ADVICE NEEDED!!!

HI ALL
First of all can i just say what a great web site this is, it has answered a lot of my questions i needed help on just by reading through different topics
Also this is my first post so please be patient and if i do anything wrong im sure someone will pull me up.
Anyway down to business,Im currently in the middle of planning my fantasic future in the transport industry . Im driving 8 wheeler tippers at the moment and been considering going it alone.Ive looked into getting my C.P.C and operators licence but because I would be new to running a business anyway ive decided to leave that option till later, and decided to go down the freelance courier route. First question, is this worth while ( ive done some rough sums and it doesnt seem to bad ).Is the going rate for vans roughly 70p per mile? Am i better off buying a van outright or going in for a finace deal?
Anyway thats it for now as im sure ill have more questions soon and any advice is greatly appreciated

Hi Gav

Welcome to TruckNet

Sorry, I don’t know anything about Vans, but I’m sure someone who does know will be along soon ( might have to wait until the weekend though )

on the other hand, if you’ve got any questions about Sheep, I should know the answer

Denis F:
Sorry, I don’t know anything about Vans, … on the other hand, if you’ve got any questions about Sheep, I should know the answer

So how many sheep can you get in a van?

Welcome to TruckNet Gav, I also know nothing about vans, as can be seen from my question to Denis, but I’m sure there will be members who can help you.

Sorry me neither - know about vans that is, but I believe its better to buy something outright, if you have the money of course.

I’ve just had this issue myself. Should I buy a £30k truck and borrow £17k or buy a £13k unit outright. I opted for the latter, as the monthly costs, insurance, etc. , are high enough without additional finance payments.

If you have guaranteed work, I guess its a different matter, but I am new to the game and don’t know how it’ll go over the next couple of years.

With regards the CPC, I thinks its worth doing, I’ve used home study packs from Graham Lewsey, who advertises in various magazines, which gives you the minimum of information, but I’m re-taking some modules again tomorrow, so not sure what that says about the course notes, or me!

Good luck,

The going rate for vans in the south west seems to be around a pound a mile, but boy do they ever work hard for it. Much less out lay than HGV though, less of everything, Less inintial set up costs, less fuel, less beurocracy? baurocracy?? beurocrasy■■? oh sod it, Red Tape!!!

Plambert:
With regards the CPC, I thinks its worth doing, I’ve used home study packs from Graham Lewsey, who advertises in various magazines, which gives you the minimum of information, but I’m re-taking some modules again tomorrow, so not sure what that says about the course notes, or me!

Good luck,

I did mine with Friendbury Home study packs - passed module 1 & 2 first time in 2000, passed module 4 second time in 2001, and passed module 6 first time this year

you can do CPC online - can’t remember where at the moment - maybe learndirect or Lantra - it’s on a thread ages ago either in here or on the old forums

Good Luck tomorrow

Good luck for tomorrow hope it all goes well.
I think as far as the how many sheep in a van go, it all depends if they are lambs or fully grown sheep but remember not to over load the back axle
The hard work side of things isnt really an issue because ive got huge amounts of determination and drive to pull it off successfully ( I hope )and also still being a little whippersnapper ( im only 24 ) then age is still on my side and got a few years left in me yet to do something with my myself instead of getting pulled out of quaries by a dozer day in day out
Ive also looked at the courier exchange website seems pretty good, is there anybody out there using it , and how does it work after paying your £350 to join?

Ok found it now

CPC online study is at http://www.clicktolearn.org.uk/ and at £49.99 it seems like a bargain to me

I can’t get a direct link but it’s linked from the front page!
(Click to Learn Website > click on country> Complete course list>Specialist & Technical Skills>Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Haulage)

I’ll put this in the useful links forum…

gav:
I think as far as the how many sheep in a van go, it all depends if they are lambs or fully grown sheep but remember not to over load the back axle

Ah, I asumed it would depend on the number of seats fitted, 2 seats = 2 sheep but if a bench seat was fitted you could get away with 3. Of course seatbelts would need to be worn.

Hi gav, Welcome to TruckNet !

I recall TruckNet members Sprinter and Redvanman are van owner/drivers. Perhaps they will reply to this thread when they see it (although hopefully they will be flat out clocking up the miles right now, 2 weeks before Christmas !! )
You cold send them a PM asking your questions or drawing their attention to this thread.

Hope this helps,

Cheers deesider
I will PM them now, I knew you lot wouldnt let me down.
Ive also learnt how to safely carry sheep in a van
Also is there anychance on getting some opions on wether or not the dreded W.T.D will be in my favour, thinking that companys with stiffys and bendys will contract out deliveries and collections that will fit on a 3.5 tonner to free up some of the larger trucks time so they can take care of bigger deliveries and full load trunking,just another one of my thoughts dont know if it would be the case,so answers on a postcard please

I wouldn’t count on the WTD doing you any favours Gav, it doesn’t look like it is actually going to make much difference to drivers or companies.

Denis F:
on the other hand, if you’ve got any questions about Sheep, I should know the answer

Trust ‘‘Ewe’’ dennis
If the sheep have been sheared though, you can ‘‘Ram’’ more in.

And if someone wants you to carry any cattle in your van, he’s talking ‘‘Bullocks’’

if going for a van for courier work you wont need a cpc just remember althought theres no tacho your still covered as a driver under domestic driver hours rules as for the rate pence for pence its better at around the 70-£1 mark

As i’ve been looking at lots of options for a while now Gav, rates suprised me.

A guy I spoke to sold his artic etc after 2 main customers went bankrupt owing him money and so he moved into courier-ing; his rates were the same!!

Another option that I think should make a big difference is buy a petrol van, not diesel (I can hear you all laughing!!) and get it converted to run on LPG!

My car runs on LPG and the difference in cost is huge. I regularly drive (my own car) from Paderborn, Germany to UK and it is soooo much cheaper, even than a diesel!

I’d also say that the resale should be quite good too; loads of van-to-camper converters would snap up a nice condition Merc Sprinter, cheap-to-run LGP!!

Hi Gav

Just seen your post regarding mileage rates for self employed vans.

I work for a courier company in Nuneaton, we use self employed drivers and pay them around 52p per mile (out and back) for a sprinter or 40p per mile for a Transit.

Hope this helps

Calv

Gav, I’m sure you’ll get all your anwers here:

codforum.org.uk/ look out for the forums.

If i remember correctly, they also have a running cost chart for different vans.

I would only aim to start on your 25th birthday as courier work insurance is tremendously expensive & will be more so under 25.

gav,

you have pm

Denis F:
Ok found it now

CPC online study is at http://www.clicktolearn.org.uk/ and at £49.99 it seems like a bargain to me
.

Don’t forget Denis, that price is for preparation for the course,
You don’t have a qualification at the end of it.

Ian.