What CSM Logistics Does: A Plain-English Guide to Our Services

If you have landed here wondering what CSM Logistics actually does, you are in the right place. This guide explains every service CSM provides, how each one works and which services may be relevant to your business.

A little background first: CSM is a UK-based logistics company and part of the MO Holdings Group established in 1984. Rather than operating its own fleet, CSM works as a logistics broker and multi-carrier delivery partner, giving businesses access to the carrier networks of UPS, DHL and DPD through a single account.

This means one account, one invoice, one account team and one portal to manage everything, regardless of how many carriers or service types your business needs. This simplifies logistics management, especially for growing businesses that no longer want to manage multiple carrier relationships separately.

CSM has been providing business courier services to UK businesses since 1996. If you are trying to understand whether CSM covers what you need, read on.

UK Parcel Delivery

CSM's UK parcel delivery service covers the full range of domestic delivery options for businesses sending parcels within the United Kingdom.

Timed next day services:

• CSM 9: Next day delivery before 9am
• CSM 10:30: Next day delivery before 10:30am
• CSM 12: Next day delivery before noon
• CSM 24: Standard next day delivery

Economy services: For less time-critical orders, CSM eCom and eCom+ provide low-cost UK delivery for non-urgent or larger items, including six-day-a-week delivery.

All UK deliveries are fully tracked through your CSM account portal, and returns can be arranged and tracked in the same place. There are no extra charges for UK Highlands delivery on mainland UK services, though tariffs do differ for Northern Ireland.

Best for: Businesses of all sizes sending regular UK parcels, from small independent retailers to high-volume ecommerce operations.

European Parcel Delivery

For businesses shipping into Europe, CSM provides a range of timed and economy European parcel delivery options across most EU and European destinations.

Timed services:

• CSM 9: Next day before 9am (selected European destinations)
• CSM 12: Next day before noon (selected European destinations)
• CSM 24: Next day by end of day

Economy services:

• CSM Economy: Road-based delivery, typically two to three days

All European shipments require a commercial invoice for customs purposes since the UK left the EU in January 2021. CSM also supports DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping for EU customers, meaning duties and taxes can be settled by the sender so recipients are not hit with unexpected charges at the door. For a full explanation of how DDP works, see our guide to DDP shipping UK to Europe.

Best for: UK businesses selling to EU customers who want a clean, predictable delivery experience for their European buyers.

Worldwide Parcel Delivery

For shipments outside Europe, CSM offers worldwide parcel delivery across North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Express services:

• CSM 12: Two to three day delivery before noon
• CSM Express: Day-definite global delivery by end of day on the scheduled date

Economy services:

• CSM Economy: Cost-effective international delivery for less time-sensitive shipments

For larger worldwide shipments, CSM can also arrange worldwide air freight and sea freight through its associate companies AFFA and SandrAir, covering most international destinations with full customs clearance and door-to-door delivery.

Best for: Businesses shipping internationally who need reliable, trackable delivery to most worldwide destinations from a single account.

Same Day Courier Service

When a parcel cannot wait until tomorrow, CSM's same day courier service provides urgent collections and deliveries across the UK.

Same day delivery is available across the UK, with trackable consignments managed through your CSM account. To guarantee same day delivery, contact your local CSM branch directly for a specialist quote. This ensures the service is confirmed and reserved for your collection before the booking is placed.

Best for: Businesses with urgent or time-critical consignments that cannot wait for next day delivery. Common use cases include legal documents, urgent parts, fashion samples, event materials and medical supplies.

Next Day Delivery Service

CSM's next day delivery service provides reliable next day parcel delivery across the UK and selected European destinations, with a choice of timed windows to suit different delivery requirements.

Options range from pre-9am for the most time-sensitive next day shipments through to standard next day by end of day for less urgent consignments. Economy next day options are also available for cost-sensitive shipments where a defined timed window is not required.

Best for: Businesses that need consistent, reliable next day delivery service without managing carrier relationships directly.

Business Parcel Delivery

CSM's business parcel delivery service is built for UK businesses sending regular volumes of parcels to business and consumer addresses across the UK and internationally.

Through a CSM business account, you get access to multi-carrier delivery via UPS, DHL and DPD, bulk label generation, weekly invoicing, full parcel tracking and a named account team who manages your deliveries personally.

There are no call centres. When you need to speak to someone about a delivery, you speak to the person who knows your account.

Best for: Any UK business sending parcels regularly that wants a reliable, personal alternative to going direct with a single carrier.

Ecommerce Shipping Solutions

CSM's e-commerce shipping solutions connect your online store directly to your CSM account, automating your dispatch process from order to label to collection.

CSM integrates with Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Squarespace, ShipTheory, Linnworks, Jonas Sports and Pimento. Once connected, orders import automatically, labels are generated in bulk and the right carrier is selected for each order based on destination and service level. See all available ecommerce integrations for details on each platform.

For ecommerce businesses also needing storage, pick, pack and dispatch support, CSM's London-based fulfilment centre handles the complete 3PL fulfilment process with no minimum volume commitment.

Best for: Ecommerce businesses on any of the supported platforms that want to automate their dispatch process and reduce courier admin.

Bulk and High-Volume Shipping

CSM's bulk and high-volume shipping service is designed for businesses dispatching large numbers of parcels regularly, where consistent delivery performance and cost efficiency both matter.

Bulk parcel delivery through CSM gives high-volume shippers access to negotiated multi-carrier rates, bulk label generation, scheduled collections and dedicated account management. For businesses at the volume where carrier performance directly affects customer satisfaction and operational costs, managing that volume through a single CSM account is a more practical approach than managing multiple direct carrier relationships.

Best for: High-volume ecommerce operations, fulfilment providers and businesses with significant regular parcel volumes across UK and international destinations.

Express International Delivery

CSM's express international delivery service provides fast, day-definite delivery to most worldwide destinations for businesses where international transit time is critical.

Two core services are available: CSM 12, which delivers in two to three days before noon, and CSM Express, which provides a global day-definite service with transit times varying by destination. Both services include full end-to-end tracking, proactive customs documentation support and a named account team who monitors international shipments personally.

Best for: Businesses shipping high-value, time-sensitive or business-critical consignments internationally where a day-definite delivery commitment is required.

Large and Fragile Parcel Delivery

CSM's large and fragile parcel delivery service covers oversized or delicate items that fall outside standard parcel dimensions or require additional care in handling and transit.

CSM supports long parcel delivery for items over 100cm, including surfboards, skis, snowboards, pool cues, fishing rods and furniture. Fragile parcel delivery covers items requiring careful handling such as artwork, glassware, electronics and specialist equipment. Both UK domestic and international options are available.

Best for: Businesses regularly sending oversized or fragile items that standard parcel services are not built to handle reliably.

Import Services

CSM's import delivery service helps UK businesses bring goods into the UK from international origins, including Europe, Asia and beyond.

The import service covers customs paperwork, import duty and tax processing, supplier labelling, carrier collection from the origin address and delivery to your UK destination. CSM can also manage larger import consignments through its associate companies for air freight and sea freight imports requiring full customs clearance.

Best for: UK businesses importing goods from international suppliers who need end-to-end support from collection at origin through to UK delivery, including customs handling.

3PL Fulfilment Services

CSM's 3PL fulfilment services cover the complete pick, pack and dispatch process for ecommerce businesses that want to outsource their physical fulfilment operation.

From its London-based fulfilment centre, CSM stores your stock, picks and packs orders to your specification, generates labels, dispatches via UPS, DHL or DPD and manages returns. The service integrates directly with your ecommerce platform so orders flow through automatically. There is no minimum volume commitment.

For a full explanation of how 3PL fulfilment works and whether it suits your business, see our dedicated guide to 3PL fulfilment in the UK.

Best for: Ecommerce businesses that have outgrown in-house fulfilment and need a reliable, integrated third-party operation to handle storage, dispatch and returns.

How CSM Works: One Account, Multiple Carriers

CSM is not a carrier itself. It is a logistics partner and logistics broker that gives businesses access to multiple carrier networks through a single account. That distinction matters in practice.

Going direct with a single carrier means you are committed to that carrier's network, pricing structure and service limitations. When that carrier has a disruption, your deliveries are affected. When your shipments grow beyond what one carrier covers well, you have to manage additional accounts separately.

Through a CSM account, your business accesses UPS, DHL and DPD through one portal, one invoice and one account team. The right carrier is selected for each shipment based on destination, service level and parcel profile. You get the reliability of major carrier networks without the overhead of managing each relationship separately.

There are no call centres at CSM. Every account is managed by a named team at your local branch. When you call or email, you speak to someone who knows your account.

Getting Started with CSM

Opening a CSM account is free, with no minimum volume commitment. Once set up, you can book deliveries, generate labels, get quotes and track parcels from one online portal.

If you are ready to get started, open an account today. If you would prefer to talk through your requirements first, contact your local CSM branch and a member of the team will be happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What services does CSM Logistics offer?

CSM provides UK parcel delivery, European parcel delivery, worldwide parcel delivery, same day courier service, next day delivery, business parcel delivery, ecommerce shipping solutions, bulk and high-volume shipping, express international delivery, large and fragile parcel delivery, import services and 3PL fulfilment. All services are managed through a single CSM account with access to UPS, DHL and DPD.

Is CSM a courier company or a logistics broker?

CSM is a logistics broker and multi-carrier delivery partner. Rather than operating its own delivery fleet, CSM gives businesses access to major carrier networks including UPS, DHL and DPD through a single account. This means businesses get the reliability of those carrier networks with the personal account management and flexibility that going direct with a single large carrier does not typically offer.

Does CSM have a minimum volume requirement?

No. There is no minimum volume commitment on a CSM account. Whether you are dispatching a small number of parcels each week or managing high daily volumes, your account works the same way and receives the same level of personal service.

Does CSM deliver internationally?

Yes. CSM delivers to most worldwide destinations. European delivery covers all major EU markets with DDP options available. Worldwide delivery covers North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and beyond via express and economy services. Larger international shipments can be handled via air freight and sea freight through CSM's associate companies AFFA and SandrAir.

How do I open a courier account for business with CSM?

Opening an account is free and straightforward. Complete the application on the CSM website and you will receive your login details. Once logged in you can book deliveries, generate labels, get quotes and track parcels immediately. Contact your local CSM branch if you need guidance before or during setup.

Does CSM offer ecommerce integrations?

Yes. CSM integrates directly with Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Squarespace, ShipTheory, Linnworks, Jonas Sports and Pimento. Orders flow automatically from your connected platform into your CSM account for label generation and dispatch. Visit the integrations page for details on each platform.