Help! Starting Up As An Owner Driver

TOPMAN99 · 12-02-2007 10:40pm #1

I am starting as a courier/owner driver in the next month in Dublin and need some advice on getting started. Mainly:

1.Insurance
I am setting up as a sole trader and hope to do both local delivery work in dublin and work for some larger multinational company like DHL,UPS etc delivering goods for them.Most major insurance companies refuse to quote me the minute I say I am delivering anything, they all refer me to one broker who insures couriers and there quote was 3500 euros for the year.Some people have said to tell them I am a fitter or tradesman,but I was wondering will any of the big multnationals employ me if I had just ordinary commerical insurance and not this special courier insurance and also if I am carrying goods for some one and they get stolen or damaged I dont have insurance for goods in transit were do I stand then.

2.Proper Van
I have been advised to buy a Ford Transit 280 LWB Semi High Roof or a 350 LWB HR.Are either of these vans correct and does the colour matter.

3.Money
I have been given different figures on money I should expect to earn weekly , could someone tell me roughly how much I can expect to take home weekly after I've paid for my overheads.

I'd greatly appreciate any help anyone could give me on any of the above .

Cheers.

Karma · 16-02-2007 10:48am

heya,
maybe to get a job with one of the companies that provide a van(& insurance) to get feel for it. you will also be on a wage so minimum set earnings.
the fords are good so personal choice and what sort of loads will you be dealing with. as for insurance, dont ly abound it, it will come back on ya. go by the book.
hope some of this helps.
K

lesdunne · 04-05-2007 10:02pm

Earnings can range from €600 to €800 per week depending on the company. Transit is the right vehicle and sometimes the big names like DHl or UPS are not the ones who pay the best.

all the best!

dubtom · 06-05-2007 12:22am

Internationals like DHL/UPS etc use specific contracted companies like Securispeed to deliver their excess. Don't rely on getting any work from them, unless of course you can compete with a national company.You could approache securispeed or any of the big outfits and possibly work for them with your own van, they may have a group scheme with insurance companies and may be able to get your insurance a little cheaper, I'm not positive on that though.I mention securispeed because I worked for them for 10 years in vans and bikes and they were a good company to work for.

dossie01 · 09-05-2007 5:48pm

Topman, have you started as a courier yet?im looking to do the same and not sure where i stand as insurance goes. i too have been told that saying im a tradesman would be the best way to do it. any help would be appreciated

BetsyGray · 29-07-2008 12:29pm

Has anyone had any luck with this. My mate used to work as admin in a place they used couriers a lot. He reckons it's the easy life and he's going to set up on his own in Derry.

Has anyone with the experience got any tips for him. I'm concerned he's totally underprepared for this whole thing

Karma · 31-07-2008 12:55am

maybe different up north but its no picnic unless your in a family ran business...

liger · 31-07-2008 5:39pm

Hi,

I worked with/for GLS for a while as an owner driver. I got my insurance thru wrightways, Think they are in wexford but in the end it was a Hibernian policy. Hibernian wouldnt quote direct though. The cost was 2500 for the year and i had to transfer a five year bonus from my private car to get it that cheap.

None of the companies i worked for checked what type of insurance i had but the garda did when i was pulled over twice. If you have an accident and the insurance company find out what you were really using the van for then your policy is null and void and depending on the severity of the accident your open to criminal charges. ( I worked for 5years with axa/hibernian/eagle star ).

As for making a living out of it, doing the multi drops for places for DHL/UPS/GLS is good if you know the area well, but I found it hard to break even just doing courier work. The cost of insurance, diesel and van maintenance was just too much.

Hope this helps.

more tea vicar · 29-08-2008 10:01pm

Bleedin couriers seem to be stressed out grumpy aul sods.

Always turning up at any time and rarely call to confirm a drop, driving battered old ford vans.

The worst company is Fastway, they seem to have a bad reputation always on joe duffy, drivers not happy, nearly as bad as GLS. Bleedin Fastway, new drivers every week, don't know where they ae going, keep phoning for directions, get a feckin Sat Nav f' christ sake.

Why don't they drive Mercedes Sprinter vans or something decent, instead of clapped out Ford transits, pile o shyte, and get bleeding organised and a bit happier with clients, grumpy old gits.

DHL wreck every delivery, Fedex don't carry phones, don't know much about UPS or TNT.

Interlink are a rip off, now called DPD, the smaller operators are fairly bad for organising stuff, Langans, Lynx and that Swift is all over the bleedin place.

Some good ones, Hartleys, DSV, Zeigler.

Guvnor · 08-09-2008 7:45pm

I think the issue MoreTeaVicar is none of us as customers want to pay much for getting a package delivered. Then from what I have heard from drivers is that the suits in head office base potential pay on unobtainable targets. With traffic the way it is and most customers never offering help to the drivers I am amazed if a driver could do enough pick-ups/drop-off's to make a decent wage on an owner operator basis - probably only 1-2 good routes in an area. Even worse if you have to collect duty for the government!

Kind of on topic but who would be the best/cheapest firm for doing sub 30kg deliveries in Ireland - north and south?

I think UPS are OK to work for - they charge enough for their packages to pay reasonable.

TheCostumeShop.ie: Ronan · 11-09-2008 8:58pm

Surprised to hear that about fastway, i've found them to be the most reliable. The drivers have to take ownership of the packages getting their on time which i think makes a big difference.

John Docherty · 06-10-2009 1:03pm

I am looking for experienced couriers or multidrop drivers, with a good knowledge of the Wicklow area, to join us as owner drivers. You must purchase one of our liveried vehicles, you cannot use your existing van.There is no entry or franchise fee. However, this is not a part time job, we need you to be responsible for your own maintainance,insurance, breakdown/holiday/illness cover, etc. Fixed daily rate, paid monthly.Expressions of interest from individuals who are experienced,professional, competent, and of good repute only.

wayne2107 · 23-10-2009 7:44pm

Fedex don't carry phones

Oh yes we do, Im working in Fedex the last four years and we always have phones. Get your facts right please! Why should we ring you to arrange a time, if you order something on the internet make sure your in to sign for it. Cant stand people who order stuff and are never around to sign for it. I only make two attempts and you have to come collect it your self, on the second attempt I always make sure your one of my very last delieverys of the day.

wayne2107 · 23-10-2009 7:46pm

I am looking for experienced couriers or multidrop drivers, with a good knowledge of the Wicklow area, to join us as owner drivers. You must purchase one of our liveried vehicles, you cannot use your existing van.There is no entry or franchise fee. However, this is not a part time job, we need you to be responsible for your own maintainance,insurance, breakdown/holiday/illness cover, etc. Fixed daily rate, paid monthly.Expressions of interest from individuals who are experienced,professional, competent, and of good repute only.

I know Bray and Kilmac like the back of my hand. Whats the money like, see if you can beat what Im earning now. Work very well under presure!

John Docherty · 23-10-2009 7:52pm

wayne2107 wrote: »

I know Bray and Kilmac like the back of my hand. Whats the money like, see if you can beat what Im earning now. Work very well under presure!

Theres more to Wicklow than Bray. Can you do 60+ drops and 10 collections a day? What are you getting a day at the moment?

wayne2107 · 24-10-2009 10:01am

Can you do 60+ drops and 10 collections a day?

Piece of cake! I only know as far as Bray unfortunally, Can cover Blackrock to Bray and all the nooks and crannys in between! Im coming out with approx 600 a week, and am doing about 80 drops & 20 collections a day.

cianmol · 10-06-2010 10:04am

So what is the going rate in Dublin that a man with a van can charge?

L.Jenkins · 11-06-2010 7:10pm

Out of interest, apart from providing the vehicle and Insurance. Is there any additional requirements to working as a sole trading delivery driver.

mr transit · 04-07-2010 10:21pm

Hi all, I worked as an owner driver for one of the big company's in Dublin for several years, until recently. I got out of it as the rates have gotten so bad. You would be lucking to make €100 a day now before expenses working as a sub-contractor for one of those bigger companies, also they are very slow to pay up and your always chasing your money. Your best bet would be to stay small. Advertise privately and do furniture collections and removals. Just work out your fuel costs and your time. Just be aware, there's alot of compition out there. Good luck

kilburn · 14-07-2010 6:09pm

I wouldnt touch the courier business with a 100ft pole.
Spent 5 years in it, its ruined no money to be made any more.

ezeway · 20-08-2010 5:02pm

I work as a courier for last 3 years... Thanks god I don't need to use my own van... Coz I know fellas who works for the same company with own vans makes 90 a day before expenses...

kmepll · 01-09-2010 1:05am

Worked for securispeed for a couple of years ago, great to work for but even then Lads who had been there before me where getting out of the game.
Tough job never enough hours in the day and the always traffic is hell

razor69 · 22-11-2010 3:48pm

Don't do it!!! It's the worse job I've ever had. I work as a courier and its 60+ hours a week for much less than the minimum wage after expenses. Add to that long periods of being TOLD where to "STANDBY" as you wait on jobs (sometimes for hours), no holiday pay, sick pay and the eternal running costs of driving a van. Make it the worst job ever!!! You have NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER, just ask N.E.R.A.. These companies can do what they want and have NOBODY to answer to. Ie Charge customer fuel surcharge even though it's you who bought the fuel, make you pay to get YOUR van logoed, make you pay for a uniform with THEIR logo and even charge YOU for the installation and UPKEEP OF THEIR GPS system. They let all thief own directly employed drivers go why???? So they can exploit the sub contractor outside of NORMAL employment law!!!! Ask yourself why don't they just employ someone directly??? Pay them a wage to drive their van?? Exploitation

Michael4002 · 03-12-2010 11:26pm

More Tea - There is a big differance between the companies you have mentioned, Fatsway, Dpd, etc are multi drop companies under daily pressure, You need to put yourself in their shoes just for a minute and realize the basics around delivering 100 parcels per day, If a courier had to phone every person he deliveries to each day he would loose money very quickly, and every courier company in the Country would have to increase their rates to cover the costs of phone calls etc,

Getting started at present is very risky as all the major companies out there are all dropping their rates and some have dropped so low it is forcing couriers to sell at a rate just for the hope for long term income and hopefully survive the situation we are in at the moment.
Couriers in Dublin can earn from €600 to €2500 per week depending on who they are working for or self employed, how hard they work and most importantly how good they are , some people are are good but some people just dont have it, eg: You start tomorrow for DHL and you are offered €2 per delivery , You are offered 100 deliveries per day but you can only deliver 50, so your not making any money, at the start you are willing to work for peanuts but if you dont get the hang of it you are better off giving up, The little things are the important thing s like driving , parking , general knowledge of area , fitness, Common sense for technology.
Courier costs per week are about €300/400 for a Dublin based courier, Diesel €120, Insurance ( Arachas ) €40 , Phone Bill €40, Wear and tear on Van €40 , Van repayments €150, Lunch , etc etc etc.
My advice is to start for a good company but dont invest at the beginning in a high cost van etc and see if you can earn enough money each week to put food on the table.

Cheers - Dublin courier for 12 years.

Andy-Pandy · 09-12-2010 7:28pm

Ya lazy sods should just work on a bike

johner101 · 12-01-2011 5:10pm

dont do it ive been a courier for the past 15 years. made big money when it was good.no money in the game these days. i was a sub co for dhl fed ex dx post now back on the circuit its a joke out there.

dm5854 · 27-01-2011 8:02pm

John Docherty wrote: »

Theres more to Wicklow than Bray. Can you do 60+ drops and 10 collections a day? What are you getting a day at the moment?

Well Lads 60+ drops a day can be done but you sure as hell would want to be getting proper rates for this as this Company will definitly be getting good rates from their customer, Dont be fooled, Don't let them tell you otherwise, these guys all cry poverty to keep from paying out proper rates!

alan1971 · 01-06-2011 9:50pm

looking to get a job driving a small van. for a company . i have worked on building sites. all my life and cant get any work.is there any body that could give adivce

Karma · 02-06-2011 9:50am

I think the general advice is dont do it

there is no money to be made in it anymore.

hector9 · 12-03-2012 8:25pm

dont be a courier it is really bad out there at the mo, i work for DHL, i,ve been there 4yrs, work is slow but steady, they aint hireing anybody, you cant compete with first direct couriers there doing mini jobs for 1 euro around town, and jobs out to sandyford for 3 euro, there wrecking the business and paying the courieres feck all.

soundman45 · 29-05-2012 7:39pm

For anyone thinking of starting off as an owner driver just a word of warning, i work as a courier for the last 6yrs, am self employed and thankfully am doing grand but its very tough at the beginning as drivers who are established obviously get the better runs where they make more money, insurance is €2500 on first year comes down to about €1500 after 3yrs or so, Dhl pay good money, Nightline pay ok too but very long hours, NPX pay per drop and some days your run can be very quiet = crap money, GLS dont know about them, and everyone knows that Fastway is a complete joke, anyone wants more info i can message ya,

Mr Bump · 01-06-2012 9:46am

First point for me is, make sure you get the right insurance, you will have to produce a copy of your insurance to the company you are contracting to, also they may require you to have a min insuranse ie claim up to lets say 2million or what ever because of the goods you will carry for them, so thats a must,
The ford jumbo is a great van for this type of work, also think before you jump, DHL, UPS are always the first people that peope think of in the business, as it stands in ireland they are not the biggest or best anymore, IMHO i would try nightline, they are looking for owner drivers now i heard, also you can buy into fast and get an area,
As for the monies, you are not to far of the mark, but i do know that some of the nightline drivers in the right area are making a lot more then 800, up to 1400 so do a little home work

Hope this is of some help

TOPMAN99 wrote: »

I am starting as a courier/owner driver in the next month in Dublin and need some advice on getting started. Mainly:

1.Insurance
I am setting up as a sole trader and hope to do both local delivery work in dublin and work for some larger multinational company like DHL,UPS etc delivering goods for them.Most major insurance companies refuse to quote me the minute I say I am delivering anything, they all refer me to one broker who insures couriers and there quote was 3500 euros for the year.Some people have said to tell them I am a fitter or tradesman,but I was wondering will any of the big multnationals employ me if I had just ordinary commerical insurance and not this special courier insurance and also if I am carrying goods for some one and they get stolen or damaged I dont have insurance for goods in transit were do I stand then.

2.Proper Van
I have been advised to buy a Ford Transit 280 LWB Semi High Roof or a 350 LWB HR.Are either of these vans correct and does the colour matter.

3.Money
I have been given different figures on money I should expect to earn weekly , could someone tell me roughly how much I can expect to take home weekly after I've paid for my overheads.

I'd greatly appreciate any help anyone could give me on any of the above .

Cheers.

soundman45 · 21-06-2012 9:57pm

Has anyone worked as an owner driver for Superior Express in Dublin, they are looking for owner drivers at the moment but ive no idea what their like to work for.

Dub13 · 22-06-2012 12:05am

soundman45 wrote: »

Has anyone worked as an owner driver for Superior Express in Dublin, they are looking for owner drivers at the moment but ive no idea what their like to work for.

Checkout from post 351 here...

http://www.irishkop.com/forums/showthread.php?p=682228&

Evan La Crey · 08-01-2014 3:25am

Apart from a van, what other equipment does an owner/driver need to have? A two wheel trolley? A pallet pallet lifter?

Im mainly concerned with loading a and unloading pallets and how to do so, or do they tend to have pallet trucks and the collection snap destinations?

Cheers.

garymangan85 · 20-03-2015 9:11pm

this job is a churn through people job.awful set wages which you still pay expenses out of so minus 200 peek no matter what,point to point is soul destroying,hours of traffic daily starting before 9am and ending after 6pm nowhere near your area.rates are pathetic can be 1 euro on some .seems job is to abuse anyone who takes it wear them down then replace with another hapless soul

Paddy Irishman1985 · 04-09-2015 3:43pm

Hi I know it's being 9 years since the last post but I'll give it a shot.

I've being offered a courier run with nightline.
I've had a chat with a van rental company and for 1000 a month I'll get a van fully taxed every year and all maitinence take care of and new ish can every year.

It seems most of nightlines drivers rent vans.
Just wondering how any of you are managing out there?
Any advice would be great on.

Mr Bump · 04-09-2015 4:21pm

A mate of.mine works for.them, he gets about 900 a week for his set run, he does not lease van, he purchased it by the month and trades up every 3 years, if you go sick you must have your run covered, if you don't they fine you, holidays must be paid by you, everything comes out of the 900, you will never get rich but my mate seems to get by, just about, you also have to pay for there sign writing on the van which is bout €1500,

Paddy Irishman1985 wrote: »

Hi I know it's being 9 years since the last post but I'll give it a shot.

I've being offered a courier run with nightline.
I've had a chat with a van rental company and for 1000 a month I'll get a van fully taxed every year and all maitinence take care of and new ish can every year.

It seems most of nightlines drivers rent vans.
Just wondering how any of you are managing out there?
Any advice would be great on.

Paddy Irishman1985 · 04-09-2015 4:33pm

Mr Bump wrote: »

A mate of.mine works for.them, he gets about 900 a week for his set run, he does not lease van, he purchased it by the month and trades up every 3 years, if you go sick you must have your run covered, if you don't they fine you, holidays must be paid by you, everything comes out of the 900, you will never get rich but my mate seems to get by, just about, you also have to pay for there sign writing on the van which is bout €1500,

The company I rent the can off will have it done with Nightline signs and the special locks for doors will also be on it so money saved there. I was told by Nightline I'd get 1200 a week before expenses, so I'm working out 600/700 take home a week obviously I can't pay myself the or I'd prob go out of bussines very quick.

Mr Bump · 04-09-2015 4:53pm

Hope you get the €1200 a week so, my mate not getting that

Paddy Irishman1985 wrote: »

The company I rent the can off will have it done with Nightline signs and the special locks for doors will also be on it so money saved there. I was told by Nightline I'd get 1200 a week before expenses, so I'm working out 600/700 take home a week obviously I can't pay myself the or I'd prob go out of bussines very quick.

Paddy Irishman1985 · 04-09-2015 5:11pm

Mr Bump wrote: »

Hope you get the €1200 a week so, my mate not getting that

Who is the company you mate works for?
I'll be totally new to all this so I have a nervous feeling if it will work or not.

Streetwalker · 09-09-2015 12:21pm

You'd be lucky to take home 400 Euro a week after everything and it will be a looooong day. The high turn over of drivers in most courier companies speaks volumes.

DWG · 03-10-2015 1:39am

more tea vicar wrote: »

Bleedin couriers seem to be stressed out grumpy aul sods.

Always turning up at any time and rarely call to confirm a drop, driving battered old ford vans.

The worst company is Fastway, they seem to have a bad reputation always on joe duffy, drivers not happy, nearly as bad as GLS. Bleedin Fastway, new drivers every week, don't know where they ae going, keep phoning for directions, get a feckin Sat Nav f' christ sake.

Why don't they drive Mercedes Sprinter vans or something decent, instead of clapped out Ford transits, pile o shyte, and get bleeding organised and a bit happier with clients, grumpy old gits.

DHL wreck every delivery, Fedex don't carry phones, don't know much about UPS or TNT.

Interlink are a rip off, now called DPD, the smaller operators are fairly bad for organising stuff, Langans, Lynx and that Swift is all over the bleedin place.

Some good ones, Hartleys, DSV, Zeigler.

I would give you a hug to make you feel better but afraid I might be told I am firty ducker, so I wont.

jackaljuice · 03-04-2016 3:41pm

I have a transit van, working as a fisherman and bricklayer. (Inside of van is clean only tools when I have a job on, no fishing gear/boxes etc go inside it.) For fishing and building in winter time I would be lucky to get 3 days a week work and I would be free for the rest of the week, Im looking to get into deliveries wheither its pallets or parcels I dont mind once it pays. Anybody any suggestions on how to get in on it, tips? I live in the south east.

Lorne Malvo · 04-04-2016 1:52am

What age is your van? Some companies require a van no more than 5 years old.:)
And white...

HilltopViewer · 15-03-2017 8:04pm

Hi,I want to find out,if as an owner driver,is it handy sorting out your own income tax throughout the year.I haven't gone ahead and purchased a van,trying more for driving a company van first.Do courier companies get you to print there company name on your van?I see Deadline Couriers are looking for 80 new staff.Most companies seem to look for white transits.If you have any other info,that would be great!Thanks!

goodvibes · 07-07-2017 7:46pm

Do i have to be registared as self employed before i can buy a van ?

Lorne Malvo · 07-07-2017 11:14pm

goodvibes wrote: »

Do i have to be registared as self employed before i can buy a van ?

Do you have to be self employed before you can purchase a van?

- No

fryup · 18-09-2017 10:32pm

would a hi-ace or something similar in size do for courier driving??

Help! Starting Up As An Owner Driver

Comments