid
• Higher barriers to entry
• The influx of drivers from gig work
• Drivers seeking more education .
spring 2023 I customized logistics & delivery Magazine 31