so me and my mate have started a business a few months ago, we work for another company in the week and do our own on weekends. we started doing man and van jobs etc but now feel the need to grow the business. just need some tips and some help.
what companys can we get sub contracted to?
where can i get backloads from?
are there any pc software i can download for route planning etc?
dont want anyone saying its pointless ill never make money etc just want advice and tips.
thanks guys
You could sub to business post, DHL (yodel), DPD & the like or google courier company’s,
I would presume those fellows are always looking for vans. Hermes will probly bite your hand off.
Courier exchange web site offers loads for vans. Google courier vans.
AA route planner web site is the best route planner.
Grow the business… need to get something bigger than a van… 
…
Then you going in to the realms of operators licences, Dcpc’s the list goes on…
Not really growing it means taking on more work from else where and maybe a second van. Man and van stuff is mainly weekends courier work is mainly working week stuff . Have you got hire and reward insurance on the van git and pl most will want see it before giving you any work. How old is the van many companies can be fussy on age
there looks to be a flush of Poleinvanman in the UK over the last few years have you looked at the specialist European market with yodel etc
its a 2006 iveco daily, ex royal mail so been serviced regular etc and mechanically mint.
we will get something bigger than a van eventually but considering we have a full time weekday job we have to start somewhere, want the company to pay for itself and invest in trucks itself instead of investing loads and going into the deep end straight away.
will feel much better knowing i have a fleet of trucks and vans yet only started off with 1 van
You need to take the plunge and go full time. Either on multidrop or same don’t bother with European work the poles mainly have it covered at about 45ppm.
Bear in mind I need and charge 70-80ppm for a small van.
Rates for an xlwb which you have are 80p - £1 ppm one way, and the poles are running curtainsiders at what Rico pay for a small van. Mutildrop is about 120-180 per day for 50-120 drops per day hope this helps a bit
Ryan090:
its a 2006 iveco daily, ex royal mail so been serviced regular etc and mechanically mint.
we will get something bigger than a van eventually but considering we have a full time weekday job we have to start somewhere, want the company to pay for itself and invest in trucks itself instead of investing loads and going into the deep end straight away.
will feel much better knowing i have a fleet of trucks and vans yet only started off with 1 van
You sound too sensible of the haulage industry. There is more money in vans than trucks end of. But blokes have to swan around in a big un don’t they?
Sorry that’s wrong there’s no more money in vans than there is in trucks
The thing I’m a bit stuck with is how to charge people. Like if I have a job for 100 miles from pickup to drop off. Do I charge £100 ? Or doubLe it to £200 as it’s return milage ?
I wanna be able to cover fuel, expenses, wages and profit
Ryan090:
The thing I’m a bit stuck with is how to charge people.
I wanna be able to cover fuel, expenses, wages and profit
so add them all up and thats what you charge
Try to get 2, 3, 4 or more drops going in the same direction, then charge them all a little bit less than a single/express delivery, then just to make it really pay, do the same coming back. (Even if it means staying out overnight)
Oh ! Wait a minute, I’ll wake up from this perfect world dream in a minute & smell the coffee ! Lol.
Couier work is charged ONE WAY so you would charge 100 miles one way. Have you actually thought your business through or have you just thought I know ill buy a van. And please for gods sake don’t rely on return loads to make any profit. And don’t run a Luton at pannel van prices it wont pay pannel vans usually do 28+ Lutons usually around 18-25 if your lucky do your sums do some research then decide if its work doing
Below is a link to the syllabus for the operator’s CPC exam. While you do not wish to run larger vehicles at present, this will give you some idea of what is involved if you move up the scale. You need to understand your obligations and how to work out your costs properly before you can set a rate per mile etc.
Providing a transport service is not a charitable operation, but you will find the majority of your potential customers think that it is.
ocr.org.uk/Images/81922-syllabus.pdf
edit: link not transferred
So to start…yes I have thought the business through, everyone has to learn from the bottom, I’m 21 I don’t know everything but I do know at least I’m willing to start at the bottom and work my way to the top just like every other person has to, I don’t just sit here working for someone else moaning about the transport industry like alot of other people I’m willing to try change things to make it better for me and people I would like to work for me. If there’s a chance to try better yourself why not take it? Business been up since January and it’s successful and profitable, not many 21 year old can say they have a class 1 licence, drive a brand new artic and has a 10k business ? Without asking questions to try expand your not going to get anywhere are you ?
Very true unless you look at the working all weekend doing Shipley or anyvan runs that you’ve built up. As there isn’t much same day around at weekends how are you taking your 45 rest period at weekends if your doing it on your days off unless your working 4 on 4 off. then that does put you with in Sameday work but this too is very hit and miss. Unless you go for it full time and knock the truck on the head is the only way you’ll build it then you could use the truck driving as a back up freelance. Just remember what rates people are running at for you Iveco you looking at 70ppm-£1ppm this is loaded mileage only don’t forget many vendors won’t pay for you to go from Heathrow to Basildon to collect.someone mentioned getting more than one drop much same day is timed even in a big van it has to be there so unless your very lucky its not going to happen. The same goes for return loads home there like rocking horse ■■■ again unless your lucky and yes I am talking from experience here joining something like the yellow exchange may work but its very competitive. If you can find a good company to get you going with regular work at a sustainable rat then go for it. Btw id hate to be paying your hire and reward premiums ouch
Ryan
Just out of interest, Whats your full time career other than doing this delivery work during the weekend
Full time career is driving artics long distance. And Yeh the premiums are very high lol but manageable. Had a few people getting in touch about contracts today just gotta wait till weekend to sort it with the managers 
So how do you get your weekly rest?
chaversdad:
So how do you get your weekly rest?
I didn’t post on this thread to start with as got a feeling Ryan’s not cut out for the road transport business. lol