Any advice on motorcycle courier job ?

Raywinstone67

Anyone Any advice on starting with well known motorcycle courier company I realise the job wasnt worth it a few years ago but I've been advised I could earn a flat rate of 550 a week up 8 or 900 and things have picked up seems to be plenty of jobs advertised .I like drivin bikes and currently in my job for 7 years and looking for a change but only if it's better money .do they still expect too much from drivers is there mad pressure everyday. Any advice from someone in the position or recently worked as one would be great thanks .

GBX

Raywinstone67 wrote: »

Anyone Any advice on starting with well known motorcycle courier company I realise the job wasnt worth it a few years ago but I've been advised I could earn a flat rate of 550 a week up 8 or 900 and things have picked up seems to be plenty of jobs advertised .I like drivin bikes and currently in my job for 7 years and looking for a change but only if it's better money .do they still expect too much from drivers is there mad pressure everyday. Any advice from someone in the position or recently worked as one would be great thanks .

Can't offer too much advice only that if you like riding bikes - doing the job for 40-50+ hours a week may soon change that. Will you want to spend an hour or so on the bike at the weekend having spent the full week on it in all sorts of weather and dealing with assh0les on phones etc?
Think wisely on it before jumping into it.

Del2005

Don't believe a word from the base controller or the boss.

What type of bike are you thinking of using? Have you got a quote for courier insurance and are you handy with maintenance as you will be doing a lot of it.

Riding a bike for a living is different to commuting or fun, you'll soon be sick of the site of bikes.

Max Headroom

Go for it..it's decent money if you like riding....buy a hack...it'll pay for itself in a few weeks...do it till the winter...

XMG

I did it in London years ago, the money was mental but it was dangerous, stressful and unhealthy sitting in traffic. You would need to know your way around a bike and wear the proper gear. It also takes the joy out of riding. Stress was a big part of it I realized later on, you have to be on your game 100% of the time for 10 / 12 / 16 hours a day or the chances of an accident rise. Its mentally and physically draining. I don’t know how many times I came close...

listermint

XMG wrote: »

I did it in London years ago, the money was mental but it was dangerous, stressful and unhealthy sitting in traffic. You would need to know your way around a bike and wear the proper gear. It also takes the joy out of riding. Stress was a big part of it I realized later on, you have to be on your game 100% of the time for 10 / 12 / 16 hours a day or the chances of an accident rise. Its mentally and physically draining. I don’t know how many times I came close...

26 per annum is mental?...

macplaxton

Just halve any figure you hear to pay for the bike, fuel, wear and tear, crashes, tax, etc.

Soon takes the gloss off things.

Max Headroom

Talk to some real couriers and get their opinions....and not part time bikers....:P

Drumorig

It's a horrible dangerous job, id never do it again. Base controllers will tell you whatever as their turnover is high. You won't be under pressure all the time but when you are it's on.
When I was doing it I used to say this will be a good day, a bad one or my last. I done dublin mostly.
It wrecks your bike also, there is always something going or about to.

galwaytt

Raywinstone67 wrote: »

Anyone Any advice on starting with well known motorcycle courier company I realise the job wasnt worth it a few years ago but I've been advised I could earn a flat rate of 550 a week up 8 or 900 and things have picked up seems to be plenty of jobs advertised .I like drivin bikes and currently in my job for 7 years and looking for a change but only if it's better money .do they still expect too much from drivers is there mad pressure everyday. Any advice from someone in the position or recently worked as one would be great thanks .

I think it would kill your love of biking tbh.

But, if you want to drive and do drops etc, then consider going as a van driver.

Interceptor

Buy a low mileage GN125, fit a big topbox and keep the bike maintained regardless. Fit handmuffs and a phone charger and away you go. Don't even dream about using a decent bike for couriering.

Max Headroom

Did it for years..never put me off bikes, in fact it paid for my "good" bikes and a decent house...;)

Marki

Max Headroom wrote: »

Did it for years..never put me off bikes, in fact it paid for my "good" bikes and a decent house...;)

We were earning punts back in mid 80's. 800 - 1000 was a good week;) I think those days are gone tho.....

The QuietMan

Talk to any of the just eat lads you see regularly around the place, there’s not a hope I’d use my own bike

Nodster

Yeah but Marki, you had too much disposable income and distractions back then!!

newmember2

Raywinstone67 wrote: »

Anyone Any advice on starting with well known motorcycle courier company I realise the job wasnt worth it a few years ago but I've been advised I could earn a flat rate of 550 a week up 8 or 900 and things have picked up seems to be plenty of jobs advertised .I like drivin bikes and currently in my job for 7 years and looking for a change but only if it's better money .do they still expect too much from drivers is there mad pressure everyday. Any advice from someone in the position or recently worked as one would be great thanks .

If you've nothing to lose by trying it then go for it. It's an underpaid dirty dangerous job and the only people doing it are people that have no better way to make money.

Max Headroom

newmember? wrote: »

If you've nothing to lose by trying it then go for it. It's an underpaid dirty dangerous job and the only people doing it are people that have no better way to make money.

WOW..:eek:......talk about pigeonholing....not a bit true....

Max Headroom

newmember? wrote: »

If you've nothing to lose by trying it then go for it. It's an underpaid dirty dangerous job and the only people doing it are people that have no better way to make money.

WOW..:eek:......talk about pigeonholing....not a bit true....

Hotblack Desiato

Good article I came across a couple of years ago:

https://www.wemoto.com/news/article/1100/motorcycle_couriers_then_and_now

Max Headroom

Jesus...imagine trying to keep a GT 250 on the road these days....500 a week on the bike ...

Skill Magill

No holidays, sick pay, bank holidays and a serious amount of numpties on the road. Traffic lights being broken by other users 100% of the time. You'd be lucky coming out with 15,000 PA once you take out all your expenses. Dont be sold into the romantic ideal of couriering for a living, the reality is far starker.

Max Headroom

Considering the amount of couriers/van drivers around..a lot of guys are happy with their lot....;)

newmember2

Max Headroom wrote: »

Considering the amount of couriers/van drivers around..a lot of guys are happy with their lot....;)

Absolute bollocks...go and talk with a few and then come back, and van driving is very very different to sitting outdoors on a motorbike 8+hours a day in all weathers. What I said above is true, there's nobody doing it for the love of bikes or the love of the job.

John_Rambo

I cycle couriered with a company that had motorbike couriers for a short while in the 90's when 2 wheel couriering was at it's peak.

The motorbike lads got a lot of hassle from the Gardai (much much more so than the cycle couriers, and much more so that regular motorcycle riders) and they felt in order to make money they had to "skip corners" in every way. It was a lot more expensive for them compared to us cyclists with tax, fuel, safety gear, insurance and maintenance.

The motorbike couriers got the worst runs too.

The job seemed fairly unhealthy too, most of then smoked and ate crap due that couldn't be burned off like the cycle couriers (eating handy junk food from the saddle) Injuries were common enough for all of us and that meant no pay.

Broken cycle bikes are a lot cheaper to fix than the motorbikes and we'd no regulations on tyres.

Without meaning to offend, some of them were rough as f towards the end of the peak. Echoing Newmember's post it seemed to me to be one of those jobs that people unfortunate enough not to find work in other areas took to.

Either way... best of luck with whatever you do.

Max Headroom

newmember? wrote: »

Absolute bollocks...go and talk with a few and then come back, and van driving is very very different to sitting outdoors on a motorbike 8+hours a day in all weathers. What I said above is true, there's nobody doing it for the love of bikes or the love of the job.

Know both..its not bollox, its a job and they like it.....they make decent money, maybe its the lazy bollox's who are the complainers...
I did both...bike anyday, but the van is nice in winter, but more stressful because of the amount of packages and the size of the van...

Del2005

Max Headroom wrote: »

Know both..its not bollox, its a job and they like it.....they make decent money, maybe its the lazy bollox's who are the complainers...
I did both...bike anyday, but the van is nice in winter, but more stressful because of the amount of packages and the size of the van...

In a van with a good urban route you might make some money and have an enjoyable job, but to get that you need seniority. Just starting you get the crap runs after splashing out for the shiny new van all the companies insist you have.

The OP is going to be the bottom of the pile doing bike couriering and there's not as much money in it as there was back in the boom days. Even An Post is struggling with letters, they are trying to get the package business off the van couriers!, so who's going to spend several Euro to get a document delivered when the internet is quicker?

macplaxton

You can't email/fax a dress.

When I was working in central London c.1999, I got dragged from WC2 to SW8 to pick a dress up to go back to a production company - contact Joanna.

Ring the bell and Joanna Lumley answers the door! Asks me if I mind waiting and would I like a cup of tea? ...Go on, twist me arm. So I have a tea and biscuits and a smoke in her kitchen.

Lovely lady.

(The rest of it is underpaid crap though.)

Skill Magill

macplaxton wrote: »

You can't email/fax a dress.

When I was working in central London c.1999, I got dragged from WC2 to SW8 to pick a dress up to go back to a production company - contact Joanna.

Ring the bell and Joanna Lumley answers the door! Asks me if I mind waiting and would I like a cup of tea? ...Go on, twist me arm. So I have a tea and biscuits and a smoke in her kitchen.

Lovely lady.

(The rest of it is underpaid crap though.)

Pfft That’s nothing, I delivered to Christy Moore, beat that!

newmember2

Skill Magill wrote: »

Pfft That’s nothing, I delivered to Christy Moore, beat that!

Daniel Day Lewis...beat that! :pac:

macplaxton

Bet they both didn't make you a cup of tea!

Max Headroom

newmember? wrote: »

Daniel Day Lewis...beat that! :pac:

Larry Mullen
Joe lynch
Pat Kenny
Leslie Dowdall
David Kelly..


......showing my age now....:o

airhead_eire

macplaxton wrote: »

Bet they both didn't make you a cup of tea!

Out of the above, Joanna Lumley wins hands down. I mean....The New Avengers....Purdey. Jeez....

Skill Magill

Collecting from and delivering to are completely different though. Once delivery is made a signature is proffered as proof of contract. Hence Christy Moore’s signature is in the courier company’s archives. With Joana Lumley there is no proof, tis but hearsay and the product of an over active imagination.
Cup o tea indeed. Nice try Mac

Max Headroom

Skill Magill wrote: »

Collecting from and delivering to are completely different though. Once delivery is made a signature is proffered as proof of contract. Hence Christy Moore’s signature is in the courier company’s archives. With Joana Lumley there is no proof, tis but hearsay and the product of an over active imagination.
Cup o tea indeed. Nice try Mac

Yeah...buy is it the one and only Christy....or was it just some fat beardy lad that opened the door with a pint in his hand.....;):P

blade1

Skill Magill wrote: »

Pfft That’s nothing, I delivered to Christy Moore, beat that!

Was it a shovel he left somewhere?

My brother was a courier for 20 years in London in 80's and 90's.
Called to a lot of celebs as well.
Two that come to mind are Chrissie Hynde and one of Banarama.
He went through a good few cx500s and the like.

Didn't put him off bikes either as be has 5 still.

BanditLuke

Did it for 5 years in my 20's in Dublin. Was making about 1000 most weeks but after overheads it was more like 600 a week. The days where long and it killed my love of bikes for a time. Honestly wouldn't go back to it if you paid me 1500 a week now what with the traffic, facebookers, cyclists and the body being 20 years older.

XMG

blade1 wrote: »

Was it a shovel he left somewhere?

My brother was a courier for 20 years in London in 80's and 90's.
Called to a lot of celebs as well.
Two that come to mind are Chrissie Hynde and one of Banarama.
He went through a good few cx500s and the like.

Didn't put him off bikes either as be has 5 still.

CX500's, brings back memories, they were an awful lump of a thing! They were cheap and got the job done though, would last maybe 4 or 6 months and then time for another one. There was a garage somewhere, I forget now where, that specalised in them, you could get pretty much anything done in a hour and be back on the road. The cylinder head covers were awful thin and if you dropped it and it slid any distance at all that's what would meet the road first and it would wear a hole in it... A heavy yoke to lift off the ground if you did drop it!