courier work advice

glenandemm

hi guys,just wondered if theres anyone on here with experience of doing courier work and could give me advice on starting up and whats the money like?
i have my own lwb transit and will be getting git insurance and thinking about approaching local companys especially around trafford park area as i dont live too far away,im looking to work nights mainly but not too bothered about hours!
all advice would be greatly recieved.

passatrider

My advice would be to try it with an agency as an employee first and see if it's for you.
It's a very cut throat business running your own Van/getting work. I'm sure someone will be along to offer another perspective.

brutus1983

My brother in law did it for 6 months he got work on a self employed basis but one condition was he had to get his van sign written in the company's letters at his expense and was not allowed to work for other firms also he had to provide his own git insurance

1886

Courier Owner Drivers site:
http://www.codforum.org.uk/

Notmyrealname

The hours are long, the money is crap because "man with van" is something anyone with a driving licence can do. You'll have no choice over the hours you'll do - they'll be dictated by the collection and delivery time.

bugslet

Hi glenandemm

I work just off Trafford Road and started off with a couple of vans in '91 and am still going, so it can be done and the early 90s weren't great either for work!

Like most things, you need a combination of the things you can control basically how hard you are prepared to work and secondly a whole load of luck. I know a couple of guys who have recently tried and found it extremely difficult to make a go of it. I'd say the landscape of van work has changed a great deal in the last 20 years with the advent of internet and the rise of courier companies.

I never say don't do it to anyone, but please don't underestimate how tough it will be ( don't mean to sound patronising there). If you go ahead, keep an eye on your costs and your rates at all times and if it isn't working, get out before it costs you too much. If it does work out for you, then :T
Best of luck to you.

massa121

I tried last year and did 400 miles a day 5 days a wk for almost 6-7 mths and it didn't pay off for me taking into account all insurance costs, fuel, vehicle maintenance costs and long unsocial hours. I wish I had saved my money and got HGV licence instead. I was subcontracting for Royal Mail, TNT & DX. I don't want to discourage you but would strongly advice as above work for someone first to see if it is worth it for you first before commitment. Best wishes to you.

bugslet

Without trying to sound all four yorkshire men massa:o, I paid myself £90 a week gross for the first year and that came out at less than £1.00 an hour ( didn't have a mortgage at that point). Collecting out of Dundee, delivering Exeter and repeating the following day were some of the 'highlights'. The second year was marginally better, the third year was when I could ease off a bit and start earning a better wage. It was 9 years though before I earnt more than the drivers I employed.

Not sure what else I could have done, so whilst it might have been completely numpty and lunatic at the time, it kind of made sense to me. But glennandemm, that's pretty much what it takes ( being more stupid than the next guy - or gal in my case!;))

Good idea massa to try the job first without taking too much risk, though I see the OP has a vehicle already.

Glennandemm, just a thought, try and stick with manufaccturers rather than freight forwarders, rubbish rates usually from them, though they can be handy for bringing stuff back. Return load sites for vans, never used them myself, but from what I hear, they don't usually have a good reputation.