Phone

It would seem on mtvan most bids we get are on line. Whats wrong with telephone or text at the very least. This job is all about communication, and early response is important.

I couldn't agree more. At least that way you can get to know them and make your decision weather to use them or not.

I get these all the time, from my website. What would you do?

contact email = **1987@hotmail.co.uk

comments = hi i am a self employed driver looking for work i am fully insured and have a ford transit van on a 61 plate. i am availble for work 24/7. if you require my services please contact me regards k d******.

Delete. At the very least I would expect a phone call. If the person calling was local I would request that he/she come into the office with their van to have a chat.

I prefer texts or calls. If i get a text and its around the price i'm looking for i'll ring em to see if they're also close enough to collect asap (and if they sound like they know what they're doing). Once covered i text all the others and let them know its been covered elsewhere, something that is sadly lacking by many of us.

Its all very well us vendors expecting this and that to be done by Couriers, BUT we also have a duty to let failed "bidders"/ quotees know when they've been unsuccessful so that they can move on to the next job.

The trouble with calls only is you'll miss more than you take, and email quotes are just a non starter!

Asap-Direct said:

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It would seem on mtvan most bids we get are on line.

Why does this seem to be the case to you? I think depending on the vendor, regular couriers quoting for work learn what the preferred method of quoting is.

(FYI if you have "offer text alerts" set to "on", we send a text out when there's an online quote). See Alert Settings.

Someone somewhere is paying a small fortune to get their consignment to its destination ASAP. Surely, common sense dictates that a phone call is the best method of communication. Unless the vendor specifically asks for a text message, in which case you send a text. That said, I will send a quote by text if I think it's not so likely I'll get the job, because it'll take me 45+ mins to get there. Still worth sending that text though, and it paid off for me yesterday :)

East-Lancs Sameday Couriers Ltd said:

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I couldn't agree more. At least that way you can get to know them and make your decision weather to use them or not.

This is also a good point, and goes both ways. Best way to get repeat business is by talking to your supplier/customer and building rapport

Put a number of jobs on over last few weeks only 1 courier actually phoned. He has now helped us out a couple of times now. Talk talk is still better than text I get to make my mind up about the courier I want to represent me to MY customers. Text and if we get time and can't cover by other means we might ring you. Remember this business is about network contacts, the more you have the more work you get.

Quoted on an asap job tonight first time in ages, no reply, acknowledgement & wondering why it was posted in the first place? There was no phone number just online quote facility. Wasn't over the top for an asap, overnight 8 hour round trip.

The system needs a bit of tidying up, a job comes on for online bidding, you make a quote, hear nothing back and the job is still listed 2 days later. Please, if you can't get vendors to reply to quotes at least time limit how long the job shows up for. I keep getting text alerts for jobs posted days ago which puts me off signing in to the tracker app.

Andy McTighe said:

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I keep getting text alerts for jobs posted days ago which puts me off signing in to the tracker app.

Maybe us Android users aren't missing out on much after all....

But not wanting to hijack the thread, let's move on: setting an expiry on old jobs would be good and surely is the logical thing to do. There was the point a while back that old jobs may not have been covered and therefore may still be available and worth quoting for. But if people want to take punts like that why not just go off their alerts? And if they're choosing not to receive alerts then tough luck.

JRG Express said:

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Andy McTighe said:

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I keep getting text alerts for jobs posted days ago which puts me off signing in to the tracker app.

Maybe us Android users aren't missing out on much after all....

But not wanting to hijack the thread, let's move on: setting an expiry on old jobs would be good and surely is the logical thing to do. There was the point a while back that old jobs may not have been covered and therefore may still be available and worth quoting for. But if people want to take punts like that why not just go off their alerts? And if they're choosing not to receive alerts then tough luck.

I did at one time post that the default setting is 'job still available' but in reality it is 'couldn't be ar*ed to update'

We have now changed our settings to phone only. When we put a job on any exchange, In the main 99% are urgent. That need covering now or in a very short time. Our customers use us as same day couriers, which in esense means it is urgent. Thanks to all that have quoted. The way we cover jobs is own approved subbed first, known subbies and Courier Exchange members next. Then MT van postings. We would like to receive more from mtvan members, it's up to you!

We try hard not to post jobs, too much hassle, so we use our own and those off our preferred list.

If we struggle and have to post, I always ask for replies by test only. This way it stops spending pointless, valuable time answering irrelevant questions and 'friendly' banter. After receiving a text, if it appeals, oe of us will then call the subbie [like Speed Couriers, stated].

Can't see the problem with quoting via the app it's quick and easy and if the quotes acceptable then phone... If it's not acceptable then you've lost no time on the phone

PB Express said:

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Can't see the problem with quoting via the app it's quick and easy and if the quotes acceptable then phone... If it's not acceptable then you've lost no time on the phone

I do NOT use an Iphone, and I am just saying what suits my business :)

I prefer to call if possible. It's the quickest way of determining if the job's still available, if you're in with a shout, and of getting across details such as where exactly you are, what van you're in, have you got ID, have you got this, can you do that, etc.

MyVanCan said:

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I prefer to call if possible. It's the quickest way of determining if the job's still available, if you're in with a shout, and of getting across details such as where exactly you are, what van you're in, have you got ID, have you got this, can you do that, etc.

But if the vendor states 'Text Only'?

Then I'd send a text if possible but it can't always be done, phone call is much easier and quicker.

MyVanCan said:

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Then I'd send a text if possible but it can't always be done, phone call is much easier and quicker.

But if vendor states 'Text only' then gets a call, it does not give much confidence that the job would be carried out correctly.

Just saying

Once covered i text all the others and let them know its been covered elsewhere, something that is sadly lacking by many of us. Totally agree with this Rob, I give em 10mins then move on, pees me off when some defend saying they are too busy. The day may come when vendors state a price they will pay for a job then this will cut down on the wasted calls and time. I await the barrage of abuse so will hide under the table.

My point is it is unusual to get a reply quickly via any means. Normally hours later or even next day. If you dont bid you dont get the work, and we have to use other means.

PHAX said:

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Once covered i text all the others and let them know its been covered elsewhere, something that is sadly lacking by many of us. Totally agree with this Rob, I give em 10mins then move on, pees me off when some defend saying they are too busy. The day may come when vendors state a price they will pay for a job then this will cut down on the wasted calls and time. I await the barrage of abuse so will hide under the table.

Lol! Agreed. Was told recently I'd hear back promptly either way from a quote for a 200 odd mile job. Didn't want to quote whilst waiting for this one. I called them 20 minutes later only to be told the job was sold to someone doing it for about 35p/mile! ffs. You can usually tell from the reaction if the vendor's happy with the quote and this one sounded legit. However if I'm somewhere away from home and looking at CX, I tend to quote for 2 or 3 if they're all close enough and whoever calls back first gets me.

On a phone call 'I'll get back to you if it's a goer' means 'you are too expensive' I don't wait, just carry on looking for and bidding on work. You snooze you lose. If I bid by text or online I just assume I didn't get it, same principle.

Andy McTighe said:

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On a phone call 'I'll get back to you if it's a goer' means 'you are too expensive' I don't wait, just carry on looking for and bidding on work. You snooze you lose. If I bid by text or online I just assume I didn't get it, same principle.

The wording is usually "If that's any good we'll call you back", roughly translated as "That isn't any good".

Commom courtesy to inform the failed quotees tho. We all demand eta's pob's and pod's and woudn't expect a courier to say "i'm too busy" so vendors should do the same. I know its not always possible but it shoud be something you try and do. Think of the poor sod waiting for you to get back to him because thats what you said you'd do. Its called respect

On a phone call 'I'll get back to you if it's a goer' means 'you are too expensive' Is this from experience Andy I get this all too often these days. So if I get this I will quote on another straight away having missed some good jobs in the past week or so. I will catch you with the words and what they mean asap

some people expect jobs done for peanuts. We are trying to earn a living and they expect you to do the job for 35p pm, wot a joke.

And as for people moaning about people making bids via mtvan site, that is what the site is for we pay to use the site, so we are well within our rights to bid via the site.

kyle dearden said:

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some people expect jobs done for peanuts. We are trying to earn a living and they expect you to do the job for 35p pm, wot a joke.

And as for people moaning about people making bids via mtvan site, that is what the site is for we pay to use the site, so we are well within our rights to bid via the site.

kyle dearden said:

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some people expect jobs done for peanuts. We are trying to earn a living and they expect you to do the job for 35p pm, wot a joke.

And as for people moaning about people making bids via mtvan site, that is what the site is for we pay to use the site, so we are well within our rights to bid via the site.

Usually ok on this site for rates but Courier Exchange has become a back load site and they do want jobs doing for peanuts I have just quit Courier Exchange this month this one here not being a monkey

I'd like to phone suppliers up in order to become someone they use when i'm in their area. However, most suppliers on here have their details hidden from me due to my 'reputation' being below 200. I don't like using the online quote system, as I don't really know who i'm dealing with, how competitive or not my quote might be, and am unlikely to ever hear anything back. I've been given PRO status for 3 months and can't see any reason to extend that, especially as i'm only occasionally free from Citysprint work.

Where I would like to build contacts is in the North, as Citysprint have only 3 offices north of Nottingham (Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, plus 3 in Scotland) - they have 5 within 20 miles of Slough! - so I find that it's when i'm being sent up North that I end up returning empty. If there's anyone who would like me to call when I'm up that way, please let me know.

So City sprint send you North and despite them having offices in the North they allow you to return south empty, think i would be having a word about them taking the Michael

That's City Sprints middle name I think. ( city take the piss sprint.)

PHAX said:

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On a phone call 'I'll get back to you if it's a goer' means 'you are too expensive' Is this from experience Andy I get this all too often these days. So if I get this I will quote on another straight away having missed some good jobs in the past week or so. I will catch you with the words and what they mean asap

Absolutely Phil, you can't wait around. For one thing you don't know if they have the job in hand or are bidding against other companies - as happens all the time with JCB jobs. They almost never call back if you haven't got the job. If they do and you have taken another job on just say 'sorry mate I had another offer and had to take it'. Can you imagine what they would say if they offered you the job and you said 'I'll get back to you when I see which jobs I have bid on pay the best'

Fastback Parcel Solutions said:

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So City sprint send you North and despite them having offices in the North they allow you to return south empty, think i would be having a word about them taking the Michael

I can't complain. Over the past 4 weeks I've had 3 weeks of earning over £1200, at a rate per driven mile of 42p. There's always room for improvement though and the northern offices either don't have as much work or prefer to keep it for their own drivers. Shame it's so difficult to nurture new contacts outside of the company.

Wow that's some mileage. Too tired to work out how many but sure speed will be on the ball. Lol

2857 miles @42p = £1200 Can't have been empty for much of the time? Do you keep a record of your hours? Have you heard of work time directive? http://transportcafe.co.uk/driving-hours

This has the makings of a very similar thread that appeared on cod forum a few weeks back... lol

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

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This has the makings of a very similar thread that appeared on cod forum a few weeks back... Lol

That caused some coronaries as I recall.

I've never worked for any company that's said 'I didn't call you because you'd been too busy this week' and that's having worked as a courier since 1995. I have turned down work lately due to tiredness and not had a problem with them. Last week gave the highest mileage of 3620 miles over 7 days, no day being above 650 miles, but a fair bit of empty running to give a total income of £1350 plus vat. I'm having an easier week this week.

My only experience of the working time directive was when I was interviewed for warehouse work at Dairy Crest when it was a requirement to sign a waiver exempting yourself from it. I'm sure big business knows how to sidestep it when convenient, as does the NHS.

I should also add that I'm not promoting citysprint. I've switched service centres recently and found that my income doubled - it all depends on the office, some with loads of cheap local crap will always try to keep their drivers 'in area' as others will reject work. They are a million times better than RICO, who at interview told me not to bother with hire and reward insurance - their words were 'this is a little naughty, but just get business use with GIT and you'll save loads' - yes but not enough to make 44pplm worthwhile, or the risk. I did let DVSA know about that incident.

NC Couriers said:

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I should also add that I'm not promoting citysprint. I've switched service centres recently and found that my income doubled - it all depends on the office, some with loads of cheap local crap will always try to keep their drivers 'in area' as others will reject work. They are a million times better than RICO, who at interview told me not to bother with hire and reward insurance - their words were 'this is a little naughty, but just get business use with GIT and you'll save loads' - yes but not enough to make 44pplm worthwhile, or the risk. I did let DVSA know about that incident.

You may well save loads, but it is a requirement by Law! Something needs to be done about this

ILKLEY EXPRESS said:

Usually ok on this site for rates but Courier Exchange has become a back load site and they do want jobs doing for peanuts I have just quit Courier Exchange this month this one here not being a monkey

I disagree but then again, one persons normal rate is someone elses backoad rate.

The bigger a site gets by having more members, the greater the chance someone will be in the area going back home empty, so from that point of view yes, there will be a higher chance of prices becoming keener, but jobs posted are generally not posted as backloads. If someone wants to quote lower to ensure they get what is a backload to them, and them only, then i'd say that's fair play.

My experience is some jobs get low quotes, some get high quotes. It is certainy not becoming a backoad site from where i'm sitting

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

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ILKLEY EXPRESS said:

Usually ok on this site for rates but Courier Exchange has become a back load site and they do want jobs doing for peanuts I have just quit Courier Exchange this month this one here not being a monkey

I disagree but then again, one persons normal rate is someone elses backoad rate.

The bigger a site gets by having more members, the greater the chance someone will be in the area going back home empty, so from that point of view yes, there will be a higher chance of prices becoming keener, but jobs posted are generally not posted as backloads. If someone wants to quote lower to ensure they get what is a backload to them, and them only, then i'd say that's fair play.

My experience is some jobs get low quotes, some get high quotes. It is certainy not becoming a backoad site from where i'm sitting

Like you say we all have our own ideas and as far as I am conserved it's getting worse the woman I spoke to when cancelling my subs said its best used as a back load site!

I can only talk of my own experience, and i find the rates being offered are consistent, and on a par with what we've seen since joining. There are a growing number who don't seem to know what an urgent sameday courier is, but thats a different story. I never post a backload, so perhaps i don't get to see what you have experienced.

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

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I can only talk of my own experience, and i find the rates being offered are consistent, and on a par with what we've seen since joining. There are a growing number who don't seem to know what an urgent sameday courier is, but thats a different story. I never post a backload, so perhaps i don't get to see what you have experienced.

Not posted as backloads they are posted at hotshot timed del, It would be interesting to know what other subbies think of the r8s. It cannot just be me who is unhappy at r8 on Courier Exchange! Dont get me wrong there are some good r8s paid, and decent venders just too few now,

Courier Exchange is good if you keep the objective in sight. The way I use it is to focus on minimising dead miles, that doesn't necessarily mean getting a load back home. It could mean, as I did yesterday, finishing 100 miles from home, but I averaged 61p per driven mile, today I averaged 70p per driven mile, tomorrow I am on 64p plus any load I might take from the South East. It's all about averages. It also enables me to keep my fuel cost at or below 25% of revenue.

Ilkley Bill is one of the best subbies on here sticks to his price, if ever one did the same, rates would slowly rise. Including ourselves,

Asap-Direct said:

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Ilkley Bill is one of the best subbies on here sticks to his price, if ever one did the same, rates would slowly rise. Including ourselves,

Thanks Bill

Andy McTighe said:

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Courier Exchange is good if you keep the objective in sight. The way I use it is to focus on minimising dead miles, that doesn't necessarily mean getting a load back home. It could mean, as I did yesterday, finishing 100 miles from home, but I averaged 61p per driven mile, today I averaged 70p per driven mile, tomorrow I am on 64p plus any load I might take from the South East. It's all about averages. It also enables me to keep my fuel cost at or below 25% of revenue.

How many jobs did you get from Courier Exchange Andy?

3 from Courier Exchange 2 from a contact I made through mtvan and 2 from my own customer so just under half, sometimes it can be much more heavily Courier Exchange based. This is LWB based on a trade rate of £1 plm. I just try and get more than half my total miles paid for. It works for me (so far).

RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

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NC Couriers said:

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I should also add that I'm not promoting citysprint. I've switched service centres recently and found that my income doubled - it all depends on the office, some with loads of cheap local crap will always try to keep their drivers 'in area' as others will reject work. They are a million times better than RICO, who at interview told me not to bother with hire and reward insurance - their words were 'this is a little naughty, but just get business use with GIT and you'll save loads' - yes but not enough to make 44pplm worthwhile, or the risk. I did let DVSA know about that incident.

You may well save loads, but it is a requirement by Law! Something needs to be done about this

How about getting a petition up and sent to the Transport Minister. Very embarrassing for the government when you consider CS do a lot of MoD work while encouraging drivers to break the law?

NC Couriers said:

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I've never worked for any company that's said 'I didn't call you because you'd been too busy this week' and that's having worked as a courier since 1995. I have turned down work lately due to tiredness and not had a problem with them. Last week gave the highest mileage of 3620 miles over 7 days, no day being above 650 miles, but a fair bit of empty running to give a total income of £1350 plus vat. I'm having an easier week this week.

My only experience of the working time directive was when I was interviewed for warehouse work at Dairy Crest when it was a requirement to sign a waiver exempting yourself from it. I'm sure big business knows how to sidestep it when convenient, as does the NHS.

Can you do me a favour and let me know your routes each day because if you are doing 3620miles in a week I would suggest you are on driving/loading for more than 11 hrs a day or speeding in either case I will try and avoid your routes as I have a daughter I like to get home in one piece to see grow up? 3620 is 510 miles/day which is an average speed of 51mph including loading and breaks - for 7 days solid

AM-PM Despatch said:

How about getting a petition up and sent to the Transport Minister. Very embarrassing for the government when you consider CS do a lot of MoD work while encouraging drivers to break the law?

To my understanding it was RICO flaunting the law, CS are by the book but could be wrong, I remember the Leeds based CS asking to for all my Insurances and Bank details in which I sent, but what did kill the deal was the rates they offered which was low for a bike, I just laughed and told em I wouldnt get out of bed for that nor send one of my subbies either.. That was my experience with them.

Gas Motorcycle Couriers said:

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AM-PM Despatch said:

How about getting a petition up and sent to the Transport Minister. Very embarrassing for the government when you consider CS do a lot of MoD work while encouraging drivers to break the law?

To my understanding it was RICO flaunting the law, CS are by the book but could be wrong, I remember the Leeds based CS asking to for all my Insurances and Bank details in which I sent, but what did kill the deal was the rates they offered which was low for a bike, I just laughed and told em I wouldnt get out of bed for that nor send one of my subbies either.. That was my experience with them.

My error!

Gas Motorcycle Couriers said:

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AM-PM Despatch said:

How about getting a petition up and sent to the Transport Minister? Rest of post deleted due to error!

To my understanding it was RICO flaunting the law, CS are by the book but could be wrong, I remember the Leeds based CS asking to for all my Insurances and Bank details in which I sent, but what did kill the deal was the rates they offered which was low for a bike, I just laughed and told em I wouldnt get out of bed for that nor send one of my subbies either.. That was my experience with them.

Andy McTighe said:

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3 from Courier Exchange 2 from a contact I made through mtvan and 2 from my own customer so just under half, sometimes it can be much more heavily Courier Exchange based. This is LWB based on a trade rate of £1 plm. I just try and get more than half my total miles paid for. It works for me (so far).

My question/statement was about was about r8s on Courier Exchange, are you getting your standard r8 off Courier Exchange or doing the the jobs for less?

Gas Motorcycle Couriers said:

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AM-PM Despatch said:

How about getting a petition up and sent to the Transport Minister. Very embarrassing for the government when you consider CS do a lot of MoD work while encouraging drivers to break the law?

To my understanding it was RICO flaunting the law, CS are by the book but could be wrong, I remember the Leeds based CS asking to for all my Insurances and Bank details in which I sent, but what did kill the deal was the rates they offered which was low for a bike, I just laughed and told em I wouldnt get out of bed for that nor send one of my subbies either.. That was my experience with them.

Your understanding is correct. I did report the matter to the DVSA, but who knows if they'll investigate based on one report? If more did (hint) then they would be obliged to inspect a sample of vans at least, and at the rate of 44pplm I'm sure there's a few of Rico's subbies using cherry.

As to my driving hours, let's not get too sanctimonious over it. I've worked for many different couriers over the years, and not one of them nor I doubt many on here would send me to Glasgow with an early run (usually a 6 hour drive) and not expect me back ready for the next days work.

NC Couriers said:

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Gas Motorcycle Couriers said:

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AM-PM Despatch said:

How about getting a petition up and sent to the Transport Minister. Very embarrassing for the government when you consider CS do a lot of MoD work while encouraging drivers to break the law?

To my understanding it was RICO flaunting the law, CS are by the book but could be wrong, I remember the Leeds based CS asking to for all my Insurances and Bank details in which I sent, but what did kill the deal was the rates they offered which was low for a bike, I just laughed and told em I wouldnt get out of bed for that nor send one of my subbies either.. That was my experience with them.

Your understanding is correct. I did report the matter to the DVSA, but who knows if they'll investigate based on one report? If more did (hint) then they would be obliged to inspect a sample of vans at least, and at the rate of 44pplm I'm sure there's a few of Rico's subbies using cherry.

As to my driving hours, let's not get too sanctimonious over it. I've worked for many different couriers over the years, and not one of them nor I doubt many on here would send me to Glasgow with an early run (usually a 6 hour drive) and not expect me back ready for the next days work.

Regarding your last paragraph, with a bit of networking and if priced correctly, you wouldnt have to rush back and could probably stay in a hotel...

ILKLEY EXPRESS said:

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Andy McTighe said:

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3 from Courier Exchange 2 from a contact I made through mtvan and 2 from my own customer so just under half, sometimes it can be much more heavily Courier Exchange based. This is LWB based on a trade rate of £1 plm. I just try and get more than half my total miles paid for. It works for me (so far).

My question/statement was about was about r8s on Courier Exchange, are you getting your standard r8 off Courier Exchange or doing the the jobs for less?

Sorry, I always bid £1 a mile I will only take less if it is very convenient for me, and yes that is my normal trade rate for courier companies. Obviously I charge a bit more to my direct customer.