Need goods collected today?
If you need an urgent courier collection, call ACS on 01234 385970 with the collection postcode, delivery postcode and a brief description of the goods. Tell us when they’ll be ready and when they need to arrive. We can then look at the available vehicles and discuss the quickest suitable option.
You can arrange collection from your own premises, a supplier, a warehouse or a site elsewhere in the UK. You don’t need to be at the collection address yourself, but the people handing over the goods need to know what’s been arranged.
How quickly can a courier collect?
It depends on where the goods are and which suitable vehicles are available nearby. The size of the load and the loading equipment at each address also matter. A van for two cartons may be easier to arrange at short notice than a lorry with a tail lift.
Give us the collection postcode first so we can discuss availability for that location. If the delivery has a fixed deadline, tell us at the same time: a quick collection only helps if there’s enough time to reach the destination.
For collection within 90 minutes, a fixed delivery deadline or urgent out-of-hours work, call before booking. Standard online van bookings need at least 90 minutes’ notice.
What should you have ready when you call?
Start with these details:
- The route: collection and delivery postcodes, plus any extra stops.
- The timing: when the goods will be ready, when the collection site closes and when delivery is needed.
- The load: what you’re sending, the number of items, packed dimensions and weight.
- Loading: how the goods will get on and off the vehicle, including any need for a tail lift.
If you’re still waiting for a measurement or a supplier’s confirmation, tell us what you know and what’s outstanding. We’ll explain what else we need to arrange the job. A photograph can help with an awkward item, but we’ll still need its dimensions and weight.
Our courier booking checklist covers the full details.
Collecting from a supplier? Speak to them first
Ask whether the order is packed and ready to leave. “In stock” doesn’t always mean it’s ready for a driver to collect: the warehouse may still need to pick it, prepare paperwork or get approval to release it.
Get the collection reference and pass it to ACS. Let the supplier know you’re arranging a courier, and give us the name and number of someone who can help the driver find the right goods.
If the supplier closes at a particular time, mention that when you call. It’s also worth checking whether the loading team finishes earlier than the office.
Choose a vehicle that can do the whole job
Urgent goods still need enough space, the right carrying capacity and a suitable way to load and unload them. Include pallets, crates and packaging in the measurements and weight.
If the smallest suitable van isn’t available nearby, we can discuss another option and its price. Tell us about restricted entrances, side-loading needs or a lack of unloading equipment before agreeing the vehicle.
For HGVs, dangerous goods or other specialist loads, contact us for a manual quote. The urgency doesn’t change the information needed to arrange suitable transport. Our fleet guide shows the available vehicle types.
Make sure someone is ready at delivery
Tell the receiver what’s arriving and ask who will accept it. Give us the correct entrance, any booking reference and a contact number the driver can use.
Be clear about the deadline. “Before the warehouse closes at 17:00” gives us more to work with than “ASAP”. If the goods need to be unloaded before an engineer starts work, allow time for that too. See our guide to booking a delivery with a fixed deadline.
Confirm the booking, then keep us updated
Before telling the supplier a vehicle is on its way, make sure ACS has confirmed the collection arrangements and price. Let us know promptly if the goods are delayed, the load changes or the receiving contact becomes unavailable.
To arrange an urgent courier collection, call 01234 385970. For a standard van delivery with more notice, you can get a quote and book online.