Any Ideas to keep my van busy?

[stu gardiner]

Hi
I have a relatively new Dispatch van capable of carrying 1 tonne. Apart from a few daily deliveries for DHL , it (and myself) are pretty much idle.

I have RH &D experience having just closed down a book distribution business, which i ran for the last 10 years , and have contacts for obtaining good dry warehousing space if required. I am Kenilworth based (CV8).

Does anybody have any ideas on how I can busy things up?

Thanks
Stuart.

[saxondale]

ebay delivery?

[stu gardiner]

Thanks Saxondale, Ill have a look into that.

Cheers

Stuart

[cmcp]

Sandra here had a website (Boxby) who sold up to Uship. I think they match up drivers with delivery requirements, might be worth looking into.

[stu gardiner]

Thanks,
Ive already got my eye on U Ship , not had a job from it yet (some jobs go for little more than diesel cost).

Cheers

Stuart

[JHSameday]

My experience of anything to do with Ebay is these people want the job done for nothing...Good luck...........:cool:

[Billmccallum]

Hi
I have a relatively new Dispatch van capable of carrying 1 tonne. Apart from a few daily deliveries for DHL , it (and myself) are pretty much idle.

I have RH &D experience having just closed down a book distribution business, which i ran for the last 10 years , and have contacts for obtaining good dry warehousing space if required. I am Kenilworth based (CV8).

Does anybody have any ideas on how I can busy things up?

Thanks
Stuart.

It might be worthwhile trying local charity shops, they can pay good money for dropping off donation bags and collecting donations.

Some British Heart Foundation drivers can earn £900 a week....

[VendingRevolution]

What about transporting small animals?

I'll give you a few examples of situations I have needed:

Too busy to take your animal to the vets?
Animal too big to fit into your car?
Need a new animal picking up from the breeders?
Can't find someone to collect hay/straw from your local supplier?
Pet taxi service has got to be a winner?

Get in touch with vets - I know they get asked these questions lots of time.
Get in touch with removal companies - people with animals need separate transportation - they will pay good money to have their animals transported safely.

There you go, be the FIRST pet taxi on UKBF!

Barbara

[islandoutsoursa]

Also Dog and Animal rescues need animals transporting up and down the country - often huge distances. For the most part they rely on volunteers but with the cost of fuel now these are few and far between - some desperate would be owners are willing to pay though
for this kind of service.

[roydmoorian]

What about transporting small animals?

Barbara

But do get your correct certificates from DEFRA first.

(Involves a training course and a fee :()

[JHSameday]

January is a slow month for couriers, so not finding work right now should not be too discouraging.............:(

[tshirtprintingman]

Transporting animals could get smelly! But it's an interesting niche.

[EPtrading]

There's shiply.com too, where people auction off deliveries like ebay - a pallet from Kenilworth to Nuneaton needs taking on the 25th then you give a quote and the seller decides who to go with. You'll have to give low quotes to begin but once your established should be a good earner, especially for return trips where you would otherwise be travelling empty so just paying for the diesel might be worth it.

[JHSameday]

My experience of anything to do with Ebay is these people want the job done for nothing...Good luck...:eek:

[eutrans]

There's shiply.com too, where people auction off deliveries like ebay - a pallet from Kenilworth to Nuneaton needs taking on the 25th then you give a quote and the seller decides who to go with. You'll have to give low quotes to begin but once your established should be a good earner, especially for return trips where you would otherwise be travelling empty so just paying for the diesel might be worth it.

Shipley does not even cover diesel costs. Most people on their are dole dossers after beer money.

[Mike Seddon]

Interesting. I hired a van (VW Caddy) for tomorrow and got a call today from the hire company to say sorry but they were over booked. Apparently (according to them) vans are in short supply around here (Warwick area).

Maybe you should consider renting your van out to self hire companies on the day you don't use it.

[JPBF]

Get in contact with local businesses and see if they need stock moving or orders delivering (a good example is Travis Perkins who are always looking for people to do a few shifts).

[Frankus]

Get in contact with local businesses and see if they need stock moving or orders delivering (a good example is Travis Perkins who are always looking for people to do a few shifts).

This is what I did a few years ago. Design yourself a simple flyer stating who you are, what your vehicle is and how much it will carry and contacte details. Get a load printed off and go around every business in your area dropping them off.

Make sure you have the right insurances though: Hire & Reward, Goods In Transit and Pulic Liability.

This will probably cost somewhere in the region of £1,500pa, so be prepared to work hard to make it pay.

Also, with the cost of fuel the way it is...and going up all the time...many couriers are having to tighten their belts and seriously consider their futures in the industry - so be careful.

best of luck.

[mclaren7500]

I run a small man with van business in Bristol and carry out around 60 small removals a month. The moves themselves bring in around £100 each on average and though I have high costs I generally make a small profit over and above what I pay myself which is £9.00 per hour. I have been doing this for 10 years and have pretty much made all the obvious mistakes and so can offer you free advice on what you would need to do if this was of interest to you. PM me if you would like to discuss this further. Nick

[Tin]

Does anybody have any ideas on how I can busy things up?

Thanks
Stuart.

Delivery Quote Compare (http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com) might be another route to market for you?

[JPBF]

This is what I did a few years ago. Design yourself a simple flyer stating who you are, what your vehicle is and how much it will carry and contacte details. Get a load printed off and go around every business in your area dropping them off.

Make sure you have the right insurances though: Hire & Reward, Goods In Transit and Pulic Liability.

This will probably cost somewhere in the region of £1,500pa, so be prepared to work hard to make it pay.

Also, with the cost of fuel the way it is...and going up all the time...many couriers are having to tighten their belts and seriously consider their futures in the industry - so be careful.

best of luck.

The price of fuel is going to get ridicuously high from now onwards so as Frankus said do take that into account. Work hard to make it pay is an understatement, your going to have to work your balls off.

[BowlerHat]

The clothing company and lifestyle people Next hire small, local couriers for their deliveries. I know this because my other half ordered something and it was delivered by a lady we knew who lived a mile up the road!

[roydmoorian]

The clothing company and lifestyle people Next hire small, local couriers for their deliveries. I know this because my other half ordered something and it was delivered by a lady we knew who lived a mile up the road!

I am not sure if this was posted tongue in cheek or if you really believe what you have written - The lady who lives a mile up the road is working for and being paid a pittance by MyHermes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0MgdNlIswM

[BowlerHat]

I am not sure if this was posted tongue in cheek or if you really believe what you have written - The lady who lives a mile up the road is working for and being paid a pittance by MyHermes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0MgdNlIswM

Yes I did believe what I wrote. It was just a lead for the poster to follow-up. That's all.

[GWilliams]

Emergency currier, I have needed them so many times.
Also look in to promoting a service at exhibition venues as a seller may need a product that is not on site?

[JHSameday]

That's my main source of work, people who want something delivered yesterday...:D

[K-rado]

I have what you might call a unique proposition for a courier van driver. I would certainly keep you busy and money coming in . Requires a degree of specialist knowledge, a small cash injection but not much else. Feel free to PM me if this sounds of interest. K.

[JHSameday]

With more information I may be interested :)