Ballistic

I'm considering setting-up as a self-employed courier.
Has anyone had or got any experience of this?
If so I'm after information on;
1) Am I likely to get much work (prepared to travel the UK) and what's the
best way to get it?
2) Will I be best to get a car, estate, small van (I envisage just doing small
package work)
3) What are the going rates for the outgoing/return journey?
4) What's the best approach from the tax point of view, ie self employed,
limited company.

If anyone has information/advice that they are willing to share it will be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Chip

Why not get a job with one of the big courier firms first for a few months.
That way you'll find out what it's all about, get a lot of contacts and know after a while whether its a job that you really want to take on yourself.

Chip

Ballistic

Chip
Thanks for the suggestion, I already have an application in with UPS which I'm awaiting a decision on.
I've had enough of working for other people and want to get something going for myself. As you say it's a question of getting the right contacts (I'm sure the works out there) and finding out if I can make it financially viable or not.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

There seem to be loads of them around here. When I receive parcels from "Amtrak" or others they often end up being deilvered by self employed couriers.

I take up Chips suggestion. Get yourself a job with a firm while you learn the ropes. No initial setup costs at all, get to know the area, find contacts etc etc. You will hopefully meet others who are thinking of doing/have done what you are wanting to do.

Then you can just leave and work for yourself

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

what kind of criteria must you meet to work as an employed courier, i am changing my shift soon that would enable me to take on a part time job and this sounds good.


Cookie

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

Driving license, sense of direction. I think that would be about it.

I don't think there is much else that you would need to do the job.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Some firms are funny about age though. But im 25 now so should be ok. Do you know what these guys can earn a day if they know their area well?


Cookie

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Areas guys?

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

??

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

OK - I guess you would work in Essex someplace but what about Ballistic?

No point giving you advice that is not appropriate to your area as the courier game is different in different parts of the country.

Ballistic

I'm based in the Derby/Nott's area but will be interested in doing national deliveries as I understand that potentially these can be more lucrative.

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Ballistic

You want to contact Roadrunners Despatch for where you are. Good rep & based in Nottingham & Leicester.

1) You will get as much work as your company can provide, so make sure you get one that is busy. All sameday express courier companies expect/hope to do national work as that is where their money is. Unless you have a pal that can give you lots of work on your own, working for a company is the best bet. Some places (not Nottingham really) rely on a number of sub-contractors working for all the different companies to provide their workforce.

Sort out your vehicle/phone and Goods In Transit insurance and ring round all the local companies, seeing what is on offer.

Be flexible, professional, willing and they'll come back to you.


2) Get a van - more flexibility & probably cheaper to run. Movano/Traffic/Primastar can take 2 pallets & are economical on the fuel.

3) Customers are generally only charged the miles from them to the drop. Sometimes they might specify take this there & bring something else back which would mean that you get paid for the return trip as well.

Out your way, the rate will be between 45p and 55p per mile for a small van/bike job, so you'll see that you have to do a lot of miles a week. There is likely to be a minimum fee as well, so maybe £5 for the first few miles - even if it is a 1/2 mile job. Waiting/loading time is extra on top.

More journies achieved in a day/week = more money.

4) Self-employed probably - ask an accountant!


All the above is for sameday express & is not the Fedex/Amtrak/UPS multi-drop stuff about which I'm not fully up on, suffice to say that you will be given a number of deliveries to do and you will be paid a fixed fee for each drop irrespective of what mileage you do.


Cookie, you can be a different kettle of fish as more options open to you - where in Essex?

TDT

You could work as a Franchise Driver for someone like Parceline.

Have a look at this

Ballistic

Thanks for the advice Puff & TDT.
Anyone else?
I've found a good source of information on this forum http://p075.ezboard.com/fmtvanfrm2 for anyone else interested in being a courier.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Im in the Ilford/Romford area of Essex PUff,


Cookie

TDT

If you're looking at going down the OFD road with someone like Parceline you get your own route.

Basically you get the pick of what parcels are there. Anything you leave is hovered up by an employed Parceline driver. As a guide Parceline OFD's do between 80 + 120 drops per day. You are paid a fixed rate per parcel (amount depending on the area). Obviously you get paid more for doing the premium services (B410, B412 etc).

You also get paid a fixed rate for doing collections. These can be either daily collections or ad-hoc ones. The potential is there to make £50k p.a!

With Parceline OFD's you can either supply your own van, or lease one through them. The only thing you have to do is turn up and fill it with fuel.

If you want to have a chat with the depot manager in your area, drop me a PM and I'll look him up on the intranet.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

What does OFD stand for please?

TDT

Owner Franchise Driver

Ballistic

OFD = owner franshised driver I believe.

Ballistic

You beat me to it!

I'd be very interested in a contact number to have a chat with my local depot manager.

TDT

Will dig out a number for you when I get back to the coal face tomorrow

robby

i worked for ups for almost 2 years, they prefer drivers with a 7.5 ton license as the american looking vans (specially built by mercedes) are 7.5 although the're now using more sprinter box vans (3.5ton).
The idea would be for me to go into work and i'd have a van ready loaded (they have loaders), this would be sorted into postcode areas (between 3 and 7 different areas) and you'd have to deliver all of the parcels (parcels upto 70kg) as well as doing the dailey collections and any on call collections which came through on the diad (like an electronic notepad). There was no specific finish time as you had to do all the cols+dels (some people request cols after 5pm which is a pain if your area is 1.5 hours from the depot). When you return to the depot you have to unload the van and check in the paperwork (cods, etc), the depot i worked at was a total shambles where the manager/ etc didn't give a stuff about the state of the vans we drove (some 500k, 10 years old with dodgy brakes, clutch, etc) i was glad to get out - money was ok at £17.5 basic + overtime + non acheivable bonus but my license and safety was more important

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Just thought i might actually smoke myself to death doing a job like this, just seem to smoke so much more when driving.


Cookie

Ballistic

Cheers m8