stevo09uk:
i want to contract hire truck any advise on what truck would be appricated .
There just isn’t an answer to this. You’ve said that you would be doing containers, but that’s about all.Would you be going into the LEZ? If so then you need at least a euro 4 truck, if not then something older would be cheaper. Would you run at 40 or 44 tonnes?
The advice I was given when starting up was “Buy the truck you want when you first start because you won’t get a second chance”. And apart from being correctly specced for the work, it also has to be something you want to drive.
Why won’t I get a second chance with a truck? Going to change it ever two to three yrs so I can claim depreciation against tax . Seem bit negative regarding od? I know it won’t be easy but come on there must be a living to made or there be no trucks on the road , someone making a do .
I’m not being negative about it, just passing on advice I was given by people who have been doing it for years.
It’s too early to know how I’m doing but I agree that there might be a living in it. If I didn’t think there was then I wouldn’t have put a truck on the road myself.
Realistically, your first step is to take your CPC,the next exam is in early September but you have probably missed the cut-off date for that now so you’ll be looking at December’s exam.
[quote="stevo09uk"Going to change it ever two to three yrs so I can claim depreciation against tax .[/quote]
If you are intending to contract hire a truck the whole hire costs are set against profits for tax purposes, as you do not own the truck there is no depreciation.I have done this, or leased with full R&M contract, for many years, partly for this reason but mainly for peace of mind and cost control.
As above, there is no exact answer to this. It’s like all other industries - the best jobs are not advertised as you get the old boy network and word of mouth. I previously posted this for for someone else:
Just wanted to give you my perspective on this. I left the Police in 2009 and was looking for a new challenge. I’ve always had my HGV so it wasn’t as if I was a total newbie. Since then I’ve been researching the possibility of being an O/D but even though I am quite an optimistic person, I can’t honestly see how I could make it pay.
The costs are roughly:
CPC - Two week course - £1000
Decent second hand truck e.g. DAF 04 plate £20000
Insurance (truck, trailer, GIT & CMR) £5000 PA
O Licence £400
Proof of financial standing — Approx £8000 in hand for first vehicle
Renting a parking space - £? — Does anyone know?
Diesel — About £1000 to fill a tank
Tax
Servicing
MOT
Repairs
Tolls
Overnight parking
Breakdown service
Tachograph calibration
And this is before you start. There is plenty of work out there in the back of Truck and Driver but it normally pays peanuts. For example, I had some pricings from Sealane and they pay around £1.20 per mile. For European work you will be in competition with European hauliers. Some companies will take a load for £250 just for diesel money. Another option is to be a subbie for DHL or TNT but I don’t know how easy this is to get into or how much they pay.
After you’re up and running you’ll probably need to be a limited company rather than a sole trader (less severe if it all goes belly up). On top of this there are your accountant’s fees which would be about £500 PA.
A lot of companies pay on 90 day terms so you have to wait 3 months to get paid from your first job. I completely understand your dilemma but I don’t have the guts to take the leap of faith myself
All this for £1.20 per mile? I’d probably get a job with a haulage firm for a steady £350 a week.
I started out as an od 3 years ago in a line of haulage work I’d been doing for 6 years
What I would say is if you’ve got the right work ethic n are not in it solely to earn loads of dosh u might be able to make a go of it
I pay my self less than I could earn working for the likes of stobarts maritime etc
I do it cause it pays my bills and I enjoy it
Don’t get me wrong but there’s a lot of dreamers out there who think they can lease a truck chuck it on containers and watch the money roll in
I will also add you need the full support of your close family
I’m no expert but things in the last 3 years have worked out for me
Hope they do for others
weewulliewinkie:
dont know how many times its been said but FIND THE WORK FIRST if you dont have any work/customers then you aint going to make any money.
But how can you get work if you haven’t got a truck, operators licence or any kind of set up?
Its like going for a job interview as a electrician, getting the job and telling them i’ll just go and train to be a electrician now
ajt:
But how can you get work if you haven’t got a truck, operators licence or any kind of set up?
Most people know who I’m subbing for, and as I’ve said before they pay a reasonable rate and are renowned for paying on time, every time.
The first phone call I made, before I even booked my CPC course was to their Senior Traffic Planner to tell them that I was thinking of putting a truck on the road, and asking them if they could work me if I did.
He said yes, but added that he thought I was mad. I told him that I knew that already.
After I started preparing to “go live” I put back-up plans in place, and Sitra said they would take me on too, although I haven’t needed that option as yet.
It’s all been done on word of mouth agreements, but so far the people I have spoken to have been true to their word. You just need to have that sort of arrangement in place with people you feel will be true to their word.
weewulliewinkie:
dont know how many times its been said but FIND THE WORK FIRST if you dont have any work/customers then you aint going to make any money.
But how can you get work if you haven’t got a truck, operators licence or any kind of set up?
Its like going for a job interview as a electrician, getting the job and telling them i’ll just go and train to be a electrician now
its simple, make phone calls,chap doors,send e mails, whatever it takes you need to find a bread and butter job and tell them you are starting a business and sell yourself and your service to them. however take nothing for granted but you,ve got to start somewhere, anybody buying a truck THEN setting out to find work will be doomed to fail unless they get very lucky very often. besides all that how do you expect to work out your costs when you dont know what you would be doing or where you were delivering to or what type of truck you would need to do the job.
Totally agree getting work first is the best way to do it but really surprised companies would take a OD on who at the time of asking might not be a OD. Sounds easier getting work as a OD than getting work as a company driver
Maritime was founded by the son of Tommy Williams, of T D Williams (Ammanford) fame, a man not exactly renowned for giving it away. Like father, like son!
