About

Mark Quarless — Owner-operator, downtown Victoria courier

The Business

Small business owner-operator contracting with Corporate Couriers Logistics, providing delivery services for Staples Professional, and others.

For years I covered Victoria, James Bay, Cook St. Village, Esquimalt, North Saanich, Brentwood Bay, West Saanich, and Sidney. Coverage for right now is localized to Victoria, James Bay, and Cook St. Village. Local knowledge, consistent performance, and personal accountability to my clients on every route.

This site originally started as a place to share ideas about being a really efficient courier. Things have shifted with most couriers now paid hourly, but the focus remains the same: get the work done right, efficiently, and with care.

Background

I came to this from a technical and safety background. I graduated from BCIT in 2009 with an Associate Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (Computer Control option). Summer jobs during that time included roofing, construction, and secure-asset management among others.

I then changed course, moved to Ucluelet, and worked in Forestry Tech — some of the best work of my life.

After that and before running my own courier business I spent several years in IT asset disposition and field operations, including driving a 5-Ton around downtown Calgary. That work involved secure pickup, intake, troubleshooting, and refurbishment of equipment for enterprise clients.

Nobody teaches you how to be a courier, it's funny that way. So I went from first principles, building digital tools around the work to make everything more efficient.

Almost 7 years of downtown Victoria experience, continuous improvement, and a Level 20 Road-Star on the last ICBC update. Safety training, technical skills, field experience, and performance.