Plan access as carefully as the journey
Yes, courier collections outside normal business hours can be arranged, subject to vehicle availability and access at both ends. Before the driver sets off, agree when the goods will be ready, who will hand them over and who will receive them.
Evening, weekend and early-morning collections are useful when goods are released late, a site needs stock before opening or a maintenance job runs beyond the working day. They also need a little more preparation because the people and equipment normally available may have gone home.
Agree when collection and delivery will happen
Give the collection date, the time the goods will be ready and the latest time they can be collected. Then explain whether delivery is needed immediately, during the night or at an agreed time the next morning.
Use exact dates for journeys around midnight. A collection late on Friday and a delivery early on Saturday should be recorded that way, rather than described only as an “overnight job”.
For urgent out-of-hours transport, call ACS before booking. Overnight arrangements must also be confirmed with our team. Our overnight courier service covers dedicated deliveries arranged around when the goods are ready and when the receiver needs them.
Check who can release the goods
Confirm that someone will be present and authorised to hand over the consignment. The usual office contact may not be the person staying behind, so provide the name and number of whoever will actually meet the driver.
Ask where the goods will be kept after the main warehouse closes. If they are being moved to a security lodge or another building, include that location in the collection instructions and make sure the full consignment can be released from there.
A building being open does not mean its goods-out team is working. Confirm the handover directly with the person responsible, especially where a supplier normally finishes before your requested collection time.
Confirm loading equipment is available
A forklift may be on site while its operator is off shift. A loading bay may close earlier than the gatehouse. Check the practical arrangements for the agreed time, rather than relying on the site’s general opening hours.
Tell ACS about palletised, heavy or awkward items and any tail-lift requirement. Loading and unloading remain the sender’s and receiver’s responsibility unless agreed otherwise. Tell us before booking if you need help with loading or unloading.
Use the fleet guide to review vehicle options, but confirm the loading method as well as the capacity. Make sure someone can load and unload it at the agreed times.
Make sure the destination can receive the delivery
Agree who will receive the goods and where the driver should go. Confirm that the receiver expects the vehicle at the proposed time and can arrange unloading without calling in someone who has already left.
For an early-morning delivery, ask when the gates open. If the gate opens at 07:00, arriving earlier may simply create waiting time. If delivery must happen before opening, agree who will provide access.
Do not assume goods can be left outside, with a neighbouring business or at security. Any alternative handover needs to be authorised and agreed in advance.
Provide after-hours access instructions
Some sites use a different gate or vehicle route once daytime operations finish. Include the correct entrance, intercom instructions, booking reference and any requirement to call on arrival.
Explain access restrictions that apply at the planned time, including limits on vehicle size or use of the unloading area. If a shift change could leave the receiving point unattended, allow for that when agreeing the timing.
Pass on changes promptly. A different contact, delayed goods-ready time or locked entrance can affect the whole journey when fewer staff are available to help.
Confirm the price and booking
Out-of-hours pricing depends on the route, time, vehicle and delivery requirement. Ask for a price that includes any planned waiting and extra stops before you book.
Wait for ACS to confirm your booking before telling the site that transport is arranged. If the goods are time-critical, speak to us directly rather than relying on an email being picked up immediately.
Arrange an evening, weekend or early collection
Call 01234 385970 with both addresses, the ready time, load details, delivery requirement and site contacts. ACS will confirm whether suitable transport is available and agree the arrangements before booking.
For a standard pre-booked van journey, you can start with the online courier quote calculator. Online van bookings need at least 90 minutes’ notice. Call us first if you need an earlier collection, have a fixed deadline or need urgent transport outside normal hours.