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