I’m currently doing my class one then after I’m going to do my cpc transport manager course
I know it’s a way off but I live in Southampton and want to work as a subbie. I know I need to get experience first so will work for some one first. Does any one know can you get the finance on the truck I’m looking at 40k but I have no garuntoor or morgtage so not sure if bank would give me the finance. Could I work as a ltd co driver for a few years and save up say 14k for o licence and insurance, will the bank see I can manage the funds right then give me the ok.
How much can you get out of a truck a day pm or do you day hire it?
Is it return loads you need?
mate, in the nicest possible way DONT BOTHER, if you fancy having your own wagon, get an old wagon and potter about on a weekend , you,ll struggle to find a bank who will be interested, if you can earn £750 a week as a ltd driver don’t kill yourself for the couple hundred extra you MIGHT earn as o/d , your mrs wont thank you either , good luck pal but it aint all v8’s and chrome with your name on it as an od
What about finance some places £400 a week for a new unit then sub from maritime and stobart to get going then find my own contracts from there surely if you can show the bank or a finance company good books for two years as a ltd co driver keep £15000 in the bank for rainy days I reckon I’ve got a shot. Are the containers constant?
Digit , the transport manager Cpc course and exams is not easy to pass.
It is the same standard as an A level.
Experienced and educated people fail it first time .
Digit369:
What about finance some places £400 a week for a new unit then sub from maritime and stobart to get going then find my own contracts from there surely if you can show the bank or a finance company good books for two years as a ltd co driver keep £15000 in the bank for rainy days I reckon I’ve got a shot. Are the containers constant?
Loving the size of the Arctic
Huge! Ain`t it? About 14 million square kilometres according to Google.
First and foremost, research the crap out of what it is you intend to offer - ie general haulage, containers, specialising in a niche market…
There are pros and cons for each.
Secondly, identify if what you want to offer, is achievable. Is the market over saturated? is it feasible to relocate to an area where you have fewer competitors?
Thirdly, once you’ve figured out what you want to provide, that there is a business need in your area, the next thing to do is find customers and find out what they’re willing to pay you, how often, and under what terms.
Then you have a fair idea about what sort of money you need to play with.
el_presidente:
First and foremost, research the crap out of what it is you intend to offer - ie general haulage, containers, specialising in a niche market…
There are pros and cons for each.
Secondly, identify if what you want to offer, is achievable. Is the market over saturated? is it feasible to relocate to an area where you have fewer competitors?
Thirdly, once you’ve figured out what you want to provide, that there is a business need in your area, the next thing to do is find customers and find out what they’re willing to pay you, how often, and under what terms.
Then you have a fair idea about what sort of money you need to play with.
Until then, keep your powder dry.
Yep, get the work in place before you start worrying about buying a truck to do it with.
Do the cpc as this will give you a broader understanding of owning a truck.
Also get a job in the sector you want to.go in to so you get an idea of the pitfalls of that sector and the best equipmrnt etc.
Ie for containers you can loose a lot of time in the ports changing boxes and a lot of slow tips etc
this is the perfect example of how NOT to set up a business, one of my biggest pet hates is the term “LIVING THE DREAM” cos nothing could be farther from the truth in our industry. I could rant and rave about this “typical” often asked on here question all night but to no avail, so in a nutshell you are living in la la land if that’s your idea of running a transport business…lets see…as yet you have no licence, no cpc, no experience but you think working or someone for a short time will do it ■■?..and of course the daddy of all big mistakes!!! you want to borrow 40k before you even have any work lined up…once again LA LA LAND my friend, you are doomed before you even start to think about the basics. am tempted to have a real long rant about this but will refrain, as the post is totally crazy on every count
weewulliewinkie:
this is the perfect example of how NOT to set up a business, one of my biggest pet hates is the term “LIVING THE DREAM” cos nothing could be farther from the truth in our industry. I could rant and rave about this “typical” often asked on here question all night but to no avail, so in a nutshell you are living in la la land if that’s your idea of running a transport business…lets see…as yet you have no licence, no cpc, no experience but you think working or someone for a short time will do it ■■?..and of course the daddy of all big mistakes!!! you want to borrow 40k before you even have any work lined up…once again LA LA LAND my friend, you are doomed before you even start to think about the basics. am tempted to have a real long rant about this but will refrain, as the post is totally crazy on every count
Im always amazed how lads that have been in the job for years don`t really have a clue how it all works
I`ve got a few “mates” who are talking about getting a “unit” at the moment, they have been driving for years, and are very good drivers, but this doesn’t mean you will be an excellent business person.
Six months of being a “LTD” driver doesn’t make you the next Bill Gates, that`s for sure…do they listen ?, do they ■■■■
Stanley Mitchell:
Im always amazed how lads that have been in the job for years don`t really have a clue how it all works
I`ve got a few “mates” who are talking about getting a “unit” at the moment, they have been driving for years, and are very good drivers, but this doesn’t mean you will be an excellent business person.
Six months of being a “LTD” driver doesn’t make you the next Bill Gates, that`s for sure…do they listen ?, do they [zb]
Every now and then I get one of the lads to look after the desk for a day in an emergency…they always come away wiser weaker men, and that’s just doing the operation side, nevermind the accounts, the compliance, purchasing etc etc.
Stanley Mitchell:
Im always amazed how lads that have been in the job for years don`t really have a clue how it all works
I`ve got a few “mates” who are talking about getting a “unit” at the moment, they have been driving for years, and are very good drivers, but this doesn’t mean you will be an excellent business person.
Six months of being a “LTD” driver doesn’t make you the next Bill Gates, that`s for sure…do they listen ?, do they [zb]
Every now and then I get one of the lads to look after the desk for a day in an emergency…they always come away wiser weaker men, and that’s just doing the operation side, nevermind the accounts, the compliance, purchasing etc etc.
In a previous role, we had drivers in the traffic office for a week as part of their/our “working together” initiative…well, it didnt go to plan whatsoever, they had panic attacks, convulsions, funny episodes just watching…after a short while we changed it to ONE day a year, and not too long after that, it was abandoned all together
It never shut the ■■■■■■■■■ up though, they still reckoned they knew better
TBF, a very good TM / planner / gaffer isn’t noticed too much, as the job flows perfectly pretty much all the time, its the poor ones who bring the job into disrepute, these characters normally have never been in a truck, normally wear sharp cheap suits, windsor knot ties, those funny pointy shoes, smoke a lot and drive boy racer type cars…oh, and talk bollox most of the time
Digit369:
What about finance some places £400 a week for a new unit then sub from maritime and stobart to get going then find my own contracts from there surely if you can show the bank or a finance company good books for two years as a ltd co driver keep £15000 in the bank for rainy days I reckon I’ve got a shot. Are the containers constant?
Loving the size of the Arctic
That’s most likely Tue fastest way to go bust at the rates they pay
Stanley Mitchell:
In a previous role, we had drivers in the traffic office for a week as part of their/our “working together” initiative…well, it didnt go to plan whatsoever, they had panic attacks, convulsions, funny episodes just watching…after a short while we changed it to ONE day a year, and not too long after that, it was abandoned all together
It never shut the [zb] up though, they still reckoned they knew better
TBF, a very good TM / planner / gaffer isn’t noticed too much, as the job flows perfectly pretty much all the time, its the poor ones who bring the job into disrepute, these characters normally have never been in a truck, normally wear sharp cheap suits, windsor knot ties, those funny pointy shoes, smoke a lot and drive boy racer type cars…oh, and talk bollox most of the time
Ooo an initiative - I am impressed . In fairness, most of mine say they don’t want to take the stress of the desk on. Though having said that, one of drivers moved into Ops manager role and he’s very good at it - has to go for a drive every now and then though, you know, just to keep his hand in…
weewulliewinkie:
this is the perfect example of how NOT to set up a business, one of my biggest pet hates is the term “LIVING THE DREAM”
If you don’t have the “dream” or could be called ambition nobody would ever set up a business. The OP did say he’d was planning to do a few years in the industry first, so that will either put him right off or hopefully at the very least knock a few ideas of it being a bed of roses out of him and then let him approach the idea with a much more realistic idea of what he faces.
Seems to me that he needs good advice and encouragement.
. In fairness, most of mine say they don’t want to take the stress of the desk on. Though having said that, one of drivers moved into Ops manager role and he’s very good at it - has to go for a drive every now and then though, you know, just to keep his hand in…