As per the title really, what is the cost of using an external TM? I have heard a figure of £250 for the first vehicle and £80 for subsequent vehicles, are these figures accurate?
I don’t need one, I’m just curious about what I could charge if at any time in the future if I decided to act as TM for a third party.
its about £120-£140 @ month for one vehicle with a bit more for additional vehicles.
£40-50 per week? Suppose it may be less if its for a family member or mate?
Well VOSA require an external TM to dedicate at least 8 hours per week, even for a single vehicle, which at minimum wage (currently £6.19/hour) works out at just short of £50/week (or £215/month). Personally I would want quite a lot more than minimum wage to put my repute on the line for someone else though.
Paul.
£150.00 pcm for me.
bazstan009:
£150.00 pcm for me.
So based on the 8h per week that VOSA require that’s £4.33/hour. If you’re paying that then you’re getting fantastic value, if you’re charging that then you’re selling yourself well short.
Paul
repton:
Well VOSA require an external TM to dedicate at least 8 hours per week, even for a single vehicle, which at minimum wage (currently £6.19/hour) works out at just short of £50/week (or £215/month). Personally I would want quite a lot more than minimum wage to put my repute on the line for someone else though.Paul.
I realise what Vosa want Paul,but how many owner drivers can afford the sort of money that Vosa are saying a TM should charge.Even allowing for admin duties as well as TM duties,8 hours is a lot for one vehicle.I pull out if my repute looks threatened.
repton:
Well VOSA require an external TM to dedicate at least 8 hours per week, even for a single vehicle, which at minimum wage (currently £6.19/hour) works out at just short of £50/week (or £215/month). Personally I would want quite a lot more than minimum wage to put my repute on the line for someone else though.Paul.
Exactly. Coupled with the fact you can only act for 4 companies, I dont think £600 per month for a full time job, risking your repute plus the initial time and money spent doing the course, is really an acceptable wage. Certainly I wouldnt risk mine for that kind of money.
Rich_T:
repton:
Well VOSA require an external TM to dedicate at least 8 hours per week, even for a single vehicle, which at minimum wage (currently £6.19/hour) works out at just short of £50/week (or £215/month). Personally I would want quite a lot more than minimum wage to put my repute on the line for someone else though.Paul.
Exactly. Coupled with the fact you can only act for 4 companies, I dont think £600 per month for a full time job, risking your repute plus the initial time and money spent doing the course, is really an acceptable wage. Certainly I wouldnt risk mine for that kind of money.
Don’t think I’d fancy doing that. If your customer acts like an idiot, you’ll be the one who loses your repute & your licence.
I have seen dozens of adverts asking for a TM. I haven’t trusted one of them yet. I had a big thing about the consultants renting them out to companies, so have never jumped into the fire yet.
I’ve never been tempted, or frankly had the time, to be a TM for hire but I would, despite what VOSA demands, seriously doubt many are spending as many hours as they’re asking on an owner driver with a single vehicle and surely it’s up to them what they charge in the same way it’s up to a builder what he charges to put up a wall in your garden.
It does feel like VOSA are saying you should get yourself a full time job as TM at med-large fleet co or pack in offering to be someone’s TM for hire. Which I think is pretty unfair as not every TM for hire is a rotten apple and not every owner driver is going to be capable of studying and obtaining a CPC - which an increasing amount of people are already confusing with DCPC. 
I’ll do it for £100 per month…
Typical haulage always one who will cut the rate.
Dave the Renegade:
repton:
Well VOSA require an external TM to dedicate at least 8 hours per week, even for a single vehicle, which at minimum wage (currently £6.19/hour) works out at just short of £50/week (or £215/month). Personally I would want quite a lot more than minimum wage to put my repute on the line for someone else though.Paul.
I realise what Vosa want Paul,but how many owner drivers can afford the sort of money that Vosa are saying a TM should charge.Even allowing for admin duties as well as TM duties,8 hours is a lot for one vehicle.I pull out if my repute looks threatened.
IMO it is inly a matter of time before they start looking into this though and clamping down as they seem to have a bit of a thing against external TMs these days. They’ll ask to see invoices from your external TM and if they’re charging less than minimum wage they will assume they are not putting the required hours in. I know 8 hours seems far too much for a single vehicle to you and me but they don’t always see the same sense that we do…
Paul
It is a very strange system that dictates how long a task should take over how well it is done, to then go on to dictate the cost would be a step to far in a free market.
TM’s are not always employees but work as freelancing professionals, true that an employee must be paid the minimum wage (unless you call them an apprentice), I don’t believe there is an onus on a freelancer to charge above the minimum hourly rate.
Correct me if wrong but I don’t think that the eight hour stipulation is per truck but per operators licence! So a TM managing four licences with ten trucks on each licence and two drivers per truck is required to provide 32 hours.
A TM managing four licences with one truck on each and one driver per truck is required to provide 32 hours. This system is clearly very well thought out.
repton:
Well VOSA require an external TM to dedicate at least 8 hours per week, even for a single vehicle, which at minimum wage (currently £6.19/hour) works out at just short of £50/week (or £215/month). Personally I would want quite a lot more than minimum wage to put my repute on the line for someone else though.Paul.
What Paul said.
That’s my arrangement.but I hasten to add, my TM / cpc holder works for me handling all manner of tasks within my business. The point being, that if vosa decided to do a check, she knows as much about my business as I do, also, it means that if a check was carried, I wouldn’t actually need to be there.
I’m sure there are many that don’t do it that way 
bazstan009:
It is a very strange system that dictates how long a task should take over how well it is done, to then go on to dictate the cost would be a step to far in a free market.TM’s are not always employees but work as freelancing professionals, true that an employee must be paid the minimum wage (unless you call them an apprentice), I don’t believe there is an onus on a freelancer to charge above the minimum hourly rate.
Correct me if wrong but I don’t think that the eight hour stipulation is per truck but per operators licence! So a TM managing four licences with ten trucks on each licence and two drivers per truck is required to provide 32 hours.
A TM managing four licences with one truck on each and one driver per truck is required to provide 32 hours. This system is clearly very well thought out.
I’m going to correct you as I have the notes in front of me. 
The guidelines are 1-2 vehicle 8 hours, 3-5 15 hours, 6-10 20 hours and so on until they recommend its a full time job and then full time and an assistant It also says that additional hours may be required for trailers.
It does say these are guidelines, and each case is considered on its merits and if you’re not devoting the recommended time you have to supply a written explanation on how you will cover the work.
P.S. thanks for the copy of your contract.
Wheel Nut:
I have seen dozens of adverts asking for a TM. I haven’t trusted one of them yet. I had a big thing about the consultants renting them out to companies, so have never jumped into the fire yet.
The agencies put you in touch with someone in your area who need a TM,then you do the TM work as you would normally with the haulier.The downside is that you invoice the agency,while they invoice the haulier for a larger amount.
I have only worked through an agency once. Agencies are like all other agents…taking a percentage and not doing a lot for it.
muckles:
bazstan009:
II’m going to correct you as I have the notes in front of me.
The guidelines are 1-2 vehicle 8 hours, 3-5 15 hours, 6-10 20 hours and so on until they recommend its a full time job and then full time and an assistant It also says that additional hours may be required for trailers.It does say these are guidelines, and each case is considered on its merits and if you’re not devoting the recommended time you have to supply a written explanation on how you will cover the work.
P.S. thanks for the copy of your contract.
I stand corrected, seems my fingers like my mouth some time run ahead of my brain. 