The "Do It Yourself" Trap
For many independent pharmacies in Vaughan and Brampton, offering delivery started as a favor. Maybe the pharmacist dropped off a few prescriptions on their way home. Eventually, that grew into hiring a part-time driver. On the surface, it seems cheaper than hiring a third party.
But have you calculated the true cost of running your own fleet? When you look at the numbers, the DIY model is often a silent profit killer.
1. Fixed Costs vs. Variable Costs
When you hire a driver, you pay them an hourly wage regardless of volume.
• Scenario A: It’s a slow Tuesday. You have 3 deliveries. You still pay the driver for a 4-hour shift. Your cost per delivery skyrockets.
• Scenario B: It’s a busy flu season Monday. You have 50 deliveries. Your single driver can’t handle it, and patients get angry about delays.
Outsourcing to RxExpress turns this fixed cost into a variable cost. You pay only for what you ship. If you have zero deliveries, you pay zero dollars. If you have 100, we have the fleet to handle it instantly.
2. The Liability Nightmare
This is the factor most owners overlook. If your employee gets into an accident while delivering prescriptions, is your pharmacy liable?
• Does the driver have commercial auto insurance? (Most personal policies deny claims if the car was being used for work).
• What happens if the driver is injured on the job?
When you partner with a professional service, that liability moves off your books. We carry the commercial insurance, the WSIB coverage, and the risk management protocols.
3. Staff Distraction
How much time does your team spend managing the driver? Coordinating routes, calling patients to confirm they are home, dealing with vehicle breakdowns—this is time your staff is not spending on dispensing or patient care.
By integrating with a tech-forward partner, your staff simply enters the order, and we handle the logistics, the routing, and the patient notifications.
The Verdict
Your expertise is pharmacology, not fleet management. By outsourcing your delivery network, you regain control of your payroll, reduce your risk profile, and ensure your patients get a consistent, professional experience every time.