Driver in Trouble Abroad is Helped by Members of Online Network

When a courier driver suffered a stroke while working abroad this year, an online transport network, Courier Exchange (http://www.courierexchange.co.uk), used for arranging courier work, showed the human side of business relationships when its members clubbed together to come to his aid.

London, UK (PRWEB) October 8, 2009 -- Mike Smith's life changed forever in May when he suffered a massive stroke while he was conducting courier work in Germany. He was making a delivery in Munich when the stroke took hold, and was rushed to hospital where doctors operated on him several times.

But his trouble didn't stop with the devastating physical effects of the stroke: his illness had a financial impact, too. Mike's treatment brought a bill of £10,000 because he was not insured for the costs of repatriation and medical transport. The huge bill arose from the cost of the ambulance in Germany and the air ambulance transfer back to the UK when he was stable enough to make the journey.

Mike is a long-standing member of the Courier Exchange network, through which he acquires courier work for his Europe-wide express delivery business. When his partner, Kate Mills, who runs Connect 4 Couriers Ltd, made an appeal to fellow couriers on the Courier Exchange website, the enormity of response from the members was unexpected.

In just three weeks, Courier Exchange members sent Kate more than £9,000. She was overwhelmed by the financial and emotional support she received from the group, who went to great lengths to help their fellow courier worker, despite working for different businesses around the country. Gerard Bermingham of A3 Freight Logistics, Donna and Craig Tingey of SJC 24/7 Couriers Ltd, Michael Barratt of MB Express Couriers and Keith Evans of KE Couriers all visited Mike while he was convalescing in his German hospital bed. Iain Biddle of Thame Freight Services Ltd went one further; he drove to Germany to bring Mike's stranded van home.

"We really don't know what we would have done without the amazing support we have received," said Kate. "Everyone has rallied round to help us. It has been an incredibly tough time for us but the courier community on Courier Exchange has really pulled us through."

Lyall Cresswell, Managing Director of The Transport Exchange Group, which runs Courier Exchange, said: "We are pleased that Courier Exchange was able to assist Mike and Kate through a terrible ordeal."

"Courier Exchange is more than a platform for businesses to collaborate in courier work and improve their bottom lines: it is a communications hub where members can network and be part of a community. Clearly, we've now seen what this community can achieve for its members."

Mike is now making a steady recovery back in the UK.

About The Transport Exchange Group

With offices in London and Nottingham, The Transport Exchange Group operates two of the largest haulage exchanges in Great Britain. Courier Exchange (http://www.courierexchange.co.uk), is the UK's biggest exchange for express and same day movements and is now in its ninth year of trading, while its sister site, Haulage Exchange (http://www.haulageexchange.co.uk) is one of the UK's leading independent haulage exchanges for the 7.5 Tonne market and beyond

Membership of the exchange is limited to accredited transport professionals, and offers them the chance to buy and sell domestic and international road transport industry services such as full loads, backloads, return loads, freight forwarding, and road haulage.

For more information, please contact Lyall Cresswell:

Courier Exchange
Cumberland House
80 Scrubs Lane
London
NW10 6RF

+44 (0) 870 241 1472

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