New house new business venture South West
Discussion
Well got things sorted out, as my job does not exist down the SW.
I am going self-employed buying a Recovery Vehicle crew cab 3/5 TON Flat bed etc.
The idea is vehicle transport/breakdowns, I have done some research so will see how things go.
Any advice more than welcome?
It's a gamble as is life.
MOD if in wrong area please move?
I am going self-employed buying a Recovery Vehicle crew cab 3/5 TON Flat bed etc.
The idea is vehicle transport/breakdowns, I have done some research so will see how things go.
Any advice more than welcome?
It's a gamble as is life.
MOD if in wrong area please move?
Edited by SEE YA on Saturday 10th May 13:29
sc0tt said:
So tell me why I should use you instead of the AA?
As far as I know, the AA doesnt do vehicle transport, only breakdowns!OP - I'd suggest registering with Shiply and Uship, and based on my experience using similar services, on every job make sure that you keep people up to date with changes in ETA etc.
Be aware that your 3.5 tonne transporter will be overweight with a lot of modern cars on it.
Friend of mine with a single cab transporter with a 5 series BMW on board got pulled and weighed and was outside the maximum weight, and outside the tolerance to avoid prosecution (something like 5% over would have been OK).
Friend of mine with a single cab transporter with a 5 series BMW on board got pulled and weighed and was outside the maximum weight, and outside the tolerance to avoid prosecution (something like 5% over would have been OK).
johnnyBv8 said:
As far as I know, the AA doesnt do vehicle transport, only
If the vehicle hasn't broken down why would it need to be on a trailer? You could simply offer the service of driving the vehicle for the owner and return home by bus/train/taxi without the expense of investing in expensive equipment.andyalan10 said:
Be aware that your 3.5 tonne transporter will be overweight with a lot of modern cars on it.
Friend of mine with a single cab transporter with a 5 series BMW on board got pulled and weighed and was outside the maximum weight, and outside the tolerance to avoid prosecution (something like 5% over would have been OK).
Doubly so as the OP said it is a crewcab, so the useful payload is even less.Friend of mine with a single cab transporter with a 5 series BMW on board got pulled and weighed and was outside the maximum weight, and outside the tolerance to avoid prosecution (something like 5% over would have been OK).
Maybe try and get in with a company like this.
http://www.call-assist.co.uk/index.aspx?page=home
They provide recovery for insurers after accidents as well as breakdowns etc.
Would mean a steady flow of business.
http://www.call-assist.co.uk/index.aspx?page=home
They provide recovery for insurers after accidents as well as breakdowns etc.
Would mean a steady flow of business.
Ozzie Osmond said:
johnnyBv8 said:
As far as I know, the AA doesnt do vehicle transport, only
If the vehicle hasn't broken down why would it need to be on a trailer? You could simply offer the service of driving the vehicle for the owner and return home by bus/train/taxi without the expense of investing in expensive equipment.Whilst some people no doubt offer the one-way drive you suggest, it doesnt sound very resource efficient; you've got all that downtime sitting on a train/bus etc not earning money - potentially around half your time! Transporters tend to link jobs so that they are always carrying something.
That said, I think it must be hard to make a decent living out of it - you have to be super-organised so that you can link jobs and price comepetitively (i.e. ony charge for one way mileage because you've lined up a backload).
Edited by johnnyBv8 on Saturday 10th May 18:57
ZOLLAR said:
Maybe try and get in with a company like this.
http://www.call-assist.co.uk/index.aspx?page=home
They provide recovery for insurers after accidents as well as breakdowns etc.
Would mean a steady flow of business.
Thank you, will look into it.http://www.call-assist.co.uk/index.aspx?page=home
They provide recovery for insurers after accidents as well as breakdowns etc.
Would mean a steady flow of business.
I spent 20 years running a recovery business covering private as well as club work for Green Flag, The AA, Equity Red Star and Call Assist.
To give you a guide to your available payload on your truck, a single cab 3.5t alloy beavertail has a payload of around 1600kg. Once you chuck in a few bits of kit, a driver and fuel, it's less. A crew cab will decrease the available load even more.
I ran Isuzu NQR 7.5t crew cabs and those after all the kit went on had a payload of 2.6t.
VOSA are absolutely cracking down on overloaded recovery trucks atm, and paying very close attention to the 3.5t ones.
Be wary. As mentioned, a lot of modern medium size cars will put you over. Although around here there seems to be an attitude of, well if it fits on the bed then it must be ok.
With regards club work. It really isn't worth it. They want 24hr cover and all the insurance, not to mention PAS43 all of which costs, yet they don't want to pay proper rates. In the end I shut the doors on my firm as I was earning less per job in 2010 than I was in 2000. Fuel costs had risen three fold, yet rates had barely risen and knowing people in the trade, still haven't.
Don't aim for club work, more profit in private work, either through the public, or through the garage trade.
I miss the job, loved it. But so glad I'm out of running the business.
Sorry to be negative, but kinda been there and got the t-shirt!!
To give you a guide to your available payload on your truck, a single cab 3.5t alloy beavertail has a payload of around 1600kg. Once you chuck in a few bits of kit, a driver and fuel, it's less. A crew cab will decrease the available load even more.
I ran Isuzu NQR 7.5t crew cabs and those after all the kit went on had a payload of 2.6t.
VOSA are absolutely cracking down on overloaded recovery trucks atm, and paying very close attention to the 3.5t ones.
Be wary. As mentioned, a lot of modern medium size cars will put you over. Although around here there seems to be an attitude of, well if it fits on the bed then it must be ok.
With regards club work. It really isn't worth it. They want 24hr cover and all the insurance, not to mention PAS43 all of which costs, yet they don't want to pay proper rates. In the end I shut the doors on my firm as I was earning less per job in 2010 than I was in 2000. Fuel costs had risen three fold, yet rates had barely risen and knowing people in the trade, still haven't.
Don't aim for club work, more profit in private work, either through the public, or through the garage trade.
I miss the job, loved it. But so glad I'm out of running the business.
Sorry to be negative, but kinda been there and got the t-shirt!!
SEE YA said:
Thanks people,all input is good or bad is helpful.
I have been into classic cars etc. for over twenty years its a big step for my family and I.
However I do not want to look back, in years to come and think I wonder what it would have been like to try this bold adventure.
I would suggest a covered truck or trailer to expand your client base.I have been into classic cars etc. for over twenty years its a big step for my family and I.
However I do not want to look back, in years to come and think I wonder what it would have been like to try this bold adventure.
Most high end cars would need to be covered
Good luck
Is what I do, only really started to pay after 8 yrs & I'm in Europe a lot as just can't survive on uk alone.
The brokers mentioned above imho are killing the industry, everyone wants to pay return load prices & lowest price gets the job, so who's left to pay full rate then?
Pal of mine gave it a go, he gave it 3 yrs & bailed out as he was only was just breaking even even with a fair bit of advice & help from me.
Have you sorted insurance? Fuel, insurance & maintenance are the big outgoings & the insurance one at present is crazy £ vs last few yrs decent cover for hire & reward is in the £5.5k to £6.5k area pa. Fuel well if you do 100k miles a year at 20mpg ish doesnt take much to add up to a large sum & fir the truck to need a lot of maintenance.
My spot of advice, weighbridge the truck with you & full fuel & straps tools etc & see what you have left to play with, it may be an unpleasant surprise.
The brokers mentioned above imho are killing the industry, everyone wants to pay return load prices & lowest price gets the job, so who's left to pay full rate then?
Pal of mine gave it a go, he gave it 3 yrs & bailed out as he was only was just breaking even even with a fair bit of advice & help from me.
Have you sorted insurance? Fuel, insurance & maintenance are the big outgoings & the insurance one at present is crazy £ vs last few yrs decent cover for hire & reward is in the £5.5k to £6.5k area pa. Fuel well if you do 100k miles a year at 20mpg ish doesnt take much to add up to a large sum & fir the truck to need a lot of maintenance.
My spot of advice, weighbridge the truck with you & full fuel & straps tools etc & see what you have left to play with, it may be an unpleasant surprise.
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