[business] Sameday

For the benefit of all, [business] are currently on a nationwide recruitment drive for sameday couriers.

We went to see them recently and for us it seems a fair enough deal.

They are willing to pay £0.65 per loaded mile for small vans. (Not sure what they pay for larger).

• No PDA (So no hidden extra there).
• No magnetic signs.
• No uniform etc etc.

Just a straight forward form to fill out and take back to your local [business] depot along with your documentation. Registration, MOT, Drivers License (Both parts), Van insurance schedule (Courier, of course), GIT schedule and Public Liability to £1M.

It may take a week to get register on their system but once you are on it you will receive your driver number and a list of all [business] Depots.

Theoretically giving you access to possible loads wherever you are.

As times are hard at the moment for all according to what I see on the forums, I hope that this might help some of you out.

Again I feel I have to point out that if you cover work for another courier company at reduced rates you are merely helping the big boys squeeze out the rest of us.

[business], [business], [business], [business] all have work but at what price?

If they can't cover the work, it gives all of us the opportunity to get that work ourselves. You helping them to cover it at reduced rates means none of us will ever get a sniff.

I agree with speeds comments but looking back through the threads people like [business] in skegness need the income especially as it is dead on the ground for work.<br>

I know how tempting it can be because times are hard, but everytime you reduce your rate you are setting a precedent.

When i started in this game 20-25% of your costs was fuel... now its approaching 50%.

Its becoming unsustainable even subbing at rates of 70p per mile (small van) and we have talk of another fuel duty rise in August.

You are better off sitting at home than working for 45p a mile on a small van that does 30mpg at the current price of diesel.

I've just got some one to ring them to find out what the crack was with em, one of there controllers just emailed him one of there starter packs these are their rates.

• Small Van 65p plm.
• SWB 75p plm.
• LWB £1.00 plm.

But I have sneaky feeling there may be some hidden agenda somewhere along the lines of the City Sprint rates we've just been discussing.

Dead on the ground is not the word for it, its like being in a ghost town. Anything is better than nothing, Ineed to eat and drink.

City link want you to pay to call them.

Go to SayNoTo0870, enter any 08 prefix and you will likely find the landline number. Watch the pennies, as every one counts.

It's not just the likes of [business] and [business] offering subbies poor rates either. There's one local independent courier firm down here in Plymouth that pays 56p for a small van and another outfit only fares slightly better at 63p. So even the independents can play the 'shit on your own subbies' game.

I came acrosss this thread/topic rather by accident but would like to endorse the comments made by Peter Riley - they are all, indeed, correct. I invested in a Transit Connect about 4 years ago and initially approached them about freelance work - was invited to local depot, with all my paperwork, and was registered there and then and without paying them a penny! In fact, I left with my first job for them!

I get paid the small van rate - to be honest it has never actually been the rate but always a bit more! The point raised, above, that Citylink are bad payers is not, in my opinion, correct - they have never failed to pay my invoice within or before their stated payment regime.

As to paying to phone them, again above, I have an 01... number for them which without fail connects me with my controllers or their Central Ops - 01 numbers are free on my mobile package.

All in all, they are a delight to work with - long may my relationship with them continue!

From one bitter experience I learned NOT to pay any company to work for them - my opinion is that any company employing subbies should stand all the costs involved - excluding, of course, vehicle espenses. This business of trying to charge for uniforms, signage, fancy phones, etc. is utter rubbish.

Royal Mail Sameday only pay 50p plm!

Long Services said:

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Again I feel I have to point out that if you cover work for another courier company at reduced rates you are merely helping the big boys squeeze out the rest of us.

CitySprint, Rico Logistics, CityLink, TNT all have work but at what price?

If they can't cover the work, it gives all of us the opportunity to get that work ourselves. You helping them to cover it at reduced rates means none of us will ever get a sniff.

Agreed on this one, we're in it to make a profit and not to become a charity.

Murray Transport said:

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I've just got some one to ring them to find out what the crack was with em, one of there controllers just emailed him one of there starter packs these are their rates.

• Small Van 65p plm.
• SWB 75p plm.
• LWB £1.00 plm.

But I have sneaky feeling there may be some hidden agenda somewhere along the line shall need to look in to further. Wonder how long it shall be before we see them appear on the Courier Exchange. I've heard city link are bad payers aswell by guys I've known who have done work for them in the past.

And bikes at 50p plm.

Aren't City Link being shut down soon? Or sold off at least?

Martin Logistics said:

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Aren't City Link being shut down soon? Or sold off at least?

10 year old rumour but it may come true one day.

We used to do many miss-routes for the local franchises (Rotherham & Scunthorpe) until their head office took them back in hand. Every job to a separate quote - just as it should be.

[Admin: Click quote on the right of any post to include it in your reply as above.]