Courier Industry

skj

Hi

I am an unemployed professional thinking about getting into courier industry, but have no idea about it. What I found is an add from DPD asking for Owner Drivers required for DPD Meath. Attractive Daily Rates apply. from 150 to 200 a day Candidates must have own clean white LWB van & B licence.

Any one who is in this industry can help me with more details about the nature of job or any useful tips.

Any info will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
SKJ

_Brian

skj wrote: »

Hi

I am an unemployed professional thinking about getting into courier industry, but have no idea about it. What I found is an add from DPD asking for Owner Drivers required for DPD Meath. Attractive Daily Rates apply. from 150 to 200 a day Candidates must have own clean white LWB van & B licence.

Any one who is in this industry can help me with more details about the nature of job or any useful tips.

Any info will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
SKJ

There have been a number of threads over in the Business forum on couriers, and the resounding feedback from guys who have given it a go is to stay clear..

From the €150-200 you have to run a van and pay yourself a wage..
My guess is that by the time you buy/insure/test/tax/maintain/repair a van your wage will be minimal, and apparently the hours are awful, 12-14 hour days.

coylemj

The fact that they employ freelancers explains why there are so many complaints about them on boards and of course it means that their service is wildly inconsistent.

Thread from yesterday ... incoming mail order parcel dumped on the customer's doorstep and then it disappeared, customer could get no satisfaction from DPD who told him it was the delivery driver's problem - can you believe it?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057428275

vandriver

I used to be a courier!
Your gross would be 235 days at 150 to 200.
So a range of 35 to 47k.
Costs:
Diesel 6-7 k a year
Insurance ? I was paying 3k 14 years ago
Maintenance:2 services,plus tyres plus something big going (clutch,dpf,gearbox etc)
Say 1k a year
Van tax 330 I think
Depreciation :A 20 grand van with 200k on it after 5 years will be worth f all so say 3k a year.
Also 1.5k for a cheap accountant.And say 700 a year interest on the van loan.
And your tax will be €1650 higher than a PAYE worker,as you won't qualify for PAYE tax credit.
So comparing it to a normal PAYE job,you would be on 16-28k a year for 50-60 hr weeks IF nothing major goes wrong or you are sick or have a crash(I managed to wipe out 6 months earnings with a crash).
For info,I've allowed 2 weeks holiday along with bank holidays and idle days around Xmas and Easter to arrive at 235 working days.

colosus1908

I think @vandriver said it all. Maybe you should stay clear.

skj

Hi Brian, Coylemj, Vandriver, Colosus..

Thanks a million for your detailed information.
I was away and not been online, apologies for delay in reply..
Really your information is so valuable for me and I have an idea about it and thinking twice, should i step into it or not or find any other job which will be more rewarding for the effort i make.

thanks a million once again, You all are great for taking the effort you took to help me with the knowledge you have
SKJ