Stride Couriers Avis 

I’ve now used Stride Couriers three times. My first experience was smooth, which is why I continued using them. Unfortunately, my second and third experiences were completely different.
On my second booking, I specifically paid extra for a helper for loading and unloading. However, no helper arrived with the driver. My warehouse staff had to handle the entire shipment themselves despite me paying extra for this service.
My third booking was the most frustrating experience.
The delivery was significantly delayed because their vehicle broke down on the road. I waited for approximately 5 hours before being informed that the vehicle was unable to continue.
I was then told they had arranged two other vehicles/trucks to complete my delivery. By this point, however, we had already been waiting for hours and my warehouse operating time was ending.
We therefore discussed the situation and decided that, because the warehouse was closing, the shipment would be delivered the following day instead.
But then, approximately two hours later, the driver unexpectedly arrived at around 7 PM on the same day.
By then, all of my normal warehouse staff had already gone home because we had been told the delivery would take place the following day. The driver was also unable to simply leave without completing the delivery.
As a result, I had to urgently arrange special staff to come back and receive and unload the shipment, costing me an additional £100.
This is what makes the situation particularly disappointing. I was available and waiting for approximately five hours. Their vehicle broke down, I was informed very late, we agreed to move the delivery to the following day, and then the driver arrived unexpectedly around two hours later after my staff had already left. I ended up paying £100 because of circumstances completely outside my control.
So, across my three experiences:
1st booking: Smooth, no issues.
2nd booking: Paid extra for a loading/unloading helper, but no helper arrived, leaving my warehouse staff to handle the shipment themselves.
3rd booking: Vehicle broke down, I waited around 5 hours, was told alternative vehicles were being arranged, we then agreed to deliver the following day because the warehouse was closing, but the driver unexpectedly arrived around 7 PM, forcing me to pay £100 for special warehouse staff.
I understand that vehicle breakdowns can happen in the transport industry. What I cannot accept is the poor communication and the customer being left to absorb additional costs caused by those operational problems.
After a good first experience, I gave Stride further business, but unfortunately the last two bookings have left me totally disappointed with the reliability, communication and service provided.
I hope the company takes responsibility for these issues and improves how situations like this are handled in the future.

I'd been a regular customer since August 2025, booking Stride once or twice a month, sometimes three times. The drivers were fantastic, never had a single issue with them, and collections and deliveries were mostly reliable. I did have a few minor delays where they didn't collect at the scheduled time, which knocked on into a late delivery, but nothing I couldn't live with.

The problem is the pricing. It used to be genuinely competitive, which is why I kept coming back. Not any more. On 9th September I booked a same-day collection, 60 miles for a small van, and paid £82 + VAT. The same job on 20th September cost £166 + VAT. That's roughly double in the space of a couple of weeks.

I emailed them a few days ago to let them know the increases were the reason I'd be taking my business elsewhere. No reply.

Shame, because the people doing the actual work were great. But at these prices I can't justify using them any more.