On-Board Courier (OBC) – Hand-Carried Urgent and Secure Air Delivery
When a consignment is too urgent, too valuable or too sensitive for the cargo hold, Depth Logistics puts one of our own couriers on the soonest available flight with it. There is no minimum notice. Our on-board courier service is door to door and hand-carried, both domestically and internationally, with chain-of-custody delivery from collection to signed handover. Available 24/7, with a same-day response.
24/7, with a same-day response. Call 07 3054 4670.
How our on-board courier service works
- Call us any time: we confirm the item, route and deadline, and quote.
- We book one of our own couriers on the soonest available flight and brief them on the job. No minimum notice is needed.
- Your courier collects door to door, checks and seals the consignment, and starts the chain-of-custody record.
- The consignment travels with the courier as hand or checked baggage. Your courier stays with it and never leaves it alone.
- You get a secure live GPS tracking link so you can follow the courier in real time.
- For international jobs, we prepare the customs paperwork and coordinate clearance through our Customs Clearance team.
- Your courier hands the consignment to the named recipient, with a signature. Photo proof of delivery and recipient ID checks are available on request.
Domestic and international OBC
Domestic on-board courier
Hand carry on the soonest available flight between Australian cities and regional centres, often delivered the same day. We serve Coolangatta, Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns and Darwin airports, and fly anywhere in Australia.
International on-board courier
Hand carry to and from overseas on the soonest available flight, by our own couriers who hold passports and visas for short-notice travel, with customs documentation prepared before departure and clearance coordinated on arrival.
Secure OBC
For sensitive and high-value consignments, Secure OBC always uses a security-cleared courier from our own team, with tamper-evident packaging and a full chain-of-custody record. Secure OBC can hand-carry classified and security-sensitive items with a security-cleared courier and chain of custody, in line with Defence security requirements.
What we hand-carry
- AOG aircraft parts (non-DG) to get aircraft flying again
- Defence components and equipment (non-DG)
- Medical items and non-powered devices (no batteries)
- Legal and original documents
- High-value or sensitive items
- Mining and ship spares where downtime costs more than the courier
No dangerous goods on OBC
Our On-Board Courier service does not accept dangerous goods. Under IATA and CASA rules, lithium batteries, power banks and battery-powered equipment can’t be hand-carried as a client consignment. We can move these through DG-certified Airfreight or our Secure Hotshot road service instead. Every consignment is screened for dangerous goods before we accept it. Firearms and weapons aren’t carried on OBC; we move them by our Secure Hotshot road service instead.
Why Depth Logistics for on-board courier work
- Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) member
- Our people hold Australian Department of Defence security clearances, plus MSIC and ASIC
- Our own couriers, never subcontracted
- Chain-of-custody delivery, with a courier who never leaves your consignment
- Secure live GPS tracking link shared with you
- 24/7, with a same-day response
- One team for road, air and customs: Secure Hotshot, Airfreight, Customs Clearance and Road Transport
- Bases at Coolangatta (HQ), Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin
On-board courier enquiries
Contact our on-board courier team, 24/7
Our team can mobilise anywhere, domestic or international, from Brisbane, Darwin, Townsville and Coolangatta.
24-hour line
07 3054 4670Coolangatta
Head office
2/17 Griffith St
Coolangatta QLD 4225
Postal address: PO Box 811
Coolangatta QLD 4225
Brisbane
8 Culya St
Pinkenba QLD 4008
Darwin
31 Muramats Rd
East Arm NT 0822
Townsville
16 Mackley St
Garbutt QLD 4814
Frequently asked questions
What is an on-board courier?
An on-board courier travels on a commercial flight with your consignment as hand or checked baggage, collecting it from you and handing it to the recipient in person.
Do you offer domestic and international OBC?
Yes. Depth Logistics offers on-board courier services both within Australia and internationally, using our own couriers. Our team can mobilise from Brisbane, Darwin, Townsville and Coolangatta.
How fast can you deliver?
There's no minimum notice. Your courier leaves on the soonest available flight, and domestic jobs are often delivered the same day. Call 07 3054 4670 for a same-day response.
Is my consignment ever left alone?
No. Your courier stays with the consignment from collection to signed handover, and you can follow progress on a secure live GPS tracking link.
Can you handle customs?
Yes. For international jobs we prepare the paperwork and coordinate clearance through our Customs Clearance team.
Can you carry dangerous goods or lithium batteries?
No. Our On-Board Courier service does not accept dangerous goods. Under IATA and CASA rules, lithium batteries, power banks and battery-powered equipment can't be hand-carried as a client consignment. We can move these through DG-certified Airfreight or our Secure Hotshot road service instead. Every consignment is screened for dangerous goods before we accept it.
How do I get a price?
Call 07 3054 4670 or use Request a quote. Every on-board courier job is quoted for the route, timing and consignment. Any additional or excess baggage charges are passed on at cost plus 25%.