Estate Car

I am finding it hard to get courier work as all the companies I approach turn their noses up because I have a VW Passat estate car. They all specify a van, this can be a Nova van, fiesta van although I have much more room in my car? Whats you thoughts.. Regards Darran.

I think that a lot of Courier companies, do not want a car or estate car turning up at their customers.

Why, my car is a 5 year old Honda Accord diesel in pristine condition, far better looking than any van on the road, if you go to a wedding or a funeral you don't go in a 8 year old white van with wheel trims missing and the odd dent in the side, the industry is brainwashed with white vans, I do some work for a local solicitor he prefers me using a car than a van..

I prefer the car for the following reasons, better fuel economy, lot's more power, 8 airbags, climate control, cruise control, comfortable, at 70 mph it's pretty much silent, better handling, if tired you can pull up and recline seats, one drawback you can't fit has much in it, but I do find these days, most items that require sameday delivery are small and fit in with ease.

What's wrong with going to a wedding or funeral in a white van? I've done it loads of times. You don't have to give pissed friends a lift home then! Customers obviously want vans because they are more secure and also don't have their stuff on view.
It's also to do with their company "image" They don't want their customers to think they're doing things on a shoestring by sending a car. Most customers will only use white vans as well. And before anyone says that's rubbish, I know it is, but that's how it is.

I have no idea why it is like this but as DJ pointed out they specify a 'VAN'

The bottom line is if that's what they want it is up to them. The tail I am afraid does not wag the dog!

This type of argument often crops up. Another is using sign written vans!
Quite simply if the Courier Company state what they want, if you can't provide that, move on! It is no use criticising their policy. I used to to MOD work and in the contract it clearly stated that their goods can only be moved in 'Plain, NON sign written vans' it would have been futile turning up in anything to the contrary.

I agree with what you are saying Gary, and so long as it is correctly insured for H&R, it should not make any difference, but it does, and as I say it is futile to question their policies, it is their business after all.

DJ, why would someone want to use you with a car when at the moment there are very many van drivers seeking work? If the market was very busy you may well get work when people take anything they can get.

Using a car smacks of someone whose dipping in and out of the courier market to supplement their main business, And if most of the packages people take are small and sit on their passenger seat they should be looking for bikes!

Why anyone would want to use a car and pay the extra premium that a car attracts is beyond me.

What extra premium, looking for bikes is tosh, there are not that many bikes around, maybee down south, peopl are brainwashed with this thing about vans, last summer I did a job to Montpellier it was 35c when I got there, but I was nice and cool and no arse ache, try that in an 6 year old connect without air con.

Its all about company profile we only have white vans under 6 years old on our fleet and bikes. If they want a car they would ring a cab company. We get calls everyday with people wanting jobs in their estate cars and mpvs. Try putting a 400kg pallet in the back of a mondeo Nah thats not for us.

In the last few years I have had very few if any enquire for pallets, it's mainly small stuff which fits in the car, everbody to there own, I better get my Yamaha Townmate out of storage then.

Dont jest about scooters we have 3 on our london circuit they are great to nip around traffic, in fact they are quicker than 600's and 1000's.

I wasn't jesting, I have a H reg 1991 Yamaha Townmate, when I stopped using it for work I cleaned it up, and is now stored in my garage, been there for 16 years

I send Tenders, Solicitors files, Visa's etc on an almost daily basis to London, more often than not these go by car. Much better image presenting a tender or such like from a smartly dressed shirt and tie driver in a nice car than a van driver with steel toe cap boots, high viz vest and hard hat. Over exaggeration, I know, but you get the picture!

RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

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so long as it is correctly insured for H&R, it should not make any difference

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MK Bikes said:

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Using a car smacks of someone whose dipping in and out of the courier market to supplement their main business

I think that's the whole point there, whilst not impossible it is more difficult to justify to an insurer why you want to insure your van as a private vehicle on a S,D&P policy. Therefore, just simply by having a van you are potentially, in the eyes of the customer, more likely to be correctly insured and not one of these 'lifestyle' couriers or as MK says dipping in and out to supplement your income.

It is a question that has been asked a fair few times and been completely blanked, how many of you that list 'car' on your profile have it correctly insured for H&R as a courier along with GiT?

3D Courier Services said:

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a van driver with steel toe cap boots, high viz vest and hard hat. Over exaggeration, I know, but you get the picture!

How rude Steven, how very dare you! You forgot to mention the BBC!

What worries me about cars being used as courier vehicles, is, are they correctly insured for H&R.

I know it would most likely be cost prohibitive to insure correctly.

I know what you mean about small parcels, & that is why we have a Peugeot Bipper, economical and like a car to drive with air con. We have the LWB vans as well as a Combo.

It is all about having the correct vehicle[s] to suit what your customer requires.

I have a T Max scooter that is briliant for Bike work, it is not the most economical, but will do over 100mph, and if needed is great around town [traffic beating] too. Then I can also use the Hayabusa for any Euro work :) [If & when it suits]

Hard Hat? I may live in london but it aint that bad

3D Courier Services said:

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I send Tenders, Solicitors files, Visa's etc on an almost daily basis to London, more often than not these go by car. Much better image presenting a tender or such like from a smartly dressed shirt and tie driver in a nice car than a van driver with steel toe cap boots, high viz vest and hard hat. Over exaggeration, I know, but you get the picture!

THANK YOU, if I lived closer to youI would call in and kiss you, I might even do that next time I'm over your way, this is the most sensible thing I have ever heard said on MT Van, vans have there places, cars have thete places & motorbikes have theres too.

3d I completely agree with you, I have been in the IT industry for over 20yrs and have seen some pretty beaten up vans delivering high end prrinters with them just rolling around in the back of the van. My car has GIT and H&R insurance.

Try delivering to a Balfour Beatty site without all of those things plus Chevrons on the van plus flashing light. You won't get on site. Then after delivering you turn up at "The Temple" with a barristers brief?

DJ Specailist Couriers said:

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3d I completely agree with you, I have been in the IT industry for over 20yrs and have seen some pretty beaten up vans delivering high end prrinters with them just rolling around in the back of the van. My car has GIT and H&R insurance.

Don't see a problem then, but it can only be aimed at a specific market, so it's no use 'moaning' about certain companies stating that they ONLY require vans! If that's what they ask for it is their prerogative.

If the car is one of your own its going to have all the necessary, if not, you check! Like you would with a van!

On a london circuit if someone wants a tender delivering they usually want it picked up at 11.30 in say uxbridge and delivered to ec1 by 12.00. Try doing that in a car or a van it aint gonna happen

DJ. The problem is that a car does limit you very much if that's all you have. You will have to put yourself out there a lot more to make a living.

Hi Rapid, Its not a moan, I'm just venting my spleen. I agree with you it is aimed at a specific market.

I have been offered a citroen c15 in very good condition, 300, 000 miles in white, that fits the bill ok don't you think, £ 500

Sorry all but i think cars are for passengers and vans are for parcels.

AJM i dont think you will get a c15 under 6 years old

About

Deadline Despatch said:

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AJM i dont think you will get a c15 under 6 years old

Think they stopped selling them here about 2005.

I last saw a c15 being dug up on time team!

That really was the worlds first disposable van. But boy they could cover some big miles.

Citroen Paugeot XUD engine, They were ok but prone to head gasket failure.

To me it they always looked like the floor was bowing in the middle.

Cheap & Cheerful & Simple technology

2006 /06 C15 on eBay £995.. Go for it boys...

AJM sameday Couriers said:

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I have been offered a citroen c15 in very good condition, 300, 000 miles in white, that fits the bill ok don't you think, £ 500

The clock on them only goes up to 300,000 so it could be on it's second time round. But do yourself a favor and fit a better seat.

Thanks for all your comments, at least now I know I'm not invisible.. Lol

Who said that ?

Deadline Despatch said:

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2006 /06 C15 on eBay £995.. Go for it boys...

There is a 2002 c15 on autotrader £2250, but only done 19, 000 miles it has been used by West Yarksher rosers

One word springs to mind ( DRUNK ) £2250 for a c15 haha

AJM sameday Couriers said:

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What extra premium.

H&R insurance premiums on cars are loaded (I know I've checked) there is only one company & 4 brokers in the UK that offer, I would always question whether they were appropriately insured in a car more so than a van

Scott Garner said:

It is a question that has been asked a fair few times and been completely blanked, how many of you that list 'car' on your profile have it correctly insured for H&R as a courier along with GiT?

... And the motorbike listed on many profiles

My insurance with 4 yrs NCB for Business is £525, For H&R it cost me £928, so yeh I think its well loaded.

But DJ does it actually say courier or transport?

DJ Specailist Couriers said:

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My insurance with 4 yrs NCB for Business is £525, For H&R it cost me £928, so yeh I think its well loaded.

Same insurance in a van would be half that probably, who are you insured with?

Nottingham & Derby Couriers said:

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Citroen Paugeot XUD engine, They were ok but prone to head gasket failure.

To me it they always looked like the floor was bowing in the middle.

It was the turbo intercooler model that had that fault, to much rush of cold air that cracked the heads, the non turbo 1.9d was excellent, I had a 91 405 est that had 275000 on it before it was written off, bit soft on the diffs though..

Theirs a c15 sat outside my house thats not moved for weeks and a 55plate, guy paid 800 and its a rust bucket..