How to use "The Big Boys!"

By "The Big Boys!" I mean City Sprint, DHL, Rico, Crown, DX et al.

These are the companies which many newbies think will have so much work needing done that they can't fail to get enough work from them to make it pay.

Unfortunately, the newbie doesn't really consider how these companies have become "The Big Boys!".

It is true that these companies have the lions share of the industry, but they have not achieved this from good service, they have achieved it through low prices! Pure and simple!

Getting involved with such companies in such a way that they are your main clients means that you will always have to accept that you will be working at sub £0.60pplm for a small van.

Yes they have a higher work load and yes you will get more back loads, but only slightly more.

So if you are thinking of dealing with "The Big Boys!" you as the self employed courier driver have to consider how these companies can benefit you and fit in with your business.

The best way I have found to utilise these sources of work is that I will register myself with them (assuming that there is no cost involved with registration!), then I will use that network purely as a medium to obtain back loads.

You should NOT have to rely on backloads. Price correctly in the first place, If everyone did, the vendors would have no choice than to pay more.

If they are not paying enough to get you home without having to faff about looking for a return, don't do it!

I think a lot of owner driver are pricing jobs based on out bound only in the hope they will pick up a back load. I agree with rapid price your job correctly in the first place and if you pick up a back load then its a bonus.

By providing the big boys with this service you are supplementing them, allowing them to pay these prices to their regular drivers because "someone will always do it!"

We are not talking proper back loads we are talking dedicated at back load prices because lets face it 60pplm to me is backload price

Ie non urgent

MK BIKES said:

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By providing the big boys with this service you are supplementing them, allowing them to pay these prices to their regular drivers because "someone will always do it!"

We are not talking proper back loads we are talking dedicated at back load prices because lets face it 60pplm to me is backload price

Spot on! I no longer accept TNT's "full rate" of 54pplm for small van when it's a backload job - I quote them at 60pplm, take it or leave it AND I want ALL dead mileage to pickup point paid at that rate too. For outbound loads, it's 80pplm, take it or leave it. It's hurting, because I get virtually nothing from them, but at least I'm no longer fooling myself that I'm earning!

The times i've had a job on a friday at 1700 and the person quoting says " well it'll be x because i'm very unlikely to get a return". Totally irrelevant. A return is "bunce" not a necesity. I've also had "backload" price quotes from drivers not actually going back, just wanting to get out and moving, on the hope they'll get something else to go with it, or something to come back.

This is not the way to run a business.

If everyone refused to work at ridiculous rates then the"big boys" would be unable to undercut us all, they would have to pay decent rates to couuriers, and have to charge their customers accordingly.

Prices currently being charged are unsustainable and rely on drivers who are forced to cut corners to make a living. Unfortunately for our industry, but fortunately for "them" there is an endless stream of wannabee couriers ready for the fleecing of.

So the only answer is to offer what they can't, quality

Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that you offer backload rates when you use them as I have mentioned above. Hit them for the full rate of course.

RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

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You should NOT have to rely on backloads. Price correctly in the first place, If everyone did, the vendors would have no choice than to pay more.

If they are not paying enough to get you home without having to faff about looking for a return, don't do it!

Totally agree Rapid, my post is just suggesting a way of using the bigger companies to occasionally get a bit of extra work on top of a properly paid job.

Sorry Scot I have to disagree with almost everything you have said about using the big boys for the following reasons....

Most of the Big Boys charge you for use of there PDA equipment and uniform and tell you to advertise there company's on your van otherwise you get no work.

They then charge you for Goods in Transit insurance even if you have your own take a company like City Sprint in 2012 I was paying them 27.34 per week just to be able to work for them.

They kept me that busy day and night (@48pper loaded mile) Small van I didnt have time to get my own clients work done if you turn work down for them to do your own work the controllers start being funny with you and not giving you any work but keep charging you the weekly charges.

As for Rico turn down work for them and you may as well take the rest of the day off as you wont do anything for the rest of that day.

I can not speak for TNT so will have to see what others say about this.

I think we're getting a bit confused here. THere are 2 types of "subbie" that the "big boys" use.

Those that sign up and work solely for them as subbies, as explained by JE Couriers, and those that are on a list of subbies they use as and when. It is the latter where you are not stuck with their rates, but can negotiate, and it is that I believe Scott refers

Somebody is bored starting this