Pony Express operates an on-board courier (OBC) service from anywhere in the UK to Davenport, Iowa, the largest of the Quad Cities straddling the Mississippi River alongside Bettendorf, Rock Island and Moline. A dedicated courier hand-carries your shipment from collection through to delivery, staying with it the entire way rather than handing it off between freight carriers. Pricing is quoted per job — call 0800 288 4052 or email sales@ponyexpress.co.uk for a no-obligation quote.

How on-board courier hand-carry works

We book your courier onto the next suitable flight after collection, and they remain with the goods through check-in, customs and the connecting leg, landing with the shipment still in hand rather than in a cargo hold managed by a third party.

Route and transit to Davenport

Flights typically leave Heathrow or Manchester, connect through a major US hub such as Chicago O'Hare, and land at Quad City International Airport (MLI) in neighbouring Moline, Illinois, a short drive across the river into Davenport itself.

What we carry to Davenport

The Quad Cities' economy is built on heavy manufacturing and agricultural equipment — Davenport sits close to major farm and construction machinery plants — so we regularly hand-carry urgent machine parts, prototype components and engineering drawings. We also move legal and financial documents on tight signing deadlines, and time-critical samples for the region's healthcare and food-processing sectors.

Customs and clearance

Because the courier travels with commercial documentation attached to the shipment and clears customs alongside it, OBC avoids the queuing that can hold up unaccompanied air freight. We confirm the paperwork your specific goods will need before departure.

Frequently asked questions

• How quickly can you depart the UK? Usually on the next available flight after your booking is confirmed.
• Do you collect nationwide? Yes — anywhere in the UK, brought directly to the departure airport.
• Which airport do you use for Davenport? Quad City International (MLI) in Moline, minutes from Davenport.
• Can you carry machine parts and prototypes? Yes, this is one of our most frequent job types into the Quad Cities.
• How is pricing worked out? Every OBC job is quoted individually based on route, urgency and cargo.