Hello & Some Van Courier Questions-New Driver

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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Thanks Edd & Alfa

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Hi rob craft.

Personally with all this covid kicking about I would avoid going self employed at the moment

No government scheme will help out businesses less than a year old who haven’t subbitted a tax return .

I would look at being on the books for some one ,at least if we lock down again you will furlough pay .

Possibly think about holding back for 12 months and seeing how the situation is then.

Obviously that is just my uneducated opinion but if you do make a try of it , all the best and good luck

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Robcraft:
Hello,
Thanks for Dave for helping register after some difficulites.

I am thinking of self employed Courier work. I will have the free use of a LWB VW van. I would like to ask members some questions please before I start so that I don’t make any costly mistakes.

  1. I understand I need the following Insurance. Personal Liability. Goods in Transit,Hire and reward. Would any one be able to recommend a specialist firm where I can get quotes for them all or is it usual to get then seperate.

  2. Does any one know anything about Courier Exchange and Courier Expert. I have watched some You-Tube Videos about the Exchange where BigBeardy and Peter the Van give fairly positive reviews. However I was shocked when Beardy said that along with the Exchanges £800 yearly fee I would need a float of 3-4K to get me over until the first payments come in after 2 months.

  3. I live in the West Midlands. Does anyone have reviews about Crown Couriers Tamworth? I understand that they pay .89p per laden mile and you have to wait for 24 days for first payment is this normal.
    Also can any one give any other recommentaions for companys in my Area? I will of course look in the Jobs section.

Thanks
Rob.
p.s to the administrator. This is the second time I have had to type this as the first time I used the preview and save as draft. It all disapeared as I could see any saved drafts section. Thanks.

Low barrier to entry, no experience needed and relatively cheap set-up costs = earning peanuts because you are competing with a million others doing the same thing. If you want the money in haulage you need to be specialised and in a niche with a very small ‘availability’ pool which is the leverage you use to name your price. You’re not going to achieve that with a Sprinter van hauling 3 pallets of urgent ‘product’ from London to Glasgow.

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Thanks to Mick and Spike. Looks like a theme developing here. :smiley:

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I want to share some good news in this time of madness. Please look up the following on You-tube.

I sharen’t post links incase it gets me banned…

  1. The Great Barrington Declaration.

  2. “Alternative News”. 4 Oct 2020 - Dr Riener Fuellmech in english 49 mins. A german lawer well know for taking VW and deutchbank to court. Is filling a law suit against the German and US government for Crimes against Humanity-Covid.

  3. “Oracle Films”:The World Doctors Alliance speaking out.Thousands of Doctors from all over speaking out.

We can all do our bit to stop this insanity taking place in our Country even if its just sending out this video links to people who don’t know or have been scared whitless.

I apologise to Admin if this is unacceptable to share videos etc.

Thanks

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robthedog:

Robcraft:

biggriffin:
Isn’t there a resident of this parish, that earns millions, driving a van, He might be along soon,with words of wisdom…

I am sorry I don’t understand that, perhaps it was meant for other members.

It was cgscott funny how he has nothing to say on the subject

How can you complain? You have absolutely nothing to say on any subject. I struggle to think if I have ever seen more that one line in any of your posts. :unamused:

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Also if you join courier exchange they will ask to see goods in trains insurance docs van insured for business use docs etc 1st.

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thanks edd.

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[If you want to bring in another topic, I suggest another thread and this time on Bullys. Though all that has been covered probably already.

Another to rain on your parade im afraid.

I started out with vans in 91, moved to add trucks to the fleet, retired last year. The problem in the last 30 years is that the rates have gone down significantly. My rates for 2018 were well over 0.89ppm, and all miles. The only way to have any chance is to get in with a manufacturer and those looking for a courier and paying decent money are even fewer than when I started.

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Hi Rob,
Go on Shiply (correct spelling) if you haven’t all ready, its a perfect example of what you’d be up against, a race to the bottom on rates quoted, shocking really

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Robcraft:
I will have the free use of a LWB VW van.

How old is this van?
Do you own the van outright or does it belong to someone else?

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Thanks Albion and Kwikfit.

Pierre: 65 plate and I will be able to use it free of charge.

All your comments on here have been helpfull and all negative on me doing what I was thinking of doing. i.e Courier work with the Exchanges and Experts etc.
I am going to contact Transport company’s directly.

Thanks
Rob

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Hi Mate

I did self employed courier work i used a transit custom van. you will be constantly chasing pennys mate and stay clear of crown couriers they will give you work but don’t like telling you how much the job you will not make money with them as your running cost will be more than your earning, and don’t expect return loads from them will sent you to scotland from delivery but will have no return. Courier work as a self employed driver is ALL about building you own network. Courier exchange is a good place to starting but expect to be undercut constantly.

Royal mail sameday is the same, i would approach companies direct as long as you’ve got the correct insurancies try RAK Ceramices Hurricane park Bromford gate birmingham, they use owner drivers but like i said mate you’ve got to NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK your not gonna make money doing other peoples work only your own.

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jayh74 Thanks for the advice and tips.

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Robcraft:
Pierre: 65 plate and I will be able to use it free of charge.

I recon you will need a van that’s 3 years old or newer, and own outright

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peirre:
I recon you will need a van that’s 3 years old or newer, and own outright

Considering trucks at 65 plate are liable to break down expensively, that would be my thinking too. You need to be reliable and van broken for a week is really bad news unless you can rent one (seem to be £50 / day here).

It would still concern me the “free use of” as to who owns it. I seem to remember DPD required you to own the van when I looked a few years back as you had to provide V5, proof of MOT (pre online checks), insurances etc.

Even Amazon have age limits although seen a few which are defo older occasionally.

I do wonder how independent couriers (not subbying for DPD etc) work out their area as say of you have 6 packages, but one is Londkn and another Inverness, it could be a little tricky. Do they limit to certain postcodes or regions?

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Thanks to Trev and pierre. The van is perfectly reliable , low mileage serviced and MOT(straight pass) in the last month.
I have decided not to go down the Courier EX or similar route and the moment(if possible). I am contacting firms direct.

Thanks for all your advice.

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I hope you understand that nobody wants to P on your parade but the costs involved in running any sort of commercial vehicle are horrendous . You would be dealing with late and non payers always wanting the job done cheaper. I have also looked into doing this sort of work.

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alamcculloch. Thanks. The replies from members has been helpful.All have said don’t bother. So I won’t unless it can’t be helped.

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Robcraft:
alamcculloch. Thanks. The replies from members has been helpful.All have said don’t bother. So I won’t unless it can’t be helped.

Admin/Moderator
I have all the advice I need from this post now thankyou. To save members time in replying, can you please close or delete this post and question or tell me how to do it.

Thanks

Why not leave it up for others to read at a later date? Might help out someone else thinking about it.