JEDDAH, 18 October 2007 — Private operators that transport passengers from cities around the Kingdom are not only competing against authorized transportation companies, but have also expanded their business now to compete with mail and package-delivery agencies. It has become normal to see passengers at bus and taxi stations arguing with drivers to deliver lightweight packages to other cities.
What has made this phenomenon possible is that people trust the underground system and find it less expensive than using cargo companies.
Drivers say that this business of delivering packages added extra income to their pockets.
Abdullah Al-Kathamy, a Saudi in his late 20s, has worked as a driver between Jeddah and Taif for many years. He used to transfer letters and packages between the two cities. “The credibility of our service encouraged people to continue using us in addition to our cheap fees in comparison to specialized companies,” he said.
Sultan Afifi, a Saudi driver who works between Madinah and Jeddah, said: “Most of those who use our service are those who work in small organizations and companies that don’t have internal mailing systems. So they use us in case they want to send things urgently.”
He added that the sender typically calls the receiver to tell him about the time and place of arrival. “The peak time usually comes in the mornings and afternoons, especially at the beginning of the week,” he said. “Most of the documents sent are related to government bureaucracy.”
Mesfer Al-Harbi, a 40-year-old driver who works between Jeddah and Riyadh, said: “The fees differ according to the package weight and the importance of the documents. The ordinary documents may cost something like SR25 and government documents will be charged SR50. The distance also affects the price, of course.”
He added that some drivers charge the sender while others collect their fee on delivery from the recipient.
Saleh Andijani, owner of three garment stores in Jeddah, Taif and Makkah, said: “I have sent packages and documents through the passenger transportation for many years, so I trust them so much. When I send important or governmental documents I take the sign of the driver and all his details to prove my right in case the document is not delivered. My workers also use the passenger transportation to send their stuff.”
