Becomming a Trade Plater
Discussion
Hi All
Bored of the current grind, I have vaguely considered becoming a delivery driver for an auction site/logistics company.
Most of the accounts I have heard indicate that hours are long, pay is quite low, but that it is fairly interesting. I like driving, and would enjoy figuring out my travel arrangements etc (although I often see these guys hitching at the side of the road - which would also be cool I guess).
Has anyone done it? Any stories?
A friend of mine with HGV licence started doing this about 15 yrs ago, as an employee of a firm in the North West. He lives in the Midlands. The basic money was OK but they pay travel expenses to get back home by train, which is tax free. He always hitches, so that's where he makes his money. Mainly delivers lorries, dustcards etc to councils all over UK.
Then about 7 yrs ago he was invited to work in addition part time for a firm that deliver/collects cars, mainly for the rich, celebs and suchlike, all over Europe. You can't apply for a job with this firm, they have to hear about you thru the grapevine and you're invited to join.
So A business tycoon is flying down to his house in Spain, and want's his Ferrari waiting there when he arrives, or businessman drove to Germany but had to fly somewhere else urgently, so needs his car brought back from Munich airport, that sort of thing. That is really good money. Plus they pay his flight out or back and if he can hitch he can make £500 extra.
He's done really well. Not the brightest guy in the world but a hard worker and a careful driver, he has a lovely house and takes nice holidays. And because he drives so many exotic cars, he's not bothered and runs an old Golf Diesel.
Then about 7 yrs ago he was invited to work in addition part time for a firm that deliver/collects cars, mainly for the rich, celebs and suchlike, all over Europe. You can't apply for a job with this firm, they have to hear about you thru the grapevine and you're invited to join.
So A business tycoon is flying down to his house in Spain, and want's his Ferrari waiting there when he arrives, or businessman drove to Germany but had to fly somewhere else urgently, so needs his car brought back from Munich airport, that sort of thing. That is really good money. Plus they pay his flight out or back and if he can hitch he can make £500 extra.
He's done really well. Not the brightest guy in the world but a hard worker and a careful driver, he has a lovely house and takes nice holidays. And because he drives so many exotic cars, he's not bothered and runs an old Golf Diesel.
I used to do it 15+ years ago, delivering lease Vauxhalls around the UK and doing dealer-transfers. It was a fun job - most of the time.
I got as far afield as St Ives (Cornwall) and Inverness. (Did Luton - Inverness - Luton in a day).
It certainly didn't pay well doing it directly for a dealer but even then, trade drivers were paid in many different ways. As above, some were paid for travelling costs even if they were able to hitch. We used to have to hitch but then a change in management meant we got paid for using the trains. I used to enjoy the long train journeys (longest was back from Edinburgh) reading a book and watching the world go by.
I got as far afield as St Ives (Cornwall) and Inverness. (Did Luton - Inverness - Luton in a day).
It certainly didn't pay well doing it directly for a dealer but even then, trade drivers were paid in many different ways. As above, some were paid for travelling costs even if they were able to hitch. We used to have to hitch but then a change in management meant we got paid for using the trains. I used to enjoy the long train journeys (longest was back from Edinburgh) reading a book and watching the world go by.
Friend worked until recently for a large firm based in Yorkshire. He's taken early retirement and it was more for a hobby than a job. Pay was unskilld at £6 an hour, Hours were daft.
He'd be leaving at 5.30AM and would not get back to base generally before 9PM.
Lots of making it up on the hoof. Taxis last resort, so it was foot, bus or train part of the way, to meet up with someone bringing a car back to base etc.
He did not fancy another winter of 4.30AM starts, can't say I blame him!
He'd be leaving at 5.30AM and would not get back to base generally before 9PM.
Lots of making it up on the hoof. Taxis last resort, so it was foot, bus or train part of the way, to meet up with someone bringing a car back to base etc.
He did not fancy another winter of 4.30AM starts, can't say I blame him!
surveyor said:
Friend worked until recently for a large firm based in Yorkshire. He's taken early retirement and it was more for a hobby than a job. Pay was unskilld at £6 an hour, Hours were daft.
He'd be leaving at 5.30AM and would not get back to base generally before 9PM.
Lots of making it up on the hoof. Taxis last resort, so it was foot, bus or train part of the way, to meet up with someone bringing a car back to base etc.
He did not fancy another winter of 4.30AM starts, can't say I blame him!
Like any job, there are 2 ends of the scale. My friend recently delivered a Ferrari 599 from London to Moscow. Then when he got back it was a cement mixer from Felixstowe to Dewsbury! As least he can't say every day is the same. He'd be leaving at 5.30AM and would not get back to base generally before 9PM.
Lots of making it up on the hoof. Taxis last resort, so it was foot, bus or train part of the way, to meet up with someone bringing a car back to base etc.
He did not fancy another winter of 4.30AM starts, can't say I blame him!
U T said:
A friend of mine with HGV licence started doing this about 15 yrs ago, as an employee of a firm in the North West. He lives in the Midlands. The basic money was OK but they pay travel expenses to get back home by train, which is tax free. He always hitches, so that's where he makes his money.
Ex landlord of local pub did this, it was how he made his money.
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