Getting work

Hi my name is peter i have just started up courier business has any one got any tips to get mre jobs im reg with Shiply /freight alerts/ all the major sites any help would be most welcome Thanks

Hello Peter It all depends whaich type of work you're looking for. Getting accounts of your own, or covering work for those that have accounts of their own.

I would suggest trying to do both, but getting your own accounts isn't easy. Most companies who need a courier already have one, so you have to offer something better. Most think that means undercutting, and although price is an important factor for anyone, it isn't the be all and end all.

Much easier to offer your services to other courier companies, afterall they've already done the hard bit by getting the accounts, you help them keep them by helping to cover them as and when.

You mention a couple of exchange sites, but not the major one, and that's where i would spend my time and money if i were you

You mention a couple of exchange sites, but not the major one, and that's where i would spend my time and money

+1. I hesitated for twelve months, dont make same mistake.

Peter have you seen the prices the work goes for on Shiply?

So looking at the replies, do you recommend subscribing to Courier Exchange? They have been phoning me on and off for a couple of months. It seems expensive, but cheaper than the trakker I have to fork out for with City Sprint to get return loads etc. That costs me 20.00 per week.

If you're working for the rates many talk about when referring to CS then ANY exchange site is beneficial to you. You do tend to get what you pay for, and although more to join than the rest, there is a reason for that. I don't think you can call it expensive if it works, and it most certainly does that. But like all exchange sites, you need to make it work for you rather than sit and wait.

Garnham Courier Services said:

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So looking at the replies, do you recommend subscribing to Courier Exchange? They have been phoning me on and off for a couple of months. It seems expensive, but cheaper than the trakker I have to fork out for with City Sprint to get return loads etc. That costs me 20.00 per week.

I joined the Exchange and paid for it self within a few weeks. Works out about £44.00 a month.

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

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If you're working for the rates many talk about when referring to CS then ANY exchange site is beneficial to you. You do tend to get what you pay for, and although more to join than the rest, there is a reason for that. I don't think you can call it expensive if it works, and it most certainly does that. But like all exchange sites, you need to make it work for you rather than sit and wait.

Well said rob, too many waiting for the phone to ring, but if you don't get your name out there, sitting there is all these people will doing rather than earning out on the road

Not my post but I'm glad I put my two penneth in. Thanks for the replies, I will consider joining the exchange more seriously. The trouble is, I know CS don't pay very well but the money is there a week later. I do worry about being paid for work after not getting paid for work I did back in Feb for a courier on here. But I suppose that's all part of running your own business. On the other hand don't want to keep working such long hours for not much more than minimum wage. I think I'm convincing myself reading that back!

I assume if you weren't paid for work you will have contacted the company that the courier was working for and told them. Most businesses won't use suppliers that don't pay their subcontractors.

Garnham Courier Services said:

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Not my post but I'm glad I put my two penneth in. Thanks for the replies, I will consider joining the exchange more seriously. The trouble is, I know CS don't pay very well but the money is there a week later. I do worry about being paid for work after not getting paid for work I did back in Feb for a courier on here. But I suppose that's all part of running your own business. On the other hand don't want to keep working such long hours for not much more than minimum wage. I think I'm convincing myself reading that back!

If you are still owed money for a February job by somebody on here, contact Admin about it to get them to sort it for you.

Andy, I thought about doing that but held off, perhaps it's time to now.

Garnham Courier Services said:

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Not my post but I'm glad I put my two penneth in. Thanks for the replies, I will consider joining the exchange more seriously. The trouble is, I know CS don't pay very well but the money is there a week later. I do worry about being paid for work after not getting paid for work I did back in Feb for a courier on here. But I suppose that's all part of running your own business. On the other hand don't want to keep working such long hours for not much more than minimum wage. I think I'm convincing myself reading that back!

Most of the term on the exchange are 30 days from invoice or 30 days end of month. I have been on the exchange for 5 months now and I have found a lot do pay early if not I have been paid on due date apart from one company who I had to keep chasing and sending out reminders.

The good thing about work on the exchange sites your work is spread about so if one company does not pay on time its not that much of a problem. It might be worth you joining to work along side CS to start with just picking a few back loads up then over time dropping you work with CS.

And some exchange sites have so much history on each member, it's pretty easy to spot those to work for and those to avoid. True that makes it harder for those new to the site as they have no history, but thats the way the cookie crumbles.

Thanks Gary, I think that's the way to go, with CS I am paying 20.00 a week for the use of their tracker which allows me to be seen by other depots and pick up backloads, surely, the exchange can't be as expensive as that.

Garnham Courier Services said:

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Thanks Gary, I think that's the way to go, with CS I am paying 20.00 a week for the use of their tracker which allows me to be seen by other depots and pick up backloads, surely, the exchange can't be as expensive as that.

Its not as I said works out about £44.00 per month. For the £20.00 per week they charge you how many back loads to you pick up from them tracking you?

Also on the exchange they have a mobile app which tracks you and they send you alert on any jobs in the area.

In fairness I do get backloads quite often, but they only make the original run worth doing, sometimes you can earn a really good amount but that's only on the odd day here and there. Only problem is, I never seem to increase my bank balance to the point where I think I'm doing well out of it.

The point of any exchange is that you have the potential to get work from anyone of 2500 couriers/courier companies, as opposed to just one courier company, albeit one with several sites dotted around the country. The other issue with working solely for one courier company is that each depot tends to give any work to its own drivers, even if logistically it makes sense to use a driver from another depot going back empty. Obviously they need to keep their own drivers busy, so even less chance of you getting a return from one of them. For me its a no brainer, as long as you join one that works. There are many that don't

Here we go then, nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say. I've just subscribed to 6 months pro on here as well, so I will have to make this site pay as well. Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated.

I got a job on here on Thursday so that's my subscription almost paid for!