UK Mail courier work, does it pay?

[Shoe Shine Boy]

Been offered a self employed position with UK Mail today. They provide the van ,which you lease, along with a fuel card.

Its an early start (7am) multi drop round.

I have done a bit of courier work in the past doing multi drops but not sure if this one is worth doing?

Anyone got any experience of this?

 

[help4545]

Worked for UK mail self employed only lasted two weeks with them the problem was the round was massive. Some city centre rounds paid ok but them rounds where like gold dust.

Worked for most of the parcel companys over the years self employed, the money they pay now a days is a far cry from what it was. Average paid now is £150 to £190 a day Gross across most companys. Sadly not UK Mail they pay by the drop weight and all the rest of the weird ways they work out your pay.

Most will be taking drivers on at this time of year. Just watch out some will drop you in Jan as there is not much work, they will double the rounds up. So you may not work for half of Jan.

Any questions just ask have years of experience in this field.

 

[Shoe Shine Boy]

Thanks for that.

They are offering a new leased van with fuel card and local area multi drop work.

No idea of quantity of drops though or how it all works. Supposed to be picking up van etc tomorrow morning but a bit in the dark about it all.

 

[MorrisChesterfield]

hi,

is it a contract or just as and when?

My reason for asking is, give it ago and if its not worth it, stop doing it.

what is there to loose?

good luck.

ben

 

[Shoe Shine Boy]

Its contract work.

 

[help4545]

UK Mail work out your pay by first the number of stops,
At each stop how many boxes and by the weight of the boxes.
so for example first drop only one box weights 1kg = 20p, next stop 10 boxes 20kg each box for the first box would be 34p then the other 9 boxes drop down to 5p per box Total for second drop 79p.

The prices are incorrect but gives you an idea how they work it out, the more you collect the more you get paid.

If this is not a temp thing you need to cover all your holidays, if your driver fails to clear that round when your off they will bill you the cost of having to get someone else to help. Same if your off ill.

Most drivers working hours would be from 6.30 am till 7pm even later at this time of year. You need to find out what collections you have on your round you don't want a collection every day at 6.00pm if your 70 miles from the depot or a collection that take an hour to load. You can add 30 to an hour to unload at night and book back in as well. So long hard hours.

 

[Shoe Shine Boy]

I was told it was self employed local contract work doing daily multi drops of around 60-120 parcels at a rate of £2 per parcel. Out of the pay I have to pay for the van lease and insurance cost. He did say how much this was but can't say exactly how much it was. I think it was around £300 a month all in.

 

[Shoe Shine Boy]

If thats right then that works out at around £3k a month less the van lease and insurance cost.

Does that sound likely? Also, I am given a fuel card but am not clear if it is paid for or if I have a fuel bill each month.

 

[help4545]

Sounds to me, that your working for a sub contractor and not UK mail Direct.

UK Mail do not supply you with a fuel card, Many drivers take on extra rounds and hire self employed drivers in that case they paid for your fuel.

 

[Shoe Shine Boy]

Ok. So there is a possibility that they could just drop me after the Christmas rush?

Also, if they don't have the work am I still going to have to pay out for the van lease?

 

[help4545]

Not sure you need to ask them,

City link drop drivers even if your van is in city link colours and you have paid out 30k for the van if there is not much work they don't care.

UK mail don't or didn't drop drivers when it went quiet you just cleared your round.

I think you need to speak to them or the person and just make sure of where you stand.

To me it does sound like your going to be working for a driver who has a few vans (rounds) in the depot.

 

[Shoe Shine Boy]

Having considered all the pros and cons I have decided against the UK mail contract work and I am looking at setting up as an owner driver with a leased van (Merc Sprinter size).

Anyone in this field give me any advice on gaining work or best place to tout for jobs?

 

[Rasta Pickles]

Anyone in this field give me any advice on gaining work or best place to tout for jobs?

National newspaper distribution?

Contact your local wholesaler........but be warned, it's a 3a.m start and you'll probably get £5 an hour out of which you're expected to run your own Mercedes Sprinter sized van.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Hello Shoe Shine !!!

If you have been offered a round and all parties are happy they probably wont drop you after Farther Christmas has come . These company struggle to find good owner drivers all the year not just when its too cold to get out of bed.

Traditionally this type of work was a skilled job and in the old days many new owner drivers were ex employed drivers that were offered an o/d contract . They already had the skills and back then these O/D positions were very lucrative .

The big companies due to the massive growth in the parcel industry now appear to take on anybody that looks keen !!. The work is there you wont make a fortune but you should make a living . That however is if you are prepared for a 14 hours day going flat out . Some people actually enjoy this job I used to love it when I was younger I don't know if I could do it now Im this rusty !! You never know !!

Like any business you should do a business plan and equally important I think you should take a few days to go out with a couple of different drivers in the depot ,this is where you will decide if its really for you or you might just say no way !!!!.
The O/D jobs do not make the profit that they use to . If you are prepared to commit , give your entire week to the contract and you feel you may like the job it should be OK . Please remember that all the o?DS that say it did not work for me in most cases were the wrong type of people .You need to be a special person to do multidrop it takes along time to be good at it .It is a skilled job that is not for beginners !
In addition to this non of the big companies give their new O/ds any training or guidance and this is a contributing factor to the failings of many owner drivers that are new to the industry

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Having considered all the pros and cons I have decided against the UK mail contract work and I am looking at setting up as an owner driver with a leased van (Merc Sprinter size).

Anyone in this field give me any advice on gaining work or best place to tout for jobs?

I have only just noticed this

This is a worse idea that running for UK MAIL.!!!!

Unless you are a good salesman with reasonable marketing skills I strongly advise you to avoid this idea .
But what would I know