Driven by the boom in e-commerce, the delivery sector is experiencing strong growth. However, behind this momentum lies a demanding profession.
At 3:00 PM yesterday, Herikolo finally put down his delivery bag. “I’m not just physically exhausted; my morale has also taken a hit,” he confides. Out of the seven deliveries he made between Behoririka and Ambatolampy Tsimahafotsy, three could not be completed. “Between a customer I couldn’t reach and two refused parcels, my day took a bitter turn. These three trips generated zero income for me, even though every pedal stroke was exhausting,” he explains.
These situations are frequent, according to industry professionals. “We work with tight deadlines, but some customers sometimes make us wait for nearly an hour. This delay has a domino effect on the entire route, and often the subsequent customers end up expressing their dissatisfaction,” testifies Jaona Ranaivoson.
Beyond the time constraints, the job requires constant physical effort. For economic reasons, the majority of delivery workers use bicycles, sometimes traveling long distances. “Every evening, I feel like I’ve exhausted all my strength,” summarizes Jaona Ranaivoson. Vonjy Randrianoely, another delivery worker, handles up to fifteen deliveries a day and sometimes covers about thirty kilometers round trip. Delivery fees generally range between 3,000 and 8,000 ariary depending on the destination.
Mistrust
The issue of security also remains a major concern.
“We sometimes fall victim to theft,” notes Jaona Ranaivoson. Delivery workers often operate without any specific protective measures. “One of our colleagues had the products he was supposed to deliver stolen. Yet, he was held responsible, as the customer doubted his version of events,” he reports. A situation that fuels mistrust in a sector where some fraudulent behaviors have sometimes damaged consumer confidence.
Despite these difficulties, the sector continues to attract new players. “The online sales market is in full expansion, which encourages many people to invest in this niche,” explains a manager at the agency Sprint Livraison Mada, which has been on the market for three weeks.
Industry professionals believe that the activity can be a viable source of income, provided that customer commitments are honored and the security conditions for delivery workers are strengthened.
Miangaly Ralitera
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-19 06:48:04 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/commerce-en-ligne-les-livreurs-endurent.html