I’m 33 and have had 3 years Class1 experience in general haulage in the UK. I have been driving taxis since my last haulage job since 2010.
I want to do Europe, always have, but thought it too daunting. I have now grown a pair & have a possible chance of getting a start on a casual self employed basis.
My question is…What day rate would be reasonable? Do I expect night out money? Do you get the full rate when weekended?
I’m in Norfolk. I’m enthusiastic, hard working and dont mind a bollocking when I muck up!..incase any potential employers want me?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I don’t want to scare the man with unfair wage demands but don’t want to be ripped off.
The going rate depends on what area you’ll be working from.
As you’re going on a self employed basis, you’ll invoice them on a daily rate, which would include your night out money, income tax, N.I. contributions etc. Fuel, road tolls and parking charges (delete as necessary) would be, I expect, invoiced separately, because those would be different every day. You could include them into your daily rate, but don’t forget to build in increases along inflationary lines.
You’ll either just charge them your daily rate for every day you are away, parked up or not. Or reach an agreement on how much you should invoice them for, for any days parked up, plus parking charges.
Member Jessicas Dad works this way, I’d ask him how he goes about it all for up-to-date info by private message. He might see this and might message you himself.
There’s a bit more to European driving than simply driving on the wrong side of the road. There’s a fair bit to learn.
Oh yeah, I’ll be scary… all the permits needed, the ferry, etc…I hope most of that is taken care of though…lots to think about and organise! Would £120 with £20 night out be cheap?
frankspencer:
Oh yeah, I’ll be scary… all the permits needed, the ferry, etc…I hope most of that is taken care of though…lots to think about and organise! Would £120 with £20 night out be cheap?
£120 plus £20 night out? Yes, that seems ok to me, probably a bit light.
You’ve got your deductions to take off that £120 leaving somewhere between £80 - 90 a day, plus £20 o/n.
If you’re in the North of England/Scotland, that’s not too bad. Not good, but not too bad.
If you’re in the South it’s definitely too cheap.
That’s only my opinion, I’ve never done self employed. I’m an employed Euro driver so I’ve only got wages to go by. But the point of going self employed is to be a bit better off, isn’t it? As well as being your own boss.
I forgot to take holidays into account btw. Self employed means you’ll have to put a bit away to make up holiday/sick pay. You won’t be employed, so it isn’t down to your employer, it’s down to you.
That makes your £120 quite a bit light, unless you want to work 52 weeks a year. You’ll get the work at that rate, but you’ll find yourself on your own whenever you park up anywhere and could end up with overly large tyre bills as well. You need to speak to someone working this way.
You want to charge a day rate on euro work as the foreigners generally work between 8-1600 so on hours you wouldn’t earn much. It works out for me as I only work 50ish hours over 6 days. The days I do more hours are sunday and thursday which are my running out and back days.
tolls parking etc are the company you are working for problems as you will be labour only.
I keep my rates to myself but il admit they aren’t as much as I would like but im allocated my own lorry and kept on permanent And generally treated better than the paye employees that the company has and at the end of the week im happy with what ive earnt for what ive had to do.
And too add to the previous message, everyday im in the truck I bill the same amount whether its 15 hours or sat waiting for a reload doing nothing. I don’t get weekened but the paye drivers have been but thats because the gaffer knows he will get a bill for it.
frankspencer:
Oh yeah, I’ll be scary… all the permits needed, the ferry, etc…I hope most of that is taken care of though…lots to think about and organise! Would £120 with £20 night out be cheap?
£120 plus £20 night out? Yes, that seems ok to me, probably a bit light.
You’ve got your deductions to take off that £120 leaving somewhere between £80 - 90 a day, plus £20 o/n.
If you’re in the North of England/Scotland, that’s not too bad. Not good, but not too bad.
If you’re in the South it’s definitely too cheap.
That’s only my opinion, I’ve never done self employed. I’m an employed Euro driver so I’ve only got wages to go by. But the point of going self employed is to be a bit better off, isn’t it? As well as being your own boss.
I forgot to take holidays into account btw. Self employed means you’ll have to put a bit away to make up holiday/sick pay. You won’t be employed, so it isn’t down to your employer, it’s down to you.
That makes your £120 quite a bit light, unless you want to work 52 weeks a year. You’ll get the work at that rate, but you’ll find yourself on your own whenever you park up anywhere and could end up with overly large tyre bills as well. You need to speak to someone working this way.
A self employed driver in Belgium earns 30 euro per hour ( not an owner/ driver, but hired in driver). I know we have different laws & taxes over here, but 120 pound a day seems light as Simon says.
Cant claim to employer
But against your tax with hmrc
If you go self employed as a ltd company then in effect you are an employee of your company and can claim night out allowance ioe and daily meal allowances
Earning more tax free which comes off the ltd companys profit leaving less corporation tax to pay
As an employee you would expect to clear £120 per day.
As self employed you would need to bill them around £170 per day to arrive back at £120 without fiddling your tax.
limeyphil:
As an employee you would expect to clear £120 per day.
As self employed you would need to bill them around £170 per day to arrive back at £120 without fiddling your tax.
and then you would wake up and realise it was all a dream.
limeyphil:
As an employee you would expect to clear £120 per day.
As self employed you would need to bill them around £170 per day to arrive back at £120 without fiddling your tax.
and then you would wake up and realise it was all a dream.
It’s only £600 per week for 5 days. That’s not exactly wages that people dream of. More a case of average.
limeyphil:
As an employee you would expect to clear £120 per day.
As self employed you would need to bill them around £170 per day to arrive back at £120 without fiddling your tax.
and then you would wake up and realise it was all a dream.
Was thinking the same
Anyone paying Near on £200 a day il pack up tomorrow and drive for them but
Would only be short lived
Self employed if done right you are better off financially
With less tax ni and other benefits than paye
But reccomend a good accountant and do things correct
Freind of mine just done his tax (self employed not ltd)
Grossed 43250
Tax was £750 paid last july
£1750 Paid this month
Plus his reg ni payments which equate to not alot
All done 100% legit with accountant
Last time i was on paye was paying £700-1100 a month
On tax and ni
I think you’re missing my point.
in order for an employer to pay you £120 per day clear.
He will have to pay you about £140 + employers NI + Nightout (£35 European)+ pension contributions + admin - tax and ni to arrive at £120.00. all in all it works out a lot more than £170 per day.
So to charge £120 self employed is pretty foolish.
But in the real world how many drivers are on £600 take home on paye for 5 days
Or £860 take home for 7 days on euro
Yeah all be on boat saying on grand aweek and a v8 etc
But in reality no
Employers extra cost would be approx 11% ni contribution
Plus 28 days hol pay on the taxable pay
Not on nights out ioe or meals etc
I know a few that dont pay ioe but pay £25 night out uk or euro
Then add the £35 night out on top what you say phil
5 days 4 nights out £740 takehome
7/7 £1085 take home
Any driver taking home that on paye i take my hat off to them and must work for a very very good company
Those rates are ferry talk and rdc. waiting room talk
