Becoming A Self Employed courier driver

jobhunter_2

Hi

I note the comments above, but can anyone comment on whether this could be worthwhile for me please?

I have a Peugeot 806 MPV (x reg.) which allows for the removal of all rear seats leaving a van. I would like to use this for courier work.

I'm desperate for work and can work very long unsociable hours at very short notice, and I would hope to net at least £300 per week after all costs.

Does anyone know how much insurance might be, and whether it can be bought on a weekly contract?

Thank you.

saynotofastway

Whatever you do don't buy a fastway franchise. I owned a franchise for almost 10 months and came out OWING more money then I got out of it. Fastway rip you off in every way possible with there lies

webtrekker

I have worked for Parcelnet/Hermes for nigh on 10 years now and, believe me, this job pays a pittance!

When I started I was paid 45p a parcel. Ten years on I am now getting ...... 45p a parcel! I have to supply my own vehicle, pay for all fuel used, tax, insurance, MOT, repairs, business insurance, charging THEIR hand-held terminal every night ..... I get no paid holidays (I am expected to provide my own cover whenever I want time off) and no sick pay.

If you are considering working for these people do yourself a favour and get checked out by your nearest psychiatrist first!!!

RenegadePair

I agree with webtrekker. I work with my friend. She has 7yrs behind her at Parcelnet, now Hermes. She does not need to work after 20yrs of retail, shes flush. It just to keep the investments draining away to quick kinda thing. At 7.30 the computer goes on to see the days work. Anything from 11 to 60 parcels is carefully collated into a drop list. The journey to the depot 20min
About half hour there, sorting and scanning the parcels. Short break for coffee and a bite. 9.30 to 10am we stop at the first customer. She drives I knock doors, some are really testing. They often want to know stuff only the supplier can answer. Thats Extra time at the door. They don't answer the door. Not In. Find a neighbour, hiding place, write card and post. Much more time than an opened door. Collect a parcel, hardly ever wrapped so wait till the customer finds tape etc. More Time. Finish the round, log off, put the hht on charge. 2pm. OK. Six and a half hours x the minimum wage £5.80 per hour = £37.70. Our round pays about £800per month for that we have to deliver 1140 parcels over 31days if they were all paid at the 70p mark. However we recently were told we only get 27p for some parcel types and no extra for a signed for, on others. We have to pay our fuel now at £1.20+, our service, our MOT, our oil, our vehicle depreciation, our phone, our pens our office space and 1 income from this. £800 / 31 working days = £25.80 gross per day.
They call it self employment, Its worse than slavery. Even a slave gets a hole to sleep in and a crumb to eat. These people exploit you worse than any sweatshop worker. They rob you of your dignity as a person. Being unemployed is better than this. This is a first world country and the locals wonder why so many migrants come here. Well they try work. Most have to for the first 2yrs. They experience the ripoff then the go unemployed. To get ripped off like this for the joy of flexible working hours is irresponsible to say the least. Our depot has a few idiots like us that stick around but others hardly come, then they're gone. How many workers do they want to process before they run out of takers. Know this. If you have a morgage don't even think about it. You won't even cover that. Parcelnet/Hermes are ripoff artists to say the least. A strike would be good Or go work for Business Post. They pay you Up To £165 per day. Its long hour and hard work but a cheque of over £3000 per month on a 5day week sort of makes it all worthwhile. Dignity, Not Dignitas

Horace

Has anyone noticed that the OP made her request back in 2008?

littlepikelet

But just as relevant today, I arrived here by googling, as I saw an ad to become a Hermes courier today. Clearly not for me or my spouse.

pocketshell

Hi Lisa
my OH used courier many year ago as a franchise for a major firm, it was a really big mistake for us, the only people who made monaey were the firm and nearly drove my OH to insanity!! Its a very aggresive business and there is little to be made when you've paid everything. He used to deliver in excess of 170 parcels a day just to bring home a wage and was permanently exhausted. my rels do parcelnet and that is also bad news, they are aleways out delivering, very little money and such high fuel costs. Sorry to be negative but my experience was bad xx