Member Directory

How often is the Directory updated?

I am sure that some listed are no longer trading

Yes a clean sweep is needed! or even an updated model where owner drivers are listed on one page and courier firms on another.

Don't get me started on the Directory. Last week for me it was like trying to use a copy of the business pages from 1983. Lots of names of numbers of people who just signed up and that was it. Nothing else no info or anything.

Over to Admin!

Pointless having an out of date list

Lets face it lads, this site is like a ship without a rudder, just drifting around aimlessly. There is so much that could be done to improve it but if we, the members, dare to voice our opinion we get "edited"

Watch this space!

Totally agree.. I think the original concept was to create a helpful site and make a few pennies from Pro- membership while Tim and Richard continued with their day jobs.

Unfortunately the site is at a crossroads and needs to decide whether to take the next step up and truly compete with Courier Exchange.. Or stay as it is and frustrate and isolate current and new members alike.

Investment in staff and features is now needed which could be raised by allowing referral adverts or affiliate marketing... Got my sales and marketing head on this morning!

I totally agree aswell

Hi Everyone

As Richard and I ALWAYS say, we WELCOME feedback and criticism of mtvan, as long as it's helpful to us and to other members, as above.

The way the directory works is as follows.

A member joins, and is automatically shown on the directory.

As long as that member logs in regularly, that member is shown in the directory.

No-one who has not logged in for 90 days appears in the directory. So it's self-cleansing.

If people have updated their details (photo/logo, vehicle types) it shows in the directory results listing. We bang on and on about the importance of updating these details. When anyone looks at the directory, both at the list of search results, and the individual pages, anyone with a logo and vehicle types stands out as being the ones to call.

Not sure what this could be about:

Lots of names of numbers of people who just signed up and that was it. Nothing else no info or anything.

... but we're happy to look into it, obviously. I know it's a hassle, but a screenshot of anything not working is very helpful.

Personally I like the idea of clearer listing of people who declare that they are O/D or Company. Obviously, again, that means people need to update their details, as the system doesn't guess which.

We're constantly working on mtvan. At the moment, in response to criticism and comments, we're re-writing the post empty/journey pages. We want people to post their availability, as we think this is important for vendors.

We have recently rewritten the job booking pages, which has been part of (along with the video and other promotion efforts) a welcome increase in work on the site from an increased number of vendors.

The fact is, creating this stuff is expensive and time-consuming. As other sites have found, major re-writes often over-run on their launch dates, and fall over when launched despite extensive testing. You have to make sure everything new actually works on a wide range of browsers on a wide range of devices, as well as making sure that what's on offer actually meets the needs of the people using it.

Our aim is, yes, to provide a credible alternative for a sensible price. Yes, we do other stuff, but making mtvan work for its members is our main focus.

Tim

No-one who has not logged in for 90 days appears in the directory. So it's self-cleansing.

Maybe reducing that to 30 days [or even less] would be more beneficial?

Well why not involve a select band of current members to bounce your ideas off.? Asking the same on the forum would no doubt turn into a playground so best to keep it behind the scenes

**

Lots of names of numbers of people who just signed up and that was it. Nothing else no info or anything.

**

This refers to members who i looked at who signed up in 2011 / 2012 and that's it no info about Them, Their Business, What vehicles they have or use, Any insurances in place. They have not posted and jobs or comments about anything.

Well why not involve a select band of current members to bounce your ideas off.? Asking the same on the forum would no doubt turn into a playground so best to keep it behind the scenes

I must say, I like that idea. Other industries I've seen doing that call it an Advisory Panel or similar.

Lots of names of numbers of people who just signed up and that was it. Nothing else no info or anything.

This refers to members who i looked at who signed up in 2011 / 2012 and that's it no info about Them, Their Business, What vehicles they have or use, Any insurances in place. They have not posted and jobs or comments about anything.

Looking into this, thanks. Please let me know if it happens again. Anyone else getting this?

Well mines up to date hahaha

While we're on the directory, there is of course another good reason for updating your Profile with your vehicle types.

Using the Advanced button on the Directory allows members to search by the vehicle type(s) you've added to your Profile.

No vehicle type on your profile, no appearance in search result, no phone call.

.

No vehicle type on your profile, no appearance in search result, no phone call.

mtvan.com Ltd said:

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While we're on the directory, there is of course another good reason for updating your Profile with your vehicle types.

Using the Advanced button on the Directory allows members to search by the vehicle type(s) you've added to your Profile.

No vehicle type on your profile, no appearance in search result, no phone call.

Thats all very well if firms actually search for a man in a particular area!

Unfortunately there are too many regular posters of jobs who are too lazy to pick up the phone.and call direct

my cynicism suggests that some would rather auction their job than use the feedback system

mtvan.com Ltd said:

We're constantly working on mtvan. At the moment, in response to criticism and comments, we're re-writing the post empty/journey pages. We want people to post their availability, as we think this is important for vendors.

That will be a big help. I find posting empty on this site far more of a chore than on Courier Exchange so I end up not bothering very often. The problem there being that's the only way I can get alerts for the area I'm in as you don't have an android app. Having said that I've yet to see an alert for a job in the area I'm clearing in having posted empty but I'll keep trying.

What would you say is the most important thing about a posting empty/return journey page?

The less fields that have to be filled the better. Just the location you are clearing in and the time you'll be clear, then the location you're returning to and the time you expect to be there. That could be optional so you can just say you're clearing in an area and will go anywhere from there.

One of the main problems though must be that the return journeys aren't searchable. On Courier Exchange I've got several jobs through being found via return journeys I've posted.

If you look at the Directory results, there's a tab marked Empty.

This is where the return journeys are listed.

I guess it could be more prominent.

Re clearing the directory. I have just taken a quick look and spotted:-Shield, courier & transport uniform? U- Shade PVC Ltd? Mobi Menu, with a false telephone number and I note that Leos Couriers will be empty in Leeds until 2501!

Also spotted numerous members that joined well over 90 days ago that show no other activity or completion of their profiles.

Surely if they can't be bothered to complete their profiles they should not be listed?

RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

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No-one who has not logged in for 90 days appears in the directory. So it's self-cleansing.

Maybe reducing that to 30 days [or even less] would be more beneficial?

Could that also be applied to Negative feedback as well.. I am due about now for one to be posted, I am awaiting with antisipation but will not hold my breath.

Mr G Courier service- I take it personally said:

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No vehicle type on your profile, no appearance in search result, no phone call.

mtvan.com Ltd said:

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While we're on the directory, there is of course another good reason for updating your Profile with your vehicle types.

Using the Advanced button on the Directory allows members to search by the vehicle type(s) you've added to your Profile.

No vehicle type on your profile, no appearance in search result, no phone call.

Thats all very well if firms actually search for a man in a particular area!

Unfortunately there are too many regular posters of jobs who are too lazy to pick up the phone.and call direct

my cynicism suggests that some would rather auction their job than use the feedback system

I disagree... As in the past I have called whoever in that area to find they are busy and probably have tookup 2 minutes of critical time, and so its easier to post, and not only that there may also be someone not from that area who is clearing nr the Job.. but having said that once someone has shown an interest that I dont know, then I look at the directory for trust/feedback and details ect and take it from there.. So its not about laziness for us.. but cannot speak for everyone.

3D Courier Services said:

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Re clearing the directory. I have just taken a quick look and spotted:-Shield, courier & transport uniform? U- Shade PVC Ltd? Mobi Menu, with a false telephone number and I note that Leos Couriers will be empty in Leeds until 2501!

Also spotted numerous members that joined well over 90 days ago that show no other activity or completion of their profiles.

Surely if they can't be bothered to complete their profiles they should not be listed?

I agree with you Steve, but is it because MT want the numbers promoting they have so many on the site?

mtvan.com Ltd said:

As Richard and I ALWAYS say, we WELCOME feedback and criticism of mtvan, as long as it's helpful to us and to other members, as above.

OK here's my top 3 of things that are broken, all have been said many times before by me and others and are not fancy extras but basic things that need to be fixed for the site to work better.

1. Text/Email Alerts Text alerts are useless as they fail to give enough information to the driver wasting everyone's time. You can either expand them beyond 160 characters which will cost you more, send them out to less people (or more targeted see *3) or use an alternative method. I sent you an example a while ago of how we give work to out drivers, it's one text with the basics and a url for full info. Email alerts are not constrained by size and yet still fail to contain enough information.

2. Missing Info You need to enforce ALL details being completed, huge numbers of members have no vehicle listed and/or no insurance. New members should be forced to complete everything during sign up, existing members need telling to do it or be removed or set inactive and hidden until done.

3. Vehicle Types Currently drivers can list vehicles they do not own. Whilst i understand why they do it (I can do a small van job in my transit etc) that can be achieved through the alerts if they want to. I as a vendor want to know what you actually have

As an example of number one, here's what a text looks like now

mtvan job: XLWB Transit, Preston 08/10/2013, 16:30 to St Ives - 190 miles. Contact Preston Courier Co Ltd on 07831 864975.

It fails to mention 2 important pieces of info, delivery date/time and any instructions

try this (and click the link it works, designed for mobile screens works in browser too)

mtvan job: XLWB Transit, Preston to St Ives, 190 miles, more info @ http://www.prestoncouriers.co.uk/testing/mtvan.php

Note you could use a shorter url and put more info in the main text it. That took me 5 mins.

Thanks for the feedback.

Text/Email Alerts Text alerts are useless

Yes, since we originally designed the txt alerts everyone has bought a smartphone, which means we can offer an app (yes I know, not an Android app yet) and also that we can now make the content of sms txt alerts more useful by putting a link in. We still think the app is the best choice (as it helps the system know where you are so the alerts are more far accurate). But we'll add the link as you suggest.

Missing Info

We agree, and we put lots of effort into encouraging people to do this. With the large numbers of people we need, and at the sensible price we are trying to stick to, we think there is little possibility of us trying to enforce stuff. However, as well as encouragement, there is more we can do. When we update the directory there will be a "no vehicle type, no display in the directory" policy. Similarly we can introduce a "no vehicle type no alerts" policy. So if people are serious about getting work from the site, they have to put some (Profile) effort in first.

Vehicle Types Currently drivers can list vehicles they do not own

The directory will soon show who is an O/D and who is a company, so this may help a little with this, as an O/D with a wide range of vehicles is going to stand out a mile. We can make a note on the update details page to suggest that O/Ds put only the vans they have in that section and why.

Thanks for listening

Texts

I concur an app would be best but until it's available for all types of phone I think a combination of text/url is the best compromise. I'd suggest a subdomain would allow the shortest url and retaining the most info mob.mtvan.com for example.

Missing Info

Maybe I'm just to harsh with wanting to be strict, but happy to see some movement on this, a red info bar at the top would be handy for them "WARNING, you have no vehicles set and so will not receive alerts", I think signup is the perfect time to get it done right, save all the messing later on, or emails explaining the changes and why it's important to update the info.

Vehicle Types

Again sign up is the perfect time to get this right, but I understand it's not as easy for existing members, maybe once the changes are made re OD's again alerts could be displayed or emails sent explaining the policy and why.

As I've said since the beginning I want you to succeed, things have improved but I still think there is a way to go, the better the site works for vendors and drivers the more people will use it, it's getting that momentum up that's the key

While i'm posting about the member directory, in the advanced search can you add a 'deselect all' option, if I want to view for example who has a small lorry I have to untick every box.

While i'm posting about the member directory, in the advanced search can you add a 'deselect all' option, if I want to view for example who has a small lorry I have to untick every box.

This, word for word, is on our list for the next directory upgrade.

On the directory, I would encourage everyone to check out the Advanced feature, the Empty tab, and how their own Profile looks in the results list. Have a look now.

See how someone can find you, and what they see when they do.

Hi Everyone

We have now redesigned the Post Empty feature on mtvan to make it quicker to post. Please give it a try. www.mtvan.com/post-empty

You can post a single empty location, or if a van is going from one place to another, you just put multiple posts, ie London 09:00, Birmingham 11:00, Manchester 13:00, Aberdeen 23:00 and so on.

The entries appear in the Empty tab on the Courier Directory. www.mtvan.com/courier-directory/

It works all over Europe as well as the UK, obviously. Free and Pro members.

Tim

Yes very nicely hidden away from courier companies who may be thinking of joining and if they do inadvertently find the empty (as you call it) what will they find 1 maybe 2 or 3 empty vehicles

Its a farce there should be a bold link on the front page in red MT VANS after all isn't that what your called

And posting empty should be made as easy as possible empty location... Time... And vehicle... That's it none of this stupid journey reference malarkey

Iv'e said it before if you don't get people posting empty this site is going nowhere courier companies want to see loads of vehicles to utilise and until they start seeing that they will just ignore the site

The new Post Empty does exactly that. Vehicle Type, Place, Time/Date.

Just what you asked for?

Have messaged tim about this the new page does not work in ie10 haven't tried it on mobile yet

Glad to see your doing something

Now bring the page out into the open where people can see it

3D Courier Services said:

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Re clearing the directory. I have just taken a quick look and spotted:-Shield, courier & transport uniform? U- Shade PVC Ltd? Mobi Menu, with a false telephone number and I note that Leos Couriers will be empty in Leeds until 2501!

Also spotted numerous members that joined well over 90 days ago that show no other activity or completion of their profiles.

Surely if they can't be bothered to complete their profiles they should not be listed?

I Guess Admin missed this?

I dont post empty anymore because it was a pointless exercise. Backloads are not to be expected, so not posting avoids disappointment.

Re clearing the directory. I have just taken a quick look and spotted:-Shield, courier & transport uniform? U- Shade PVC Ltd? Mobi Menu, with a false telephone number and I note that Leos Couriers will be empty in Leeds until 2501!

These we can clear.

Also spotted numerous members that joined well over 90 days ago that show no other activity or completion of their profiles.

It's 90 days since they last logged in.

Surely if they can't be bothered to complete their profiles they should not be listed?

As I said, we are going to tighten this so they need to update stuff before they even appear in the listing.

I dont post empty anymore because it was a pointless exercise. Backloads are not to be expected, so not posting avoids disappointment.

We would like you to try posting empty with the new system. As PB says, and he's quite right, if enough people post empty regularly enough it becomes a useful resource for Vendors looking for couriers, so they come and look, and start calling people from the Empty list. It has to start with people posting empty.

We've made it really easy, and we take on board the comments about it being a bit tricky on the mobile, so pretty soon it will give you a mobile compatible page when you post empty using a mobile.

It's worth adding a Note when you post empty, as this appears on the NewsFeed. Some people are already doing this. Helps controllers.

In response to feedback:

If you are doing a job that doesn't go to or from your home town, the idea is you just post both ends. If you are doing a more then one drop, post all the drops or as many as you think it takes to give Vendors an idea of what you're doing.

mtvan.com Ltd said:

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In response to feedback:

If you are doing a job that doesn't go to or from your home town, the idea is you just post both ends. If you are doing a more then one drop, post all the drops or as many as you think it takes to give Vendors an idea of what you're doing.

It would be really useful if, as well as having an "empty" location, there was a field for "returning to" This would let us know in which direction the driver will be heading empty. Of course, we can still offer work that takes him further from base but a return load is always a bonus.

mtvan.com Ltd said:

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Re clearing the directory. I have just taken a quick look and spotted:-Shield, courier & transport uniform? U- Shade PVC Ltd? Mobi Menu, with a false telephone number and I note that Leos Couriers will be empty in Leeds until 2501!

These we can clear.

Also spotted numerous members that joined well over 90 days ago that show no other activity or completion of their profiles.

It's 90 days since they last logged in.

Surely if they can't be bothered to complete their profiles they should not be listed?

As I said, we are going to tighten this so they need to update stuff before they even appear in the listing.

Didn't you say that if they have not logged in for 90 days they did no longer appeared in the directory?

It would be really useful if, as well as having an "empty" location, there was a field for "returning to" This would let us know in which direction the driver will be heading empty. Of course, we can still offer work that takes him further from base but a return load is always a bonus.

We can look at listing their home base on there maybe.

I think the idea is, if you find someone on the Empty list who is near your pickup, you click through to their profile and that tells you where they are based.

Hi i'm struggling to use this member directory. I posted a job today, tried to find the courier who text me the quote, but couldn't find him.

I dont believe you should have all your eggs in one basket but i very rarely cover work off here, so i tend to use another site. The quotes i receive off here (If i receive any) are mostly way out, the vehicle size is quite often wrong and a mixture of other issues. It would appear its not just me either after speaking with other members so something is not quite right. Either there is a site issue or a member issue. We all had to start somewhere and i will give any sensible sounding person a try but i think maybe MT Van should offer some kind of training and vetting before allowing people to "Go live" on the site. This would at least stop people making very basic errors and potentially causing havoc for vendors. In turn this would also mean that the majority of the membership would have a good understanding of what is required from them from day 1.

Hi i'm struggling to use this member directory. I posted a job today, tried to find the courier who text me the quote, but couldn't find him.

Please PM me (click on my username and use the green contact button) to let me know who you where trying to contact, so we can reproduce the problem and fix it.

Thanks.

I dont believe you should have all your eggs in one basket but i very rarely cover work off here, so i tend to use another site. The quotes i receive off here (If i receive any) are mostly way out, the vehicle size is quite often wrong and a mixture of other issues. It would appear its not just me either after speaking with other members so something is not quite right. Either there is a site issue or a member issue. We all had to start somewhere and i will give any sensible sounding person a try but i think maybe MT Van should offer some kind of training and vetting before allowing people to "Go live" on the site. This would at least stop people making very basic errors and potentially causing havoc for vendors. In turn this would also mean that the majority of the membership would have a good understanding of what is required from them from day 1.

I think it's very unlikely that we will ever be able to afford to do training and vetting (especially at the "sensible" price we are trying to offer the industry) but we can hope to ensure that total newcomers find it less easy to wade straight in without a clue, and that the site issues are sorted.

People using the site and feeding back what works and what doesn't is how we fix the site issues, obviously, so thanks to all who do.

I understand the sensible price thing, but this is what other sites offer and to compete it maybe something to look into. I see know reason why some kind of vetting cannot take place though. Maybe intoduce a simple on line form asking all the right questions before allowing new members to go live. It may not be perfect but it would act as some kind of filter. If MT Van is to move forward in my opinion people need to have confidence in using it, something must be wrong when you have the amount of members that you have but people cant cover there work, please dont think i am being negative but just voicing my opinion and feelings as a vendor who has lot of work to offer the right subcontractors.

No, I don't see it as negative. The site will never progress if we hear only positive stuff.

Where we are on this, as always, is we want to give people the kind of info they need to feel they can trust the other party.

So rather than "vet" people, we'll give them an opportunity to verify their address, to verify their identity or company, to link to their company accounts, to upload insurance docs, and so on.

Then to give you the opportunity to filter out anyone who can't be arsed to do that kind of stuff.

mtvan.com Ltd said:

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It would be really useful if, as well as having an "empty" location, there was a field for "returning to" This would let us know in which direction the driver will be heading empty. Of course, we can still offer work that takes him further from base but a return load is always a bonus.

We can look at listing their home base on there maybe.

I think the idea is, if you find someone on the Empty list who is near your pickup, you click through to their profile and that tells you where they are based.

I understand that we can click on the profile to find the base but when you are a busy controller, sometimes with a potential customer hanging on the line, I don't want to be going " oh there's one near me" Click oh no he's going the wrong way. Etc etc etc. A simple "returning to" field and it's there at a glance. Just needs the field added.

Also I entered one of my journeys today and it said I was empty 135 miles from base yet the mileage generated on site was 171.

Also there is a field for comments which doesn't seem to go anywhere?

It would also be useful if, after the members name, it gave his status. i.e. PRO or not.

I hope you find this proactive?

busy controller

Point taken. Been there.

I entered one of my journeys today and it said I was empty 135 miles from base yet the mileage generated on site was 171.

Because there are two ways to calculate mileages on Google, one is straight line (so shorter and quicker to calculate) and one is by road. For speed of page load we use the straightline ones for stuff where an approximate distance is ok (like empty) and the accurate by-road one for stuff where money might depend on it such as job mileages. 40 miles difference is, I think, unusually high, but it shows why we use the "by road" calculations when it really matters.

status. i.e. PRO or not

Agreed, wherever possible on the site.

Admin, please take a look at the thread What Insurance, this is exactly the point i am making, there are plenty on here including myself who are more than willing to offer any newbies to the industry any advice, but how can you allow people to Join and possibly quote for work on this site without Hire and reward insurance?

Express Couriers Northwest Ltd said:

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Admin, please take a look at the thread What Insurance, this is exactly the point i am making, there are plenty on here including myself who are more than willing to offer any newbies to the industry any advice, but how can you allow people to Join and possibly quote for work on this site without Hire and reward insurance?

Here here