Straight answers about courier service in California. Rates, service levels, coverage, tracking, insurance and billing — the questions our dispatch team actually gets asked, answered without the runaround.
Cannot find your answer here? Call (866) 427-4258 and talk to a live dispatcher, 24/7/365, or send us the question.
Service Levels and Delivery Speed
What service levels does Redline Courier Service offer?
Four standard levels, plus specialized options. Pickup and delivery timing depends on the route, traffic, shipment requirements and vehicle availability. Dispatch reviews each request and confirms the proposed service.
| Service level | Pickup and delivery timing | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Exclusive | Confirmed by dispatch | Dedicated direct drive, nothing else in the vehicle |
| Rush | Most rush pickups within 30 minutes; delivery timing confirmed by dispatch | Urgent shipments that still allow a short routing window |
| Standard | Confirmed by dispatch | Same-day work with a normal business deadline |
| Economy | Confirmed by dispatch | Same-day delivery where cost matters more than speed |
What is your fastest delivery service?
For local courier shipments, Exclusive service is the fastest. The driver picks up your shipment and drives it straight to the destination with no other stops. For long-distance shipments that ground transport cannot reach in time, our Next Flight Out service is faster than driving.
What are your delivery service hours?
We are a 24-hour delivery service. Dispatch operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including nights, weekends and holidays. Pickup and delivery still depend on whether the locations involved can release and receive the shipment.
What happens after hours if I need a messenger?
Call the same number. We keep couriers available around the clock, and a live dispatcher answers rather than a voicemail box.
Is there a waiting time charge?
Yes. Additional charges may apply if the driver has to wait at pickup or delivery, depending on the service level requested. If you know the driver will need to wait, for example to collect a conformed copy at a court, tell dispatch when you book so it is priced in up front.
Rates, Quotes and Billing
How do you charge for courier and messenger service?
Three factors: distance, the service level requested and total weight, with time of day as a modifier. There is no flat fee that ignores the route. Our guide to what drives courier pricing explains the variables in detail.
How do I get a quote for a same-day delivery?
Call (866) 427-4258 with the pickup and destination, or request courier service online. Give us the addresses and the deadline and you will get a real number, not a range.
How is mileage calculated between two points?
Addresses are geocoded and verified, then the system calculates door-to-door turn-by-turn distance. You are billed on the actual route, not a straight-line estimate.
Do you offer discounts if more than one package is going out?
Yes. Deliveries heading the same direction are routed with the same driver where the service level allows it, which lowers the cost per stop. Businesses with regular volume usually do better still on a scheduled route.
How often do you bill?
Billing is customizable: daily, weekly, bi-monthly, every other week or monthly.
Can you customize invoices with P.O. or department information?
Yes. Invoices can show deliveries chronologically by date, time, reference number and department, on whatever billing cycle you choose. This is standard for law firms, hospitals and multi-department accounts.
Can I pay by credit card?
Yes. We accept major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express, on either a per-shipment or per-invoice basis, and we can set up scheduled monthly payments. Call (866) 427-4258 to arrange it.
What is your refund and returns policy?
See our full refund and returns policy for cancellations, refunds and claim procedures.
How quickly can you pick up?
Most rush pickups happen within 30 minutes of the call. Dispatch confirms the timing for every request based on the route, traffic, shipment requirements and vehicle availability. If you have a service concern, contact dispatch with your order reference so our team can review it.
Coverage and Service Areas
What areas do you serve besides Los Angeles?
All of California. Redline Courier Service started in Los Angeles and expanded statewide over more than 30 years of operation. We now cover Orange County, the Inland Empire, San Diego, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, the Central Coast, the Central Valley, Sacramento and the Bay Area. Browse the California service-area directory for city-level coverage.
Do you deliver between California cities on the same day?
Yes. Long lanes such as Los Angeles to San Diego, Los Angeles to Bakersfield, Santa Barbara to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Sacramento are handled as direct drives by one driver, with no hub or transfer. Timing depends on distance and traffic.
How does a driver find so many different addresses?
Every driver runs live GPS navigation with real-time traffic. Beyond that, our drivers work the same territories repeatedly, so they know the docks, the loading zones, the parking and the receiving windows — the details that turn a 20-minute delivery into an hour when a driver does not know them.
Booking, Accounts and Online Access
Do I need to call ahead to place a courier request?
No. We operate on-demand. Have the package ready when you call, because a driver may be only a few minutes away.
Do I need an account to book a delivery?
No. One-time deliveries are welcome. Businesses that ship regularly should open an account for billing terms, saved addresses and faster booking.
How do customers order courier service online?
Account holders can log in to the customer portal to place and manage orders. Anyone can request courier service online or call dispatch directly.
Do you offer recurring or scheduled deliveries?
Yes. Scheduled courier routes handle daily, weekly and custom recurring runs built around your operating day, with on-demand dispatch still available when something urgent falls outside the route.
Tracking, Notifications and Proof of Delivery
Can I track my shipment from my phone?
Yes. Track your delivery online from any device for up-to-the-minute status, and dispatch has live GPS visibility on active runs. See how our delivery technology works.
Can I be notified when my package is delivered?
Yes. Shipment Status Notification sends a receipt by text or email seconds after the shipment is completed, including pickup and delivery times, signature and price. There is no charge for it.
Can I request a shipping report?
Yes. We can set up automated daily, weekly or monthly activity reports for your account.
Drivers, Vehicles and Handling
Are your drivers uniformed and screened?
Yes. Drivers wear Redline Courier Service uniforms because they represent your business at the delivery point, and they are background-checked, bonded and insured.
Do drivers have to pass a route test?
Yes. Prospective drivers take a route test and a map test, demonstrating they can look up and navigate Los Angeles and Orange County addresses before they carry a customer shipment.
Do you have trucks or motorcycle couriers?
We operate cars, cargo vans, sprinter vans and box trucks. We do not run motorcycle couriers, for safety reasons.
Are there size limits on package delivery?
Rarely. Between courier cars, cargo vans, sprinters and box trucks we can usually handle whatever needs to move. Call ahead with dimensions and weight so dispatch can confirm vehicle availability, or see same-day freight and hot shot delivery for palletized loads.
Insurance, Liability and Claims
Is my package insured?
Our liability for any package is limited to $150 unless a higher value is declared at the time of tender and the corresponding charge is paid. Additional cargo insurance is available on request — tell dispatch the declared value when you book, not after.
What happens if a package is damaged or lost?
Contact us immediately so we can trace the shipment. Our liability is limited to $150 for qualifying deliveries unless a higher value was declared and paid for at tender. Claim procedures are covered in our refund and returns policy.
Specialized and Industry Services
Do you handle medical and specimen deliveries?
Yes. Our medical courier service covers lab specimens, pharmaceuticals, devices and hospital supplies with HIPAA-trained drivers and chain-of-custody tracking. For laboratory and hospital routes, see lab and hospital courier service. Packaging, temperature and regulatory requirements must be confirmed with dispatch before pickup.
Do you deliver legal documents and court filings?
Yes. Our legal courier service handles court filings, judge’s courtesy copies, county recorder documents, signed originals and attorney service, with documented chain of custody.
Do you handle aircraft parts and AOG shipments?
Yes. AOG delivery service moves grounded-aircraft parts, rotables and tooling between suppliers, FBOs, MROs and maintenance crews, by direct drive or air.
What other services do you offer besides same-day delivery?
Routed and scheduled service, air freight, Next Flight Out, same-day freight and hot shot, repair parts delivery for field technicians, banking, title and escrow courier and state filing delivery. The full list is on our California courier services page.
Can you deliver wine, food or temperature-sensitive goods?
Sometimes, depending on the requirement. Tell dispatch the temperature range, packaging and handling requirements before pickup so the correct vehicle and service can be assigned. If we cannot meet the requirement properly, we will tell you rather than risk the shipment.
Still Have a Question?
A live dispatcher can answer in less time than it takes to read a page. Call (866) 427-4258 any hour of any day, or send us your question.