1986.

The year of neon, mixtapes, Top Gun, and shoulder pads. It's also the year a 23-year-old Maverick, Chris Marchetti, took a leap of faith, started a one-room courier company, and launched a 39-year (and counting!) legacy.

Armed with one dispatcher, three drivers (shoutout to John Uno—still with us leading dispatch!), a typewriter, and a cot for catnaps between deliveries, Chris set the wheels in motion for what would become one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most trusted time-critical, same-day delivery companies.

Fast-forward to 2025, and we’ve gone from pagers to powerhouse logistics. Excel Courier is now an operation with over 250 drivers, 50+ employees, and locations covering Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.

And this anniversary marks a triple milestone: 39 years for Excel Courier, for Chris, and for John Uno. That’s nearly four decades of hustle, growth, and a whole lot of deliveries.

📷: Chris Marchetti in his original one-room office

 

We’ve come a long way

Our same-day delivery and logistics services have come a long way since those early days. While we still proudly say we can handle anything “from an envelope to a tractor-trailer,” certain service areas have really taken off.

It’s all part of how we keep evolving to meet the needs of our clients while staying true to who we are. Some of the biggest changes include:

Excel Courier, Meet Excel Solutions

Our Excel Solutions team really skyrocketed. It's our newest division that takes on the tough stuff. Think heavy-duty, B2B, white-glove logistics for projects like data center relocations, multi-site installations, and high-stakes transportation where failure is not an option. If it’s complicated or needs a team, Excel Solutions is here to simplify it.

Private Fleets Can't Be Beat
Our Dedicated Services give clients their own private delivery vehicles and drivers—available for half or full-day shifts. It’s like having your own logistics team, without the overhead. Need consistent routes or on-brand service? Consider it done.

Heartbeats in Motion: Medical Courier Services
From blood banks and infusion centers to hospitals and life science labs, medical courier services are the lifeline of what we do. We treat every specimen and supply with the sensitivity it deserves—because when you deliver for healthcare, timing isn’t just important. It’s critical.

📷: John Uno and Chris Marchetti (center) pictured with part of the dispatch team

Investing in People, Not Just Packages

Behind every delivery is a team of people trained to think fast, act with purpose, and lead with integrity. To empower this behavior, we’ve rolled out on-site leadership development workshops, invested in training resources, and are building high-performing teams rooted in:

• Building trust
• Embracing healthy conflict (yes, it’s a good thing!)
• Aligning teams for a shared commitment
• Driving accountability, and
• Delivering results

Because a great company isn’t built on packages—it’s built on people. 

📷: Chris Marchetti and Ryan Cooper at the Ukrop's 10k in April 2025

Long-Term Legends

This year, we’re throwing extra confetti for a few of our long-time legends:

• Beau Bowling (left): Celebrating 30 years! From the driver’s seat to the heart of our fleet operations, Beau’s dedication and knowledge have kept us rolling smoothly.

• Steve Sawyer (below): 20 years in, and still solving logistics challenges like McGyver. As our Director of Logistics, Steve’s ideas (and calm-in-the-chaos attitude) are invaluable to the team.

 

Where We're Headed

As we enter our 39th year, we’re not slowing down. We’re investing in smarter technology, expanding Excel Solutions to meet demand, and continuing to grow our fleet and leadership talent—all with one goal:

To be a place where customers come for solutions, employees find purpose in their work, and drivers will be successful. 

 

📷: John Uno dispatching in the early '00s

So Here’s to 39 Years

To every client who trusts us, every detail-oriented driver who braves traffic for the mission, and every team member who shows up with purpose—thank you. You’ve made Excel Courier more than just a delivery company. You’ve made it a family, a career, and a legacy.

 

📷: John Uno and Chris Marchetti during the early days

Let’s keep moving forward together into our 39th year.

Whether you’re looking for a results-oriented logistics partner or you’re ready to join a company that values growth and grit, we’d love to hear from you.

Excel In Pictures

Want to take a trip down memory lane? Check out Excel Courier’s origin story or browse through our history in pictures.