Currently Browsing: Courier Owner Driver
Should I set up my own courier business?
Posted by Tim Gilbert in Courier Owner Driver on Feb 16th, 2011 | 0 comments
This depends entirely on your own circumstances, and on what you are trying to achieve.
A lot of people ask me if I think it will work if they try to set up part time, at least to start with, to see how it goes before deciding to, for example, leave their current job. This plan does have the upside of doing least damage to your current lifestyle before you decide whether or not to commit full-time. There are however two problems with it.
First, your customers, whether they’re courier companies or general businesses, are generally working hardest during the normal working week, ie just when you...
Invoicing for courier work
Posted by Tim Gilbert in Courier Operations Manual, Courier Owner Driver, Courier Software on Feb 14th, 2011 | 0 comments
Unless the company you do courier work for operates ”self-billing” (ie they produce your invoice for you and send it to you with your money) you’ll need a simple way of invoicing for the work you do.
You can start with a simple invoice book from a stationer, or just use MS Word or Excel (Google for invoice templates to use), or use a simple online invoicing system as provided by websites like www.mtvan.com. [Note: Tony’s Guide is mtvan’s sister website, so we’re bound to reccommend it!].
When choosing an invoicing system, the simpler the better. What you want is something...
Keeping in touch with the controller
Posted by Tim Gilbert in Courier Owner Driver on Jan 3rd, 2011 | 0 comments
Keeping in touch with the controller (dispatcher).
This is perhaps the most important aspect of doing courier work for a courier company. The controller is the person in the courier company office who hands the work out to the couriers. Keep the controller aware of your progress so that he/she can in turn keep the customer aware. It will increase your earnings, as when there’s a job nearby you’ll have a better chance of being offered it.
If you are having difficulty locating a pick-up or delivery address, let the controller know, and he/she will be able to advise the customer if necessary, and also...
Updating your free profile on mtvan.
Posted by Tim Gilbert in Courier Owner Driver on Mar 9th, 2010 | 0 comments
It’s worth signing up to anything that will get you some extra web presence for free, and this includes the courier work freight exchange mtvan.com.
Once you have signed up, it’s worth putting a bit of effort into your profile, to make it attractive to potential customers looking for a courier.
They are courier companies looking for a suitable courier to entrust with their customer’s goods, and need to be reassured that you are a suitable choice before calling you.
The three things to do are:
Upload a logo or photo yourself or your van.
Upload your insurance and identity...
