Industry Description
Establishments primarily engaged in the delivery of individually addressed letters, parcels, and packages (generally under 100 pounds), except by means of air transportation or by the United States Postal Service. Delivery is usually made by street or highway within a local area or between cities. Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing air delivery of individually addressed letters, parcels, and packages, except by the United States Postal Service, are classified in Industry 4513, and establishments of the United States Postal Service are classified in Industry 4311. Establishments primarily engaged in the delivery of advertising and other unaddressed letters, parcels, and packages are classified in Industry 7319. Establishments primarily engaged in undertaking the transportation of goods from shippers to receivers for a charge covering the entire transportation, but making use of other transportation establishments to effect the entire delivery, are classified in Industry 4731. Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing armored car services are classified in Services, Industry 7381.
Business Examples
Common types of business activities within US SIC 4215 - Courier Services, Except by Air are:
- Courier services, except by air
- Letter delivery, private: except air
- Mail delivery, private: except air
- Package delivery, private: except air
- Parcel delivery, private: except air
IBISWorld Industry Research Report
Couriers & Local Delivery Services in the US (49222)
Revenue 2025
$191bn
Growth 2025
2.66%
Key Trends
Over the past five years, developments in the e-commerce and online retailing space have driven industry growth
Volatile input costs constrain profit growth
Industry customers are expected to continue integrating vertically, decreasing demand
Products and Services
US-SIC Hierarchy 4215 - Courier Services, Except by Air
US-SIC Code 4215 - Courier Services, Except by Air sits in the 2-digit Courier Services, Except by Air sector. US SIC codes can be 2 to 8 digits and the further along the hierarchy, the more detailed and specific the category will be.
Division: E
Division Title: Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services
2 Digits 3 Digits 4 Digits
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411 Local and Suburban Passenger Transportation
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412 Taxicabs
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413 Intercity and Rural Bus Transportation
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414 Bus Charter Service
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415 School Buses
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417 Terminal and Service Facilities for Motor Vehicle
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421 Trucking and Courier Services, Except Air
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422 Public Warehousing and Storage
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423 Terminal and Joint Terminal Maintenance
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431 United States Postal Service
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441 Deep Sea Foreign Transportation of Freight
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442 Deep Sea Domestic Transportation of Freight
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443 Freight Transportation On the Great Lakes-st.
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444 Water Transportation of Freight, Not Elsewhere
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448 Water Transportation of Passengers
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449 Services Incidental To Water Transportation
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451 Air Transportation, Scheduled, and Air Courier
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452 Air Transportation, Nonscheduled
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458 Airports, Flying Fields, and Airport Terminal
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461 Pipelines, Except Natural Gas
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472 Arrangement of Passenger Transportation
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473 Arrangement of Transportation of Freight and Cargo
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474 Rental of Railroad Cars
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478 Miscellaneous Services Incidental To Transportation
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481 Telephone Communications
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482 Telegraph and Other Message Communications
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483 Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations
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484 Cable and Other Pay Television Services
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489 Communications Services, Not Elsewhere
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491 Electric Services
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492 Gas Production and Distribution
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493 Combination Electric and Gas, and Other Utility
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494 Water Supply
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495 Sanitary Services
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496 Steam and Air-conditioning Supply
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497 Irrigation Systems
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Extended US-SIC Hierarchy for 4215 - Courier Services, Except by Air
For business marketing and targeting, US SIC Codes have been extended to provide more specific classifications within US-SIC 4215 - Courier Services, Except by Air. Extended US SIC Codes are being continuously updated to reflect the current business environment.
6 Digit SIC Codes
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421501 Courier services
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421502 Parcel delivery
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421503 Shipping masters
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421504 Parcel post assembly service
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421505 Art delivery
8 Digit SIC Codes
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42150000 Courier services, except by air
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42159900 Courier services, except by air, nec
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42159901 Bicycle delivery service
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42159902 Motorcycle delivery service
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42159903 Package delivery, vehicular
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42159904 Parcel delivery, vehicular
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US SIC Code Directory
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