Parcel/Catalogue Delivery Driver

Marv02

Hi,

I've been unemployed for the last year, and to be honest I'm getting sick of it so I started doing some hopeless googling a couple of weeks ago, when I saw a random man in an old van pull up to my neighbours house and hand in a catalogue. So it struck me and I randomly searched the job title and I found out that there are infact jobs that you apply for, with your own vehicle and are self employed in handing out catalogues and parcels etc.

Now, before you jump the boat and start advising me about the horrors, then no need to waste your time. I've read pretty much most of them online, and to be honest, I really don't care. As long as I get paid a good £40 a day, after paying for fuel and tax etc, then I'm happy. It would be 10x better then going to the job centre, or working like a !!!!! in an office block from 9-5 taking crap from a manager or worse off, working in McDonalds. I like keeping to myself, and it would be fun being out and about then be stuck in a cubical.

Now, I've so far spotted a few companies, but I would really like some help on how and where I should apply, to get the best results. I've so far noted down HDNL & Hermes along with a few other companies that handle these types of jobs.

I own a 2001 Golf Diesel Hatchback which is fairly roomy when you put down the back seats (or even take them out) so I should be good to go for catalogues and small parcels.

Please, if anyone is or has been in this line of work, give me some advise on how you got into it, what you had to do, the process etc etc, I would be ever so grateful.

Regards,

sharkie

one thing I would say is that your car should be insured for work purposes.

Why do you not use Thompson, yellow pages and google locally for courier companies?

Should your car fail......

Forris

Hi Marv,

I'm sure you've looked at all the pros and cons of doing this kind of work. I do both 'proper' courier work and DHL@Home work. The home-based courier work that you are looking at pays around 60p - 75p per delivered parcel. With the HDNL buyout of DHL Domestic there should be more opportunities for this type of work. They are currently recruiting nationwide using a third-party. Try emailing couriers@ospstaffline.co.uk with your details and they will add you to the list.

Good luck, and if you need any tips on how to organise your work or 'tricks of the trade', feel free to ask.

Hammyman

Marv02 wrote: »

I own a 2001 Golf Diesel Hatchback which is fairly roomy when you put down the back seats (or even take them out) so I should be good to go for catalogues and small parcels.

You won't get many catalogues in that before your car is overloaded.

Sharkie got it wrong - your car MUST be insured for business use and it won't be the usually free Class A. You'll need to inform your insurance you are using your car for courier work and expect your insurance to double.

DCFC79

Theres also dpd who you could apply for but you dont get to use your own vehicle though

Marv02

DCFC79 wrote: »

Theres also dpd who you could apply for but you dont get to use your own vehicle though

Hi, I checked and the only driver option avalible is in Gloucester... Where ever that is. Thanks anyway.

Marv02

Hammyman wrote: »

You won't get many catalogues in that before your car is overloaded.

Sharkie got it wrong - your car MUST be insured for business use and it won't be the usually free Class A. You'll need to inform your insurance you are using your car for courier work and expect your insurance to double.

Hi, you had me worried for a second, but I did check up online and by selecting For "Business for policyholder only" my insurnace only went up by £78 a year so thats not to shabby. Is this the correct option to select for this line of work?

Thanks!

patman99

The lady who does dhl@home in my area tends to hold on the parcels until she has a car full, then she delivers them. So people who pay for 48 hour delivery might not get their parcels delivered in less than 4 days depending on the load for delivery.
Parcelforce also employ s/e drivers, but you need a van, and have to have the Parcelforce logo on it.

BHF (the charity) sometimes advertise for collection/delivery drivers with large vans, they pay £100 per day.

sharkie

Marv02 wrote: »

Hi, you had me worried for a second, but I did check up online and by selecting For "Business for policyholder only" my insurnace only went up by £78 a year so thats not to shabby. Is this the correct option to select for this line of work?

Thanks!

That is not bad £78 extra. I did my insurance in-line a few years back and to travel to and from work (business and pleasure) caused it to double -was over £600 on then a 7 year old car. I strongly suspect as a courier or a mini cab service, the amount would even be more.

david69_2

I think you might need to check your insurance out first
You will need hire and reward insurance not just business use .I recently got a quote for it and it was £900+ .
I suspect alot of these working mums who use their car to deliver parcels are not correctly insured

puddings_2

Marv: Theres nearly always an exclusion printed on your schedule that specifically excludes "hire or reward" and courier work. I agree that most people doing local home delivery work are not insured for it (and technically therefore they could have their car confiscated at any time by the police) It does send your premium up massively if you include it, so I don't bother but that's the risk that you take.

Patman: the lady that does parcels in your area could get into trouble if what you're saying is true. I do dhl at home work and with the exception of catalogues, all items 48hr or not must be attempted or carded on the same day that they are received by the local courier.

The rate per parcel depends on how spread out your area is and you may have to haggle a bit over it. Typically it's about 80p per parcel. I get about 40 to deliver each day, it takes between 4 and 5 hours. There a big contract starting soon with amazon so the number of parcels is expected to increase significantly after then. Catalogues are easy, no knocking: just dump to deliver, but the rate of pay is much less per item.

Good luck Marv whatever you decide to do.