The courier owner driver forum

where do I start?top

Start by reading all the topics on all the codforum forums!

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can I use my car?top

You can use a car, and there are different opinions, but most codforum members agree you'll find it easier to get work with a van. It's more flexible than a car and people will take you more seriously.

can I start part time?top

Yes, but — you'll stand a better chance of success and find it easier to get work if you do it full time.

how much will I earn?top

Well, you won't be earning £250 a day, and for the first couple of months you might not get anything at all. After a while you might have a turnover of £400 to £700 a week, before taking out your costs — van, fuel, insurances, phone, subs, etc.

scams and rip-offstop

Couriers seem to be regarded as easy targets for the scam merchants.

They generally pretend to be agencies or 'clearing houses' — they offer to get work from customers and farm it out to owner drivers.

Some of the recent scams have these features:

some posts about this topic...

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what rates to charge top

There are two sets of rates — one for your own customers and another for 'trade' when you're subbing. And you'll probably use a different rate for backloads and part loads. And the rates you can charge are different in different parts of the country.

Most people charge a rate of so many pence per loaded mile (pplm), and the rate will depend mostly on the size of vehicle. You'll have to work out your rates as part of your business plan, but some of the topics here will give you an idea of where to start.

working out mileages top

The price for most jobs is worked out on the loaded mileage, so we have to have a way to quickly work out mileages between two points, so we can quote while the customer is on the phone. You can tell the customer you will ring back, then use satnav or multimap to work it out, but they could have given the job to somebody else in that time.

codforum members have come up with some quick and simple ways to do it, which are described in the posts below.

what does xyz mean?top

If you've seen a word, abbreviation or acronym and you don't know what it means, you might find it in the courier's glossary

backloadstop

summary coming soon!

multi-dropstop

summary coming soon!

choosing a vantop

summary coming soon!

should I buy a van or hire?top

summary coming soon!

insurance top

There are two types of insurance you must have:

• van insurance to cover you to use your van to carry goods for 'hire and reward' — this can be courier insurance or light haulage insurance depending on the type of work you do
• goods in transit (GIT) insurance to cover the goods you are carrying

You should also have public liability insurance, but you probably don't need employer's liability.

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Freight exchanges (such as CX, MT Van, Vanhaul) top

People often ask whether these exchanges are worth joining.

Freight exchanges are places for couriers to advertise loads and empty vans. You won't get enough work from them to keep you busy, but you might get enough to cover the subscription cost. They are good places to network and get to know other couriers, which helps keep the work coming in. They will not help you build up your own customer base.

getting customers top

summary coming soon!

business stationerytop

summary coming soon!

what equipment do I need to carry in my van? top

summary coming soon!