Self Employed Courier Driver?

[dare 1,103]

Just wondering if anyone knows how much black cabbies earn in london? Know it takes a while to do the knowledge but idea of choosing your own working hours seems nice. Got a family friend who's done it for years but don't wanna ask him. His the type who will start talking about it non stop and give me aload of books lol. Plus dont think its right asking someone in real life what they earn, ain't none my business type thing. Do remember though he would work non stop for a while then take a long holiday to Las Vegas. Then he meet a woman and it all went downhill lol

[TOPPER 1,809]

better off with a taxi than a van mate down here DHL sameday pay between 55p and 70p loaded miles and city sprint will do avonmouth to rainham for £90 how on earth do you make that pay god knows what they pay the subby

[Westy76 546]

Bristol to East London for £90 how does that pay let alone pay a subby to!?!?!

everything is so near the knuckle now no cushion at all,do those vans run on fresh air and the drivers are volunteers?

[Westy76 546]

prefered the distance jobs rather than being stuck in town with tram works going on lol, if you can get a distance job and something on way back then it can be good. places i worked for had to many drivers, good for company not drivers.

 

used to try websites like http://www.uship.com to try improve chances of work on the way back if companys i worked for had nothing

I spent years sleeping in a lorry in lay-bys and places where I shouldn't to save a few quid.

I've had mates gassed,beaten and hospitalized for a poxy load and a few die abroad chasing the clock to get an extra load to take a wage!!!!

There's no distance in this country you can go anywhere in a shift and driving over here is the pits your treated like scum by everyone but over the water you can have a great time where your given a bit a respect,I loved running to Italy and the brass are stunning

But now I'm more than happy to chuck the keys back each night and not work weekends either.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Westy76

[Popovs Garden Craft 1]

I currently come home with 1600 quid a month after doin 12 hour shifts and days mixed with nights. Could I make anything like this on the taxis?

[bigbailey 90]

I ran a courier business before the recession, You need to get your own contracts to bring a liveable wage home. Forget the likes of dhl and the other large parcel companies you will have to do a hell of a lot of drops just to scrape by.

 

Work out your running costs fuel, Services, tyres, wear and tear on the van, insurance, goods in transit insurance, breakdown cover and then you can tally up what you need to charge to make a living.

 

I had to work every hour god sent to make the same wage I gave up on a standard 37 hr week.

 

Just remember you need to make your living wages plus save for a new van. That's unless you lease, then that's another outgoing.

 

One thing I have learnt if you can bring home a wage to live off whilst in an employed job, have the weekends off and be able to switch off from work when you get in at night then that means more than you think. Let someone else have the hasstle.

 

But if you really have had enough of your job and you decide to take that route good luck to you.

 

Hope this helps alb

[Westy76 546]

 

One thing I have learnt if you can bring home a wage to live off whilst in an employed job, have the weekends off and be able to switch off from work when you get in at night then that means more than you think. Let someone else have the hasstle.

alb

Exactly that its priceless.

[Popovs Garden Craft 1]

That's just it thou. I work two weekends a month one is Fri sat Sun day shifts then the same as a night shift plus my normally working week. Got two young children and getting sick of being out 13 hours a day just to get by and I see plenty people with canny little jobs and hours just gettin on nice.

[Westy76 546]

That's just it thou. I work two weekends a month one is Fri sat Sun day shifts then the same as a night shift plus my normally working week. Got two young children and getting sick of being out 13 hours a day just to get by and I see plenty people with canny little jobs and hours just gettin on nice.

I don't work weekends if you can't make enough during the week I'm not intrested,the only good thing about hgv driving is its controlled hours on the tacho.

If you worked weekends it's only gonna be 1 Saturday in 2.

[Popovs Garden Craft 1]

Weekend work is pants. Would love to do garden work and handy man stuff with my own little van and round. Started doin it locally in the summer and was hoping for it to take off but seems a struggle to get established. Would be a dream come true though bein out there with my own little van making my own money

[gnasher16 30,137]

Just wondering if anyone knows how much black cabbies earn in london? Know it takes a while to do the knowledge but idea of choosing your own working hours seems nice. Got a family friend who's done it for years but don't wanna ask him. His the type who will start talking about it non stop and give me aload of books lol. Plus dont think its right asking someone in real life what they earn, ain't none my business type thing. Do remember though he would work non stop for a while then take a long holiday to Las Vegas. Then he meet a woman and it all went downhill lol

 

I speak to a few of the black cab boys they all say its finished......theres just too many of them.......the knowledge takes 4 years on average......i often drive past the testing place opposite Pentonville nick its absolutely full every time i go past......ive heard them say they will often sit in a queue outside one of the big stations for 2 hours and end up with a 10 pound fair !..........Apparently a lot of people are buying the cabs and doing it on a mickey mouse badge and a satnav these days..... the odds on getting collared are probably hundred to one.

[dare 1,103]

 

 

Just wondering if anyone knows how much black cabbies earn in london? Know it takes a while to do the knowledge but idea of choosing your own working hours seems nice. Got a family friend who's done it for years but don't wanna ask him. His the type who will start talking about it non stop and give me aload of books lol. Plus dont think its right asking someone in real life what they earn, ain't none my business type thing. Do remember though he would work non stop for a while then take a long holiday to Las Vegas. Then he meet a woman and it all went downhill lol

I speak to a few of the black cab boys they all say its finished......theres just too many of them.......the knowledge takes 4 years on average......i often drive past the testing place opposite Pentonville nick its absolutely full every time i go past......ive heard them say they will often sit in a queue outside one of the big stations for 2 hours and end up with a 10 pound fair !..........Apparently a lot of people are buying the cabs and doing it on a mickey mouse badge and a satnav these days..... the odds on getting collared are probably hundred to one.

Yeah suppose they all heard the crazy wages and brought into the dream. Just liked the idea of choosing your own hours.

Prehaps another job for someone wanting a driving job would be a driving instructor? Cost me a score a lesson and wasnt that long ago. Better yet have ambition and try set up your own driving school? Lol I just always dislike the idea of working for someone for your whole life. Know some are happy for a steady income but just think gotta take risks to get more outta life. Anyway in the words of morrisey...I was looking for a job then I found a job, and heaven knows I'm miserable now.

[Westy76 546]

Thats the thing nowdays why the need for the knowledge when we have sat navs ?

Yes a medical

Yes a Enhanced CRB Check

Yes speak acceptable English

Yes pass a Cab driving Test

 

But is there a need for the knowledge ?

What if sat nav breaks or worse cig lighter melts and can't charge it?

If the waiting room was rammed to take the knowledge think how many more cab drivers they'd be if it wasn't there,I this day and age I doubt it's strictly needed but holds off a wave of new cabbies.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Westy76

[walshie 2,804]

My mate did the knowledge and got a badge but just couldn't earn the money. He now drives a van for Currys.

[TOPPER 1,809]

westy the hours might be clocked onthe tacho but you can still ple the hours in 15 hour shifts and even on the 11 stints youve got the stupid POA, but with 56 actual driving hours you can go along way in that time i once drove for 5 days across russia without crossing a phyical border thats when you know your in a big conntry in this little island its 2 days driving tops years ago we used to load washing machines in thurso [top of scotland] and deliver them in plymouth a day later madness

Edited November 5, 2013 by TOPPER