[TOPMAN99]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[liger]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by wayne2107

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?