Conor:
Before even considering it do a proper business plan, do the research on the startup costs, what rates are, what the competition is.
Never did any of that. Actually wouldn’t know how to do a business plan.
It’s not that complicated and if you’re wanting things like a business account and finance then you’ll most likely need to give one to those people anyway. One thing they do do is force you to actually do a bit of research rather than just think you can start out and make loads of money because X, Y and Z are so surely you can as well. It can often alter what you decide to be the aim of the business and the work you go for to making you realise it isn’t a go-er and saving you throwing away £10,000s trying to make something work that could never happen.
When I did mine for my business 12 years ago it was viable. Do it today and I’d not even bother because world and dog is at it, all working for less than minimum wage with customers expecting to pay that money because its what the majority charge. I jumped ship 6 years ago when I saw the writing on the wall.
Saw a post in that thread you linked to on the O/D board that said they were getting £1.50 a mile. That’s mental, it means when they’re climbing Windy Hill at 2-3MPG they’re losing money every mile they’re climbing.
Conor:
Before even considering it do a proper business plan, do the research on the startup costs, what rates are, what the competition is.
Never did any of that. Actually wouldn’t know how to do a business plan.
It’s not that complicated and if you’re wanting things like a business account and finance then you’ll most likely need to give one to those people anyway. One thing they do do is force you to actually do a bit of research rather than just think you can start out and make loads of money because X, Y and Z are so surely you can as well. It can often alter what you decide to be the aim of the business and the work you go for to making you realise it isn’t a go-er and saving you throwing away £10,000s trying to make something work that could never happen.
When I did mine for my business 12 years ago it was viable. Do it today and I’d not even bother because world and dog is at it, all working for less than minimum wage with customers expecting to pay that money because its what the majority charge. I jumped ship 6 years ago when I saw the writing on the wall.
Saw a post in that thread you linked to on the O/D board that said they were getting £1.50 a mile. That’s mental, it means when they’re climbing Windy Hill at 2-3MPG they’re losing money every mile they’re climbing.
I’m sure they aren’t complicated, but as you know I ran a very successful business for decades. If I had a business plan it would never have reflected the way the business ended up. When we financed (the last 10 years we bought for cash), we were never asked for a business plan.
As for the 1.50 a mile of someone else’s, well obviously that would have been useless on my rates. You’ve seen my formula for how to price a job and it works, no.plan needed.
Been there done that got the T shirt, for what it’s worth spend your money on wine woman and fast power boats as at least you will have enjoyed it. Having said that, after BREXIT may be things will come back to as it used to be and local haulage companies got the contracts without doing the work for nothing.
Conor:
Before even considering it do a proper business plan, do the research on the startup costs, what rates are, what the competition is.
Never did any of that. Actually wouldn’t know how to do a business plan.
It’s not that complicated and if you’re wanting things like a business account and finance then you’ll most likely need to give one to those people anyway. One thing they do do is force you to actually do a bit of research rather than just think you can start out and make loads of money because X, Y and Z are so surely you can as well. It can often alter what you decide to be the aim of the business and the work you go for to making you realise it isn’t a go-er and saving you throwing away £10,000s trying to make something work that could never happen.
When I did mine for my business 12 years ago it was viable. Do it today and I’d not even bother because world and dog is at it, all working for less than minimum wage with customers expecting to pay that money because its what the majority charge. I jumped ship 6 years ago when I saw the writing on the wall.
Saw a post in that thread you linked to on the O/D board that said they were getting £1.50 a mile. That’s mental, it means when they’re climbing Windy Hill at 2-3MPG they’re losing money every mile they’re climbing.
I’m sure they aren’t complicated, but as you know I ran a very successful business for decades. If I had a business plan it would never have reflected the way the business ended up. When we financed (the last 10 years we bought for cash), we were never asked for a business plan.
As for the 1.50 a mile of someone else’s, well obviously that would have been useless on my rates. You’ve seen my formula for how to price a job and it works, no.plan needed.
£1.50 a ■■■■ mile?
I was on that in 1986 ffs, and diesel was 50p a litre, ok I had direct work, but come on.
If that ain’t a reason to do any thing with your money, except buy a ■■■■ truck,.I don’t know what is.
emmerson2:
Question: I want to set up in transport and retire in ten years time with around £50,000 pension fund. How do I do it?
Answer: Start with £100,000.
Q: I want to make the most pointless post possible…■■■■ beaten to it?
What relevance does a pension pot have to do with setting up as an o/d,neither amount would be enough to retire on btw
£1.50 a [zb] mile?
I was on that in 1986 ffs, and diesel was 50p a litre, ok I had direct work, but come on.
If that ain’t a reason to do any thing with your money, except buy a [zb] truck,.I don’t know what is.
[/quote]
Its possible to make a decent living out of 1.50 a mile, right work, right setup, no overheads and i make more than i would as an employed driver, i do agree though its a poor rate for whats involved and if i ran everywhere at 44T i wouldnt do it, some weeks i can spend over half the week with an empty trailer but still get 1.50 a mile for it
robroy:
£1.50 a [zb] mile?
I was on that in 1986 ffs, and diesel was 50p a litre, ok I had direct work, but come on.
If that ain’t a reason to do any thing with your money, except buy a [zb] truck,.I don’t know what is.
Its possible to make a decent living out of 1.50 a mile, right work, right setup, no overheads and i make more than i would as an employed driver, i do agree though its a poor rate for whats involved and if i ran everywhere at 44T i wouldnt do it, some weeks i can spend over half the week with an empty trailer but still get 1.50 a mile for it
Ok, if you’re happy with it mate that’s all that matters.
Where as if I was still running my own truck, I’d expect to be on a lot more than what I was on 30+ years ago, especially when running costs are much more now than they were then, and be severely ■■■■■■ with my customer if they were not,.as in effect I’d be clearing a lot less now than I was then, obviously.
Even getting second hand work at that time it was around a quid a mile.
1st Wagon in 1972 cost £67
A 2,000cu ft BMC 5.7 FFK Luton -
After I got a Dunopillo pad on the drivers perch to end my piles (Hemaroids) job done
Horrible nasty motor - but that what we all put up with then
2nd Wagon Leyland FJ £175
3rd Wagon Bedford KM £450 & 40ft widespread tandem flat with multi twistlocks
1974 - 200+ Logbooks later - bloodshot eyes
4th Wagon £4,750 C Reg Mercedes 1418 but running to the Middle East & Happy Days
1976 5th Wagon left hand drive Mid east spec Merc 1932 V10 big cab £12,000 - even happier days
You get what you work & pay for
2017 (1998) Merc 230 Kompressor £800 4 door no cargo space
Hi mate,
I work on containers where pay is average in my area,Iv seen lads save up buy an old battered Volvo work hard and now have a nice tidy truck earning a nice tidy living.
But Iv seen the ones fall in to the trap of working for the likes of maritime etc and making a complete pigs ear of it.
I have a good mate who runs a daf cf on maritime and if he gets 2 local jobs a day he does ok,on containers.
Then I see the ones who get greedy running the truck on a night too,that’s another wage to pay,more ware an tear on the truck etc and last literally a few months.
My mare has a modest unit does 2 local jobs a day and is home every night,I do the same but a few more hours working for someone else and he is £100 a week better off than me on average,that sort of out me off running my own.
I lock mine up on a Friday and don’t worry
I’d still have a go if I had the funds but don’t think its worth the hassle deep down,
yorkshire terrier:
Then I see the ones who get greedy running the truck on a night too,that’s another wage to pay,more ware an tear on the truck etc and last literally a few month
,
That ain’t greed mate, it’s exploiting the truck to it’s full potential, and maximising it’s earnings.
As long as you get a good lad on it, (an inept idiot can cost you a fortune) it’s a good move. It’s like running 2 trucks but having only the initial outlay and tax for one.
I tried to double shift mine as much and as often as I could
A parked up truck is no good, a truck running to it’s max is an earner.
yorkshire terrier:
Then I see the ones who get greedy running the truck on a night too,that’s another wage to pay,more ware an tear on the truck etc and last literally a few month
,
That ain’t greed mate, it’s exploiting the truck to it’s full potential, and maximising it’s earnings.
As long as you get a good lad on it, (an inept idiot can cost you a fortune) it’s a good move. It’s like running 2 trucks but having only the initial outlay and tax for one.
I tried to double shift mine as much and as often as I could
A parked up truck is no good, a truck running to it’s max is an earner.
Seriously robroy on containers it don’t work like that,a night run to Felixstowe can cause a delay and you could lose your first job of the day,so half that profit from the night run has gone,all the owner drivers I know on containers only run the truck through the day,for a multi truck operation it may work but not a single truck outfit,
yorkshire terrier:
Then I see the ones who get greedy running the truck on a night too,that’s another wage to pay,more ware an tear on the truck etc and last literally a few month
,
That ain’t greed mate, it’s exploiting the truck to it’s full potential, and maximising it’s earnings.
As long as you get a good lad on it, (an inept idiot can cost you a fortune) it’s a good move. It’s like running 2 trucks but having only the initial outlay and tax for one.
I tried to double shift mine as much and as often as I could
A parked up truck is no good, a truck running to it’s max is an earner.
Seriously robroy on containers it don’t work like that,a night run to Felixstowe can cause a delay and you could lose your first job of the day,so half that profit from the night run has gone,all the owner drivers I know on containers only run the truck through the day,for a multi truck operation it may work but not a single truck outfit,
Ok fair enough, I’ve never done containers tbh, I was more general.
I see what you mean.
yorkshire terrier:
Then I see the ones who get greedy running the truck on a night too,that’s another wage to pay,more ware an tear on the truck etc and last literally a few month
,
That ain’t greed mate, it’s exploiting the truck to it’s full potential, and maximising it’s earnings.
As long as you get a good lad on it, (an inept idiot can cost you a fortune) it’s a good move. It’s like running 2 trucks but having only the initial outlay and tax for one.
I tried to double shift mine as much and as often as I could
A parked up truck is no good, a truck running to it’s max is an earner.
Seriously robroy on containers it don’t work like that,a night run to Felixstowe can cause a delay and you could lose your first job of the day,so half that profit from the night run has gone,all the owner drivers I know on containers only run the truck through the day,for a multi truck operation it may work but not a single truck outfit,
Ok fair enough, I’ve never done containers tbh, I was more general.
I see what you mean.
If I was ever going to run my own it would be on containers,if you work from the rail heads like we do you don’t burn much diesel either
Gremlinc82:
£475 per day for what?
Van, 7.5 tonner or artic.
£175 per day for you
£200 per day for fuel (massively variable obviously)
Leaves you with £100 for the vehicle.
I suspect you may want to look for more than £475
Don’t be a busy fool, but good luck whatever.
Gremlinc82:
£475 per day for what?
Van, 7.5 tonner or artic.
£175 per day for you
£200 per day for fuel (massively variable obviously)
Leaves you with £100 for the vehicle.
I suspect you may want to look for more than £475
Don’t be a busy fool, but good luck whatever.
It’s the holidays, or a school project…
It’s an example of how many failed owner drivers have gone into it with their eyes shut (the reason for them failing).
They see themselves driving a fancy motor, with their name on the doors, arm out the window, shades on, and think it’s the be all and end all of their lives, and fail to do their important homework preparing for it properly, but jump in with the first predatory shark and suffer for it.
Trust me there us zero glamour or romanticism owning your own truck, UNLESS you have bloody good work, (better still bloody good DIRECT work)
Subbing 10% (that is the figure they tell you btw ) is no good, …ok you may make a living, but what is the point of JUST making a living which is only a slight improvement on the guy in the next truck driving for somebody else on a good wage??
It ain’t ANY good, you should be aiming to be the next Eddie Stobart with your new business, but these days there is not a chance in hell of that happening, the haulage game is sewn up by the sharks and unscrupulous.
At least when my job went ■■■■ up all those years ago, it was nothing to do with the way I ran it, or initially planned it, it was going great guns…until I went down with the guy who took me down with him.
I think the op, has been asked to do a project for business studies, and thinks, those on here with the experience will make it easy for him.
I could be wrong.
