Any self employed couriers around here?
Discussion
I am looking to find some work that i can fit around part time education as it would appear that i need to improve my career prospects.
I have just started looking at small van's and getting insurance quotes for vehicles I don't yet own. After speaking with my local branch of DHL they have said they could use me if I had a suitable vehicle. The guy told me that his drivers use small vans such as the Citroen Nemo or maybe Berlingo (slightly bigger).
His main concern seemed to be that the vehicle has to be 'new' (not older than 6yrs). Having had a quick look around the local used van places it seems i can pick up very clean, low mileage 2yr old Berlingo for £6.5k, and my first insurance quote has come back at £2,350 for courier insurance.
So, I am after a few pointers on any types of van i should avoid, or look for bearing in mind fuel economy, comfort and reliabilty etc. I will be spending a lot of time in it so i would like it to be fairly comfy and well equipped, but not so much it costs a fortune to run.
Also, is that a ridiculous insurance quote, I have no endorsements in the last three yrs, but a couple of sp30's in the two yrs before that. Is there a preferred insurance company i should look at?
Lastly, I would be interested to hear about any companies I should steer well clear of..DHL for example, are they any good to work for on a self employed basis?
Even more lastly..is this an industry i should just avoid? I am not looking to earn a great deal of money, i just want some flexible work so i can avoid having to rely on benefits, or work in Asda...
Thanks
I have just started looking at small van's and getting insurance quotes for vehicles I don't yet own. After speaking with my local branch of DHL they have said they could use me if I had a suitable vehicle. The guy told me that his drivers use small vans such as the Citroen Nemo or maybe Berlingo (slightly bigger).
His main concern seemed to be that the vehicle has to be 'new' (not older than 6yrs). Having had a quick look around the local used van places it seems i can pick up very clean, low mileage 2yr old Berlingo for £6.5k, and my first insurance quote has come back at £2,350 for courier insurance.
So, I am after a few pointers on any types of van i should avoid, or look for bearing in mind fuel economy, comfort and reliabilty etc. I will be spending a lot of time in it so i would like it to be fairly comfy and well equipped, but not so much it costs a fortune to run.
Also, is that a ridiculous insurance quote, I have no endorsements in the last three yrs, but a couple of sp30's in the two yrs before that. Is there a preferred insurance company i should look at?
Lastly, I would be interested to hear about any companies I should steer well clear of..DHL for example, are they any good to work for on a self employed basis?
Even more lastly..is this an industry i should just avoid? I am not looking to earn a great deal of money, i just want some flexible work so i can avoid having to rely on benefits, or work in Asda...
Thanks
For insurance, you should speak to Insurance Jon
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
Shuvi McTupya said:
Even more lastly..is this an industry i should just avoid? I am not looking to earn a great deal of money, i just want some flexible work so i can avoid having to rely on benefits, or work in Asda...
Thanks
I think you may find that the hours can be long and not so much flexibility is available. I know of people who work self employed in the industry you describe and every morning get a huge delivery of packages that they are required to complete in the day. Others have to go to the depot collect and organise their parcels and then deliver them, even more time added to the day.Thanks
I would suggest getter a bigger van, as this will mean you can take more deliveries and make more collections. If you did a few 'sameday' jobs you could also take bigger items and generally speaking this equals more £.
This will certainly be an advantage if for instance you are paid per drop/collection and not just a flat rate per day.
I'm the Ops Manager of a depot in an overnight network so have knowledge in this area. If you would like any tips then send me a message.
Cheers.
This will certainly be an advantage if for instance you are paid per drop/collection and not just a flat rate per day.
I'm the Ops Manager of a depot in an overnight network so have knowledge in this area. If you would like any tips then send me a message.
Cheers.
Ta guys,
I am going to go and meet this guy at DHL on Monday, hopefully he will be straight with me and give me a better idea of what type of work might be available.
I have been reading a couriers forum too and TBH it does sound like i will be looking at long hours for not much reward and might be better of just getting a crappy job..
On a different note, i am currently researching fork lift courses as a lot of the sort of work i am looking for require applicants to have that at the minimum.
Maybe i can get some fork lift work and get qualified on bigger bits of kit to increase my earning potential to above minimum wage
I am going to go and meet this guy at DHL on Monday, hopefully he will be straight with me and give me a better idea of what type of work might be available.
I have been reading a couriers forum too and TBH it does sound like i will be looking at long hours for not much reward and might be better of just getting a crappy job..
On a different note, i am currently researching fork lift courses as a lot of the sort of work i am looking for require applicants to have that at the minimum.
Maybe i can get some fork lift work and get qualified on bigger bits of kit to increase my earning potential to above minimum wage
Shuvi McTupya said:
I have been reading a couriers forum too and TBH it does sound like i will be looking at long hours for not much reward and might be better of just getting a crappy job..
The barriers to entry are pretty low, and there is a lot of competition for that sort of work, both of which are going to exert downward pressure on the prices.If you are looking at DHL then I would guess it is Sameday, as the next day multidrop set up was sold on to HDN and is now Yodel
Sameday pays out at 50p a mile during standard hours (may have gone up since I left it in January) when laden. You can pick up multiple drops and collect and returns as well (drop in London, if you pick up in London and return you get 25p a mile for the return leg)
Whereabouts are you based? I know all the guys at Leeds Sameday pretty well.
You can also look at night work where you get higher mileage and callout charges. Some guys only do nights.
They also do loans for HBOS, and PPI paperwork for someone. These pay about £8 each and you can get 5-6 locally as an evening run which helps boost your earnings
Courier insurance seems ok, my quotes were £1800 ish. Don't forget you need goods in transit as well. Also, look at the options for leasing a van. I went to practical van hire in Doncaster and paid £105 per week but this included all servicing and insurance and unlimited mileage. Also means you get a replacement should you break down or have an accident.
As for the van, I had an astra and only ever filled it once. Astra 1.3CDTI with 6 speed box was a popular choice due to economy. Lots of guys with 206/corsa etc.
Berlingo is as big as you want to go. Transit jobs are few and far between and do attract a premium, but you only get standard rate the rest of the time so are uneconomical
Sameday pays out at 50p a mile during standard hours (may have gone up since I left it in January) when laden. You can pick up multiple drops and collect and returns as well (drop in London, if you pick up in London and return you get 25p a mile for the return leg)
Whereabouts are you based? I know all the guys at Leeds Sameday pretty well.
You can also look at night work where you get higher mileage and callout charges. Some guys only do nights.
They also do loans for HBOS, and PPI paperwork for someone. These pay about £8 each and you can get 5-6 locally as an evening run which helps boost your earnings
Courier insurance seems ok, my quotes were £1800 ish. Don't forget you need goods in transit as well. Also, look at the options for leasing a van. I went to practical van hire in Doncaster and paid £105 per week but this included all servicing and insurance and unlimited mileage. Also means you get a replacement should you break down or have an accident.
As for the van, I had an astra and only ever filled it once. Astra 1.3CDTI with 6 speed box was a popular choice due to economy. Lots of guys with 206/corsa etc.
Berlingo is as big as you want to go. Transit jobs are few and far between and do attract a premium, but you only get standard rate the rest of the time so are uneconomical
I am based 10 miles inland from aberdeen, The place I am going to see tomorrow probably does mainly rural drops.
This could be a good thing, or could be a bad thing. A local courier dropped something off to us today and was telling me how hard it can be to find some of the properties round here. They are on unnamed roads and often don't have a visible sign or door number.
The house i am in is similar, you kind of have to know it to find it easily!
Mind you, he didn't even have sat nav so couldn't even home in on the post code!
At this point i am thinking i might be better off being guaranteed a small wage than working my ass off to possibly make a little bit more and risking my license all day long.
Good thinking about renting a van rather than buying or leasing..maybe i should do that for a few weeks to see how it all pans out.
ETA: i just re-read your post and realised you did lease a van, just from a van rental pace....
I just got a shock when i got a quote for £960 for 3 week rental of a mini van!
This could be a good thing, or could be a bad thing. A local courier dropped something off to us today and was telling me how hard it can be to find some of the properties round here. They are on unnamed roads and often don't have a visible sign or door number.
The house i am in is similar, you kind of have to know it to find it easily!
Mind you, he didn't even have sat nav so couldn't even home in on the post code!
At this point i am thinking i might be better off being guaranteed a small wage than working my ass off to possibly make a little bit more and risking my license all day long.
Good thinking about renting a van rather than buying or leasing..maybe i should do that for a few weeks to see how it all pans out.
ETA: i just re-read your post and realised you did lease a van, just from a van rental pace....
I just got a shock when i got a quote for £960 for 3 week rental of a mini van!
Edited by Shuvi McTupya on Friday 13th April 20:39
Shuvi McTupya said:
Ta guys,
I am going to go and meet this guy at DHL on Monday, hopefully he will be straight with me and give me a better idea of what type of work might be available.
I have been reading a couriers forum too and TBH it does sound like i will be looking at long hours for not much reward and might be better of just getting a crappy job..
On a different note, i am currently researching fork lift courses as a lot of the sort of work i am looking for require applicants to have that at the minimum.
Maybe i can get some fork lift work and get qualified on bigger bits of kit to increase my earning potential to above minimum wage
What kind of jobs are you looking at? Work paid for my FLT course last year, handy thing to have. If it ever goes tits up for me I can always fall back on that, the hourly rates are better than most other 'entry' level jobs. I am going to go and meet this guy at DHL on Monday, hopefully he will be straight with me and give me a better idea of what type of work might be available.
I have been reading a couriers forum too and TBH it does sound like i will be looking at long hours for not much reward and might be better of just getting a crappy job..
On a different note, i am currently researching fork lift courses as a lot of the sort of work i am looking for require applicants to have that at the minimum.
Maybe i can get some fork lift work and get qualified on bigger bits of kit to increase my earning potential to above minimum wage
Jimmy No Hands said:
What kind of jobs are you looking at? Work paid for my FLT course last year, handy thing to have. If it ever goes tits up for me I can always fall back on that, the hourly rates are better than most other 'entry' level jobs.
I am just looking for stores/warehouse/dispatch type jobs, preferably for one of the oil/gas companies so i am on the inside when and if better jobs come up.These companies seem fairly hard to get into
though especially at my level of experience.
Having said that i had quite a bit of exposure to warehouse work back as a yoof, back in the 80's. But that was before Health and Safety required you to be certified in order to scratch your bum..
I can't believe there is now a course that teaches you how to operate a pallet truck safely
So, my thoughts at the moment are to get my fork lift license, get some time behind the wheel and then try and get qualified in something bigger like a telehandler. I would imagine with some time served and a telehandler certificate i should have a fairly good chance of earning a living wage.
I have had a little experience with mini diggers/dumpers already so i might look at that too.
Basically i am after work that i don't have to take home with me, that isn;t back breaking and earns more than minimum wage
It's pretty much what I do currently. Do heat treatment for a local steel firm. There's a fair bit of FLT involved. Ended up in it by luck really, needed something to get me out of a hole. But yeah you can't take a piss without having been on a day course nowadays. Luckily I've done most and operate 20+ ton overhead gantry cranes, FLT's, pole trucks, side loaders etc. I go in, do whats required then clock out and go home. The pay is bloody fantastic too, in my opinion. To say they took me on having not done anything similar previously or having any related skills, I now get just short of £12 an hour for an average 40 hour week. It's a stop gap for me till I can get into something I want to but I can't moan.
Hopefully a firm will give you a chance and get you trained up. My firm fully believe in developing people and always take on with a view to train. The majority probably want experience but sometimes theres no replacement for enthusiasm and willing. Good luck!
Hopefully a firm will give you a chance and get you trained up. My firm fully believe in developing people and always take on with a view to train. The majority probably want experience but sometimes theres no replacement for enthusiasm and willing. Good luck!
Edited by Jimmy No Hands on Sunday 15th April 18:39
Thanks
I have to say, i am surprised that people that operate the kind of kit you do, don't get more than £12 an hour..
Still £500 a week for a clock in/clock out job is not to be sniffed at!
Well, i just went and had an informal chat with the DHL man. He was upfront with me and gave me a breakdown of costs/charges etc.
As far as i can see that particular idea is a non starter, you get paid 55pence per mile but may or not get paid for the return trip and you may be sent hundreds of miles.
I would start off a few grand in the hole, so would be playing catch up, and with that particular firm he could not give me any guarantees about how much work there would be anyway, so i might not even get any work!
Still, atleast he didnt blag me into it for his own
benefit, and i have learned a bit about couriering...
I have to say, i am surprised that people that operate the kind of kit you do, don't get more than £12 an hour..
Still £500 a week for a clock in/clock out job is not to be sniffed at!
Well, i just went and had an informal chat with the DHL man. He was upfront with me and gave me a breakdown of costs/charges etc.
As far as i can see that particular idea is a non starter, you get paid 55pence per mile but may or not get paid for the return trip and you may be sent hundreds of miles.
I would start off a few grand in the hole, so would be playing catch up, and with that particular firm he could not give me any guarantees about how much work there would be anyway, so i might not even get any work!
Still, atleast he didnt blag me into it for his own
benefit, and i have learned a bit about couriering...
Just been looking at telehandler jobs, I can't find single job where you can get in with just the license, they all want references/a few years experience..
Plus they expect you to have not only the license, but a health and safety certificate to use that piece of kit aswell..another course...
It is all getting a bit silly!
Plus they expect you to have not only the license, but a health and safety certificate to use that piece of kit aswell..another course...
It is all getting a bit silly!
Shuvi McTupya said:
Just been looking at telehandler jobs, I can't find single job where you can get in with just the license, they all want references/a few years experience..
Plus they expect you to have not only the license, but a health and safety certificate to use that piece of kit aswell..another course...
It is all getting a bit silly!
I'm quite surprised at that really. Truth be told, operating one isn't difficult. There is absolutely zero difference between the way I operate an FLT and how any one of the number of chaps with 20-30 years experience would, I'm just as capable. It isn't a terribly steep learning curve, a week or two and you'd be set. If you can justify the initial cost, and if there is going to be a significant advantage to having a license then I'd say go for it. Plus they expect you to have not only the license, but a health and safety certificate to use that piece of kit aswell..another course...
It is all getting a bit silly!
Just be prepared for a full day (if not more) of lovely, lovely theory on our friend Health & Safety.
Well, i have just signed up for a telehandler training course at the end of the month.
It is going to cost me £1,350 (see my other thread in Jobs and employment matters) but they say they will help me find a job once qualified. Let's hope it isn't a load of bulls
t i am being fed!
Included in the course is the CSCS 'course' which they say will be dealt with the first morning. It is a 16 question multiple choice test and if you fail it, they give you the answers and let you take it again!!
Having a telehandler license must be a positive thing, atleast i will be working out of the wind, if not the cold.
They are telling me they i should be able to get a job that pays £28k driving this beast, not sure i believe that...
It is going to cost me £1,350 (see my other thread in Jobs and employment matters) but they say they will help me find a job once qualified. Let's hope it isn't a load of bulls
t i am being fed!Included in the course is the CSCS 'course' which they say will be dealt with the first morning. It is a 16 question multiple choice test and if you fail it, they give you the answers and let you take it again!!
Having a telehandler license must be a positive thing, atleast i will be working out of the wind, if not the cold.
They are telling me they i should be able to get a job that pays £28k driving this beast, not sure i believe that...
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