Man in a van, is it worth doing?

[pimping]

Just been watching shipping wars on channel 4 and I am wondering if it is worth chopping my car in, throwing some more money into the pot and then doing the whole 'man in a van' thing with some courier work and whatever comes from an ad in the local paper.

Does anyone have any experience of this and any advice?

[ModernAndy]

From what I've heard, it's not going to make you rich or even paid an average wage. The problem is it's a commodity service and the associated costs like fuel and tax are increasing. You may be as well delivering pizzas for 90p a drop in an economical car that will barely use any fuel

[ajf]

Done it about 2 years ago was very hard to cover cost only saving bit was work on the side which helped

Adrian

[s p a c e m a n]

I've yet to meet anyone who has made reasonable money driving one, buying a few and sticking them on contract somewhere occasionally works though.

[Jazoli]

Its a crap way to make a living, I did it for a few years 10 years ago and it was cut throat back then, I used to do a lot of private stuff, plus subbing for some courier firms and removals at weekends and the occasional European run, I think I made about £6/hr after all the costs.

Cheapest way into it is to hire a Van from Northgate or similar on a no strings/commitment monthly rental and see if you can make it work, don't forget goods in transit and public liability insurance on top of £1.40/litre fuel costs.

It's not an easy way to make money, plus you'll end up having all your friends/relatives wanting 'mates rates' and getting upset at being asked for £1/mile and £150/day just so you can break even.

Edited by Jazoli on Sunday 5th January 21:39

[pimping]

Christ that sounds a lot more depressing than I envisaged.

I heard of a friends dad who delivers things like hearts and blood around the country, is there any cash in that? Is there any driving of precious loads requiring a sia licence that is good cash? Really struggling to find anything good.

Starting to despair. The agency hgv work is gash, got an interview about door work tomorrow but not really fancying getting my head stoved in every night........oh well chin up!

Edited by pimping on Sunday 5th January 21:48

[Jazoli]

pimping said:

Christ that sounds a lot more depressing than I envisaged.

I heard of a friends dad who delivers things like hearts and blood around the country, is there any cash in that? Is there any driving of precious loads requiring a sia licence that is good cash? Really struggling to find anything good.

There's not a lot of money in driving full stop, getting decent contracts is the hard part, you will have to be ultra-competitive on price, also you will need cover if you want to go on holiday or take time off, have you considered this? if your van is parked up its not earning any money.

I'd consider getting training for fuel tankers or car transport as thats where the money is (£40k for 35 hours a week in some cases) but getting the license is the easy part, its getting the jobs/contracts.

SIA contracts are generally cash vans and the like, the money is crap £7.50/hr in a lot of cases.

Edited as didn't realise you had HGV.

Edited by Jazoli on Sunday 5th January 21:52

[martinnitram]

I find delivering people from Romania to the uk is very lucrative, although business has really slowed this week.

[pimping]

HGV class 2 with ADR (dangerous goods).

Bar sucking another mans penis for money I am failing to see light at the end of the tunnel here.

[birdcage]

No tax though which is an advantage

[R1 Indy]

Jazoli said:

pimping said:

Christ that sounds a lot more depressing than I envisaged.

I heard of a friends dad who delivers things like hearts and blood around the country, is there any cash in that? Is there any driving of precious loads requiring a sia licence that is good cash? Really struggling to find anything good.

There's not a lot of money in driving full stop, getting decent contracts is the hard part, you will have to be ultra-competitive on price, also you will need cover if you want to go on holiday or take time off, have you considered this? if your van is parked up its not earning any money.

I'd consider getting training for fuel tankers or car transport as thats where the money is (£40k for 35 hours a week in some cases) but getting the license is the easy part, its getting the jobs/contracts.

SIA contracts are generally cash vans and the like, the money is crap £7.50/hr in a lot of cases.

Edited as didn't realise you had HGV.

Edited by Jazoli on Sunday 5th January 21:52

Surely G4s and the like are on more than £7.50????

Perhaps I should stop moaning at £9/hour for shoving beans on a shelf lol

[pimping]

Who pays £9 an hour for shelf stacking?

[Jazoli]

Sorry yes G4 are on about £10/hr if my memory serves me correctly.

[littlebasher]

Make sure you get recorded using your mobile phone while driving, just like the bloke with the bigger van did

[pimping]

littlebasher said:

Make sure you get recorded using your mobile phone while driving, just like the bloke with the bigger van did

Eh?

[SpamDisco]

pimping said:

Who pays £9 an hour for shelf stacking?

http://www.careers.aldirecruitment.co.uk/store-opportunities/store-assistant.asp

[littlebasher]

pimping said:

Eh?

When they couldn't fit the Reliant & model Cobra into the back of the van, they arranged for a bigger van to be bought over. Guy driving it was talking to them on his mobile.

Sorry, not really relevant to the thread, just an observation!

[SpamDisco]

Scappers, iirc one guy claimed he was earning £300 a day collecting metal.

http://www.tv-heaven.com/getting-rich-in-the-reces...

[AndyLB]

I always thought this could be a bit more lucrative with an LPG converted van.

[161BMW]

You can become rich doing that
Look at how
Aussie man in a van
College hunks hauling junk
Started
They are millionaires. Well the second company defo are