Man with a van

Baldytyke88

Is a man with a van a good route for semi-retirement? I have a Renault Traffic, so not a car-derived van, van work should pay well, if you can get it.

I am just insured for private use at the moment, just thinking ahead for maybe 2025/26

Savvy_Sue

It might be, if you remain fit and well, able to load and unload (because clients may not be able to help) or to call on assistance when needed. 

But the insurance is likely to be eye-watering, you could get quotes now to see what I mean. And if you are taking things to the tip, you will need a Waste Transfer Licence, and you'll probably have to pay at the tip even if a private individual doesn't. 

Cheslea2010

Unfortunately, there are so many man with van operations around these days it is extremely competitive. You will be up against those doing jobs for cash and without the proper insurances. You will also need a waste carriers license if you intend to haul anything to the tip etc.

FlorayG

Cheslea2010 said:

Unfortunately, there are so many man with van operations around these days it is extremely competitive. You will be up against those doing jobs for cash and without the proper insurances. You will also need a waste carriers license if you intend to haul anything to the tip etc.

Yes this is absolutely going to be your main problem, illegal competition and potential customers saying " but Fred down the road is half that price". You will need time to buildup a good reputation and not make much money meanwhile; plus ONE bad review (for something that possibly wasn't even your fault) could set you back a long way. As a full-time earner it's a struggle - as a part-time to supplement a pension it might be worth it.
You might look into specialist man-with-a-van; I used to know somebody who specialised in moving valuable antiques and did very well; he would transports stuff all over Europe in his van

Tucosalamanca

The problem with part-time is that most overheads remain constant.

You have to recover those costs in a smaller amount of time and that puts you at an immediate disadvantage to those who are working seven days a week (of which there are many).

EU transport is also more difficult since we left the EU due to increased admin and delays.
You only need to see Operation Brock on the M20 to realise that cross border transport isn't always straightforward.

For all the cost, effort and risk involved, paid employment might be a far easier route in semi-retirement.

Baldytyke88

Tucosalamanca said:

For all the cost, effort and risk involved, paid employment might be a far easier route in semi-retirement.

I have van now and I like it, so I have the van anyway. Maybe larger companies or even the council themselves will use flexible companies.

I will think about talking to agencies and see if I can get to know large companies and what their requirement would be.

Tucosalamanca

Baldytyke88 said:

Tucosalamanca said:

For all the cost, effort and risk involved, paid employment might be a far easier route in semi-retirement.

I have van now and I like it, so I have the van anyway. Maybe larger companies or even the council themselves will use flexible companies.

I will think about talking to agencies and see if I can get to know large companies and what their requirement would be.

I think your main fixed cost will be insurance, risk of significant mechanical failure being something to bear in mind / budget for.
Someone like Evri might be worth investigating. My local driver often tells me how much he earns per parcel and thanks me if he's delivering several parcels at once as apparently it's a good earner....

Baldytyke88

Tucosalamanca said:

I think your main fixed cost will be insurance, risk of significant mechanical failure being something to bear in mind / budget for.
Someone like Evri might be worth investigating. My local driver often tells me how much he earns per parcel and thanks me if he's delivering several parcels at once as apparently it's a good earner....

My competition would be car drivers, I have done that work in the past. Maybe delivering TVs or other larger goods would be better.

Marcon

Certainly plenty of cold water being poured on your idea! Maybe a bit of hard research would be more focussed - I suspect quite a lot depends on whereabout in the country you are and how much 'local' competition you have.

Have you looked at sites such as https://www.shiply.com/courier-auction/#:~:text=Shiply%20%2D%20The%20Courier%20Auction%20%26%20Delivery%20Auction%20Site

Entering a few 'requests' of your own for the delivery of various items should give you an indication of the going rate.

EnPointe

hire and reward insurance 

waste carriers licence 

are you  fit  and well to load / unload including carrying things potentially quite significant  distances, have you got the relevant  MHE  and  equipment to  undertake  the kind of work people often ask for a 'man and van for'   do you have a  useful second person who assist you when the job is one that  the major retailers would used '2man white glove'  resources on ? ( do you even know what  i men by ' 2 man white glove  team'  ?)

Baldytyke88

EnPointe said:

hire and reward insurance 
waste carriers licence 

are you  fit  and well to load / unload including carrying things potentially quite significant  distances, have you got the relevant  MHE  and  equipment to  undertake  the kind of work people often ask for a 'man and van for'   do you have a  useful second person who assist you when the job is one that  the major retailers would used '2man white glove'  resources on ? ( do you even know what  i men by ' 2 man white glove  team'  ?)

I was thinking more van and man, not 2 men. I have thought that a winch or a ramp could be handy, but I don't want to go into removals.

I like recycling, so picking up 'rubbish' and then recycling sounds appealing, but working with larger organisions would be needed to make it worthwhile. Lots of work on Facebook and free to promote yourself.