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Potential of van driver / average earning

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  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,928 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Beware of customers that pay well and then want an account..

    A mate had to fold his buiness because a guy owed him thousands of pounds. Also he got offered a load of seemingly attractive contracts.

    But they were clock stoppers. So if he was late delivering there was risk of a production line grinding to a halt and the costs could be way in excess of what you earn.

    Avoid them unless you have backup vehicles/Drivers.


    6 year old van may exclude some companies wanting to use you. Some of my mates contracts had a 3 year max age.

    Not quite the same MPG. But on the lorries i was using approx 90litres of diesel a DAY!!! 14mpg though.

    What are the vans running costs per mile? What about work when the vans in for repairs or a service?

    Our vehicles used to be serviced every 6 weeks and it was done overnight so minimal downtime bust costs more than day rates.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • bugslet
    bugslet Posts: 6,874 Forumite
    Good advice there from forgotmyname.

    Artic units on a good day are generally lucky to get 10-11 mpg:( I buy around 4500 litres of derv a week.

    Re the servicing, we are on an eight week cycle for the heavies, but the vans go on mileage, so I guess it depends on what kind of mileage is knocking up every day.

    Good luck with today and have you sorted out your costs and what you are being paid? Keep a good track of your expenditure and work out your MPG on the van, your wages, factor in your standing costs and that should give you some idea about how the day has gone.
  • Good advice by forgotmyname and bugslet

    Well I am getting around 30mpg so far. I heard I could get little extra if I get it serviced soon. The biggest problem I am having right now is the parking issue, first of all I do not find a lot of parking spaces around the area I am working and if I do manage to get one.. Sometimes I find it extremely difficult to do parallel parking it happened for number of times that in the process I am parking, a car came behind me and I thought lets go for another round (right>>right>>right back to the same road) to go for another try as I didn't want to waste the time of the driver awaiting for me to park ahead of him.

    I am learning fast, the earning has not been as expected but it is also due to the fact that I am learning the local areas and had about 20 or so parking issues in this whole week. Getting better but it would have been so convenient if there was a dedicated app which suggests the free parking spaces on the road.. I know it's almost impossible to find one as you can only create such apps for dedicated car parks and not park-on-the-road for two minutes.

    I am also thinking to do removals job as part time as I mostly finish the courier before 4pm.
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Good luck with it.
  • bugslet
    bugslet Posts: 6,874 Forumite
    I am also thinking to do removals job as part time as I mostly finish the courier before 4pm.

    Didin't realise it was part-time:p.

    Once you've done the job for a bit longer, you'll feel more at home with the parking issue. Without knowing the details of how the company works, it's a bit of a guess, but usually, you will find that you'll get to know the planners/loaders better and you can get a better route, ie one with more drops in a concentrated area.

    Good luck.
  • One more question: On my Van insurance can I drive another van or more importantly a car that has already been insured under somebody else?

    It's a comprehensive insurance and like in car insurance, you are allowed to drive any vehicle for as long as the vehicle is insured by somebody. Does the same rule also applies on the van?

    I was thinking to keep just the van for now and in case if I have to drive a car of my cousins, brother in law, uncle etc I might still be covered on my comprehensive van insurance policy?
  • w211
    w211 Posts: 700 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Usually if you're driving a vehicle for hire or reward, it doesn't cover driving other vehicles.

    Check the small print, it will be on there whether or not you can drive other vehicles.

    Even then, not all private fully comp insurance policies allow driving other vehicles anyway. Think they're clamping down on that, as you can buy a cheap motor, and be insured to drive a Ferrari (although 3rd party only).

    I didn't have it, when I was a courier, and I currently drive a car with a policy which includes carrying passengers for hire and reward, which also doesn't have it.
  • bugslet
    bugslet Posts: 6,874 Forumite
    What w211 says. When we hire a vehicle, we have to add the vehicle on to the insurance temporarily, which is no more than an e-mail advising the insurance company of the details, reg, make and duration of hire/borrowing.

    How are you finding the job? Are you making money?
  • Hi i was reading your thread and it was very helpful.

    How are things going with your delivery driver job?

    I am i a similar situation like you.
  • owlet
    owlet Posts: 1,510 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Reported the above post by davesmith2. New user, 2 posts both promoting products & the same fundraising platform on both posts. I smell spam!
    SPC 8 (2015) #485 TOTAL: £334.65
    SPC 9 (2016) #485 TOTAL £84
    SPC 10 (2017) # 485 TOTAL: £464.80
    SPC 11 (2018) #485
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