How to become an independent medical courier

What an independent medical courier does

Medical couriers move lab specimens, prescriptions, medical records and supplies between labs, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and patients' homes. Most work is scheduled routes, such as daily lab pickups from doctors' offices, plus some on-demand STAT runs.

Independent means you contract with a courier company as a 1099 contractor rather than working as its employee. You supply the vehicle and cover its costs, and the company supplies the routes, dispatch and, usually, training.

The companies hiring this way range from national medical courier networks such as Life Couriers and Health Run to local couriers that run lab and pharmacy routes alongside parts and parcel work. Each company's page on this site lists what it says it requires.

What you need before you apply

• A reliable car, SUV, minivan or cargo van. Cars are the most common vehicle for medical routes; some companies set a minimum model year.
• A valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
• Insurance that covers delivering for pay. Personal auto policies often exclude it, so ask your insurer about a business-use or delivery endorsement. Some companies require a commercial auto policy, and a few ask for occupational accident or general liability coverage.
• A smartphone that can run the company's routing and proof-of-delivery app.
• The ability to pass a background check and, at most companies, a drug screen.

Training and handling rules

There's no federal license or certification required to be a medical courier. What companies do require is training: HIPAA, because you'll handle patient information, and bloodborne-pathogen and exposure training based on OSHA's standard. Many companies run this training during onboarding at no cost. Paid third-party courier certificates exist, but companies generally care more about their own onboarding.

Labs usually package specimens before you pick them up, in sealed, labeled containers (often marked UN3373 for Category B biological substances). Your job is to keep them upright, at the right temperature (room temperature, refrigerated or frozen), and scanned or logged at every handoff so the chain of custody stays intact.

Equipment

• Insulated coolers or totes, with ice packs or frozen gel packs for refrigerated and frozen specimens. Some companies supply these.
• A spill kit and disposable gloves, if the company doesn't provide them.
• A way to keep packages secure and out of sight in your vehicle.

Setting up as a contractor

You can contract under your own name. Many couriers get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS so they can give companies an EIN instead of their Social Security number; an LLC is optional unless a company asks for one.

As a 1099 contractor no taxes are withheld from your pay. The IRS expects self-employment tax on net earnings of $400 or more, and most contractors pay estimated taxes quarterly. Keep a mileage log and receipts, since vehicle costs are your expense.

Step by step

1. Check your vehicle, driving record and insurance against the list above, and call your insurer about delivery coverage.
2. Find the courier companies in your metro that contract drivers for medical work (the lists on this page are a start).
3. Apply on each company's own site, then complete its background check, drug screen and training.
4. Before you sign, ask whether the work is a fixed route or on-call, who pays for fuel and equipment, whether you can work for other companies, and how often pay is settled.