| Getting started as an owner driver is easy, and has | | | | owner drivers need to sort out their taxes with the |
| the advantage of potentially becoming profitable | | | | Inland Revenue and arrange any credits they may be |
| pretty quickly due to the lack of overheads. | | | | entitled to. At this point it may be worth hiring an |
| However, there are some things to consider as you | | | | accountant who will know how to save you money |
| start, and this guide hopes to show you the kind of | | | | by understanding what expenses you can claim. |
| things you will need and the pitfalls to avoid when | | | | Alternatively, if you know book keeping, there is |
| going freelance and becoming an owner driver. | | | | nothing to stop you from managing your own |
| What You Need: | | | | finances, if you're not too busy with all the owner |
| Firstly, you need a vehicle. This is pretty damn | | | | driver jobs you hope to be inundated with! |
| obvious for anyone getting started as an owner | | | | Getting Your Name Out There |
| driver, but it is still worth stating. The vehicle should | | | | So, now that your finances are all (hopefully!) sorted |
| be no more than six years old and can actually be of | | | | out, how do you go about finding your first owner |
| any size really - though if you're serious about making | | | | driver jobs? Well the first step is getting yourself |
| this work, then investing in a larger van (as opposed | | | | listed in local directories - the Yellow Pages and |
| to using a hatchback car) will allow you to transport | | | | Thomson Local directory are a good start, as is |
| larger loads, and thus charge more. | | | | putting an advert in the local newspaper. It's also |
| Secondly a mobile phone is all important for new | | | | worth joining a freight exchange like ours, as this can |
| owner drivers. These days, people who don't own | | | | help you get owner driver jobs and backloads as well |
| one are something of a rarity, so this shouldn't be an | | | | as keeping your running costs down. Some freight |
| issue: All the same, it's important to be able to keep | | | | exchanges also provide a helpful community if you |
| in touch with others from the road, so getting hold | | | | need help or advice. |
| of such an 'unusual' and 'exotic' device is all important. | | | | Print some professional looking business cards, and |
| Finally, owner driver insurance is all important. The | | | | don't be shy about handing them out - you never |
| array of options can be confusing, but there are | | | | know when you might get an owner driver job from |
| three types of insurance you need to look into, | | | | them! |
| which I shall deal with now: | | | | One unusual way of getting business is to contact |
| Get Insured | | | | other couriers in your area. At first this may sound |
| Courier insurance is all important for new owner | | | | like an unlikely solution, but the truth is that if your |
| drivers. There are three types of insurance you need | | | | rivals can't complete all their work in one day, then |
| to look into: | | | | they will be happy to have your help, rather than risk |
| Vehicle Insurance | | | | losing their reputation for timely deliveries. If you can |
| Any vehicle on the road must be insured - that's a | | | | get on the sub-contraction books of a few local |
| legal requirement which most people are aware of! | | | | couriers, you may find this provides a steady stream |
| When you contact the insurance company, a | | | | of 'one-off' owner driver jobs to keep things ticking |
| common temptation is to say your vehicle is for | | | | over nicely. |
| business use - but actually be sure to specify that | | | | A web presence is useful as well, but in the early |
| you need it for courier use. The difference is that | | | | days of your operation you may find the costs |
| you will be carrying goods for others for profit, and | | | | involved in setting up and maintaining your site are |
| this will affect your quote, and any subsequent claims | | | | going to cost more than the traffic they bring in, so I |
| you need to make! | | | | would suggest you save this for when your business |
| Goods in Transit Insurance | | | | has picked up a little. |
| It's worth stumping up the extra cash for 'Goods in | | | | Getting Paid |
| Transit' insurance as well. This will protect your cargo | | | | A tricky one to answer is the question of how much |
| against loss and damage, generally covering you for | | | | you should be paid. Unfortunately, I'm not able to |
| goods up to a value of £10,000. Your main | | | | give a definitive answer as to how much you should |
| insurance company might cover this, but if not, then | | | | charge for each owner driver job, as it very much |
| it's very easy to get this from specialist courier | | | | depends on the region you work in and the size of |
| insurance dealers. This is especially worth considering | | | | your vehicle. |
| for new owner drivers, as it makes you seem more | | | | Generally, owner drivers charge per mile on the |
| legitimate and people will be more comfortable dealing | | | | outbound journey, and at a discounted rate on the |
| with you. | | | | return, but a good way of picking the right price for |
| Public Liability | | | | you is to check out the cost of hiring your local rivals |
| This one may not be as necessary as the other two, | | | | and working from there. |
| but is still worth considering, especially for new owner | | | | Becoming an owner driver can seem a little daunting |
| drivers with butter fingers! This will cover you for | | | | at first, but sticking to this basic framework should |
| incidents involving your customers, for example if you | | | | ensure that the first few months run smoothly. This |
| drop their same-day-delivery box of anvils on their | | | | should give you the solid foundations you need to |
| foot... | | | | begin earning the type of money the profession can |
| While not strictly insurance, it's also worth mentioning | | | | offer, and can potentially see you expanding your |
| at this point that as you'll be self employed, new | | | | operation over the following years. |