UK Express

Has anyone heard of this company? I just had a text (at this time of night?) saying they are looking for owner drivers through out the UK. Their website says they have 200 vans. Any info would be helpful.

Can't say i have, but as its a pretty generic name.

I did get a call last night at 2330 from somone asking if we had any vacancies. Not sure why they thought 2330 was a good time to be ringing round for potential employment cos personally i think its a pretty daft time to be ringing anyone for anything business related.

Yes me as well, asking for prices and size of vehicle. Dodgy?

After a quick google this came up UK Express Delivery Ltd, Queens Gate, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham, B1 1LX... I cant say ive ever seen one of there vans and im always in and out of this area plus its an office block that has vrs small businesses renting an office for a B1 postcode, chances are it was a company fishing around checking out the competition or has got a christmas multi dropping contract to fore-fill

Are these raising their ugly heads again.

I did get a text at 04.42 but ignored it.

This topic is all over another site as well, would seem that lots of O/Drivers are receiving the same text's

Uk express are the night trunkers that tend to drive in lane 3 at warp speed for the overnight networks

Now they have got lots of email addresses I hope this is not a scam to take down systems of courier companies.

I text them back and have got an e mail back, saying the have new contracts and are looking for night drivers and also multi drop. If interested the need to see copy of insurance, vat certificate etc.

Here's a copy of my insurance and vat certificate for them

They have been on Courier Exchange since may, but i'm very suspicious about this company as they have no feedback at all. Seems there quite a lot that have received this text, i'm feeling left out as I've not had one :( I will be replying with a high charge and see what they say lol

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

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Here's a copy of my insurance and vat certificate for them

Nice1 rob lol

Doesn't look like that hand has seen much work. Office finger nails.

East-Lancs Sameday Couriers Ltd said:

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They have been on Courier Exchange since may, but i'm very suspicious about this company as they have no feedback at all. Seems there quite a lot that have received this text, i'm feeling left out as I've not had one :( I will be replying with a high charge and see what they say lol

I think they may have joined just to get members details.

GJC EXPRESS COURIER said:

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East-Lancs Sameday Couriers Ltd said:

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They have been on Courier Exchange since may, but i'm very suspicious about this company as they have no feedback at all. Seems there quite a lot that have received this text, i'm feeling left out as I've not had one :( I will be replying with a high charge and see what they say lol

I think they may have joined just to get members details.

You could be right, an expensive way to get details but I suppose it won't matter to them depending if they intend on paying the drivers or not

No vans outside today. I was there twice ( for my sins )

I reckon its a very cheap way of getting access to what a lot of companies would pay a lot of money for

A E Delivery said:

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No vans outside today. I was there twice ( for my sins )

There vans will be parked up in carparks and industrial estates around the country while there drivers are either sleeping or sight seeing lol

I communicated with them and said they would pay 70pplm for a small van. Waiting for my info (will not get my insurance etc). Let you know what more they give me as its not really any good for me.

S & C Haulage Limited said:

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A E Delivery said:

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No vans outside today. I was there twice ( for my sins )

There vans will be parked up in carparks and industrial estates around the country while there drivers are either sleeping or sight seeing lol

True true but then we all have to wonder back to base with paperwork and whatnot so it becomes more likely you can spot `um around the area. Given chance next week i may even pop in just for a nose around

They don't seem to know the rules regarding spamming do they? I've never opted in to their email list and I receive unsolicited emails and texts all the time. I even spoke to one guy about rates and told him I'm not interested after hearing how much they're willing to pay (96p for xlwb) all during early hours. I said I get more than that for working days and that was that, yet they still send texts and mails. Everyone I know who has worked for them hasn't for very long.

Oddly enough just had a chat who has cone across this outfit before. Recons there ok payers but move about a bit as he didn't know they were there! So jury's out. Could be a company who's diligently working hard to secure as much work as poss or a shady outfit. As I find out ' stuff ' ill post it up

Yeah they are decent payers, I've worked with them for maybe 6-8 months now. They pay on time and the rate is pretty good, they keep me busy especially in the last few weeks. I have no issues with carrying on with them.

I did some work for them a few years ago. No issues and paid on time.

Interesting. Cant understand why they seem to be a bit shady about it all?

Tgey pay there own van drivers peanuts all the deiver are se and lease the van from tuem at an overly high rate the company also deducts fuel and insurance off them. The drivers are on mileage pay only and are were paid round trip around 40ppm wprk is mainly city link and royal mail over spill

Legrys Express Ltd said:

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Tgey pay there own van drivers peanuts all the deiver are se and lease the van from tuem at an overly high rate the company also deducts fuel and insurance off them. The drivers are on mileage pay only and are were paid round trip around 40ppm wprk is mainly city link and royal mail over spill

Have you had a liquid Lunch old Lad?

Legrys Express Ltd said:

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Tgey pay there own van drivers peanuts all the deiver are se and lease the van from tuem at an overly high rate the company also deducts fuel and insurance off them. The drivers are on mileage pay only and are were paid round trip around 40ppm wprk is mainly city link and royal mail over spill

Havnt got a clue what this means except wprk is c/link and royal mail, thats interesting though.

Search the forum its been on before

Have you had a liquid Lunch old Lad? Could not have put it better mesen. Thanks Gary spilt me coffee.

There are a few threads already about UK Express / Nightrunkers / Vizi Logistics. They carry tonnes and tonnes of Parcelforce and City Link next day to Scotland, because the artic's can't make it on their tacho's and speed limits. 99% of work is to from Coventry airport.

They do "have" hundreds of vans. You will see them all up and down the M6 every night. I was paid 45ppm round trip in a new Sprinter. If you get on their A list you can run to Inverness every night. They treat all their drivers like shit. Working for them is an exercise in sleep deprivation and bladder control. I made some good money but had to take a month off when I finished. To be honest not many drivers were speeding, the difference between 68mph and 80mph to Scotland is £50 in gas. I used to like the Belfast run, 55mph to the ferry, big feed on the boat, sleep all day in Belfast, another big feed on the boat and back to Coventry for breakfast, which was too late to be ordered off to Scotland.

They don't pay waiting time and loading time, which can easily be 4 hours a day. Combined with a few trips to Aberdeen and Edinburgh it can make for a very long week.

They have tonnes of work and long distance too. They always paid as promised on time. You can make money out of these guys, just don't say you were not warned!

Yes we been working on and off for them.. They do exist. A guy called Ray (chinese)guy runs it mainly with someone called Chris, but now City Link is going into administration lets hope we get paid... Time to revolutionise how the owner driver gets paid... Try calling a cab & asking him to wait 30days. They carry parcels as well most of them. A tradesman also... Most of our regular companies i have spoken to have no problem with us doing this now for the courier companies. Good luck to all with ties to City link.

UK Express will have to lay off about 30% of their van drivers now that City Link has gone belly up.

Nightrider, maybe not someone will need to take on all the extra work that City Link wont be doing, ether via DPD or UK Express new about City Link before everyone else and are going to try to muscle in, other companies will befit from City Link down full

ACB Couriers said:

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Nightrider, maybe not someone will need to take on all the extra work that City Link wont be doing, ether via DPD or UK Express new about City Link before everyone else and are going to try to muscle in, other companies will befit from City Link down full

Ah, thats a question in itself .

The idea works in that you can look and say theres 78 million drops up for grabs waiting for the competition to prosper but the reality is most over nighters are not doing great and if the work is spread across the top 10 then your only looking at a small % of extra drops each company. This would most likely be absorbed into the day to day work load without extra employees being needed and would simply prop up the present companys and keep the wolf from the door . Its very very unlikely they would require much beyond a few more trunkers . The bulk of the people from citylink would not be able to find work in the same field as there wont be a massive recruitment drive from the other companys . The warehouse was full of poles/easterners and the drivers were local lads . I guess the warehouse people stand more of a chance that the local lads of finding work but the subbies will struggle . There will be a glut of subbies looking for work so this will effect many many companys out there with no involvement in citylink .

They got free advertising again being parked up in City Link.

ACB Couriers said:

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Nightrider, maybe not someone will need to take on all the extra work that City Link wont be doing, ether via DPD or UK Express new about City Link before everyone else and are going to try to muscle in, other companies will befit from City Link down full

UK Express were sub contractors to City Link carrying parcels mainly to Scotland in Sprinters. They have just lost a contract worth about 30% of their work. They will have run hundreds of long distance XLWB van loads over Christmas for City Link, for which they may not get paid. I fail to see how this can be good for them.

I won't shed any tears for Ray and his crew. What goes around comes around.

It'lll get sucked into the system and other carriers will prosper. Can't see anyone buying a name

UK Express will survive CityLink, and probably strengthen themselves with choice work acquired from citylinks demise. I know guys who are still starting there so they cant have made to many cuts.

They're back, I got a text from them yesterday.

Andy McTighe said:

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They're back, I got a text from them yesterday.

Text them back with a daft high price, they will soon give up in the end

Speed Couriers Nationwide Ltd said:

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Can't say i have, but as its a pretty generic name.

I did get a call last night at 2330 from somone asking if we had any vacancies. Not sure why they thought 2330 was a good time to be ringing round for potential employment cos personally i think its a pretty daft time to be ringing anyone for anything business related.

Not a very good idea or maybe they were trying to show that they were available 24/7