If you're feeling a bit tired and jaded, why not have a smile with a few haulage work stories. Believe it or not - all of these are true! The poor shipping clerk sitting at his desk was desperately trying to explain to an irate client why their trailer load of critically important Italian imports was still sitting in Dover 3 days after arrival without a tractor unit to deliver it. The driver had in fact vanished upon arrival in the UK and there were now serious concerns for his safety.
Taking on courier jobs for a living can be an extremely rewarding and profitable profession. Of the many advantages of this type of work, the most obvious are the diversity, the ability to earn a good day's pay for a good day's work and, perhaps the most attractive perk of all, the independence and freedom of being on the road. Admittedly courier jobs aren't for everyone, but if you think it may be something you would like to take on, if you're a complete novice you probably have a few questions about the ins and outs of the profession. Here are just a few answers...
Expert Author: Lyall Cresswell | Category: Business No disrespect intended, but driving for haulage companies is a bit like being a snail...you take your home around with you wherever you go. It might not be your real home, but it certainly gets to feel that way when you spend so many hours in the cab. You might not be able to get home and just splodge on the sofa in front of the TV, but that doesn't mean that those stopovers have to be dull and boring. There are so many cool gizmos and gadgets on the market these days that can help you to while away a few hours.
Expert Author: Lyall Cresswell | Category: Business Driving for haulage companies might not seem like the most glamorous of jobs, but all you truckers out there should know that you're in great company! Not all of the world's rich and famous start out at the top, and there's more than a few who earned their living from driving before they hit the big time.
The Queen's Messengers must surely have one of the most plum courier jobs in the country. Employed by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, their work in delivering top secret and important documents (or indeed any other kind of material which is considered essential for use by a diplomatic mission), is shrouded in mystery and goes back hundreds of years.
No matter what business you're in at the moment, things are pretty tough out there with companies and private individuals trying to cut costs in every way that they can think of. Making sure that you get your fair share of owner driver jobs, therefore, means employing the right marketing tactics, and the cheapest and most effective tactic of all is networking.
As the clocks go forward an hour at the end of March, we may grumble about losing that extra hour in bed, but it is also a sure sign that spring is on its way. Those who are lucky enough to be driving around and about doing courier jobs at this time of year are fortunate in being able to see the signs of springtime all around them. Here are some of the best signs of spring that you'll see on the road.
When you spend the major part of your waking life in the cabin of a big rig (or even a little one for that matter) fulfilling contracts for haulage companies, it can sometimes get a little lonely. To relieve some of the solitude, it's not unusual for a driver to pick up a hitchhiker to help them while away the time. It's nice to have the company, and some drivers even forge lasting friendships with people they have met on the road. While it pays to err on the side of caution when it comes to picking up hitch-hikers, sometimes a driver is not always aware he is giving someone a free ride. Here are a few of the more unusual stowaways that have been reported.
On an island as small as Britain, it's very easy to stumble across one historic road or another whilst carrying out transport contracts. These ancient Roman roads or old trap roads intended for horse and carriage can tell us a lot about Britain's history. Here is a selection of my favourite roads in Britain; some of them have a past so interesting that I could almost forgive them for the odd traffic jam:
Every now and then, there's a high chance that your delivery work might take you over the waters into Europe. If and when you do cross the channel, there are a few rules of the road that are well worth remembering.
For commuters and those in the delivery and courier industry, traffic jams are part and parcel of the daily grind. But what are the causes of jams? Now there is scientific research to add to the anecdotal evidence of everyday drivers everywhere.
There are many reasons why people consider getting into the haulage industry: a life spent on the open road, the freedom of travelling around the country on various transport contracts, no need to spend all day in an office. But if you're thinking about getting involved in a career in long-distance haulage then you have to ask yourself one very important question: have you really got it in you? It's not all plain sailing, so here's a few things you might want to consider before your first transport contracts start to build up.
Drivers who get easily stressed are not the best candidates for courier jobs. The job can be tough, and you could find yourself coming up against some challenging scenarios. How do you cope in a crisis? Can you keep a level head? Even the most relaxed drivers get stressed sometimes, so here's a few techniques to help you keep your cool when working on courier jobs.
From trucks taking unusual turns on the motorway, to drivers packing a year's worth of delivery work onto one overloaded run, sometimes even the most practised road users get caught breaking the rules - or even breaking their vehicles.
Some people are heaven to drive with - other's can be hell! If you do self employed courier jobs, here are four kinds of people not to let near your van. No van is complete without a driver's mate sitting in the passenger seat, and if you do self employed courier jobs and you have your own van, from time to time you may have a driver's mate occupying the front seat. Perhaps you want the company, perhaps you need help with some of your work, or maybe you're doing someone a favour and taking their son out to work.
As we drive along the motorways, we see lorries of all shapes and sizes going about delivery work. But how often do we know what it is that is being delivered? Unfortunately, every now and then, a spillage will occur. This can be highly dangerous, not only due to the initial risk to the driver himself, but also in terms of traffic congestion, and residue on the road. We've unearthed some of the strangest substances that have been spilled from lorries over the years. Fortunately, nobody was hurt as a result of any of the following spillages but the message is, as always, to drive safely.
Getting the right drive time tunes can make or break a day. If you are running courier jobs, here are five great radio stations to get your day started. The radio is a driver's best friend - it provides news, some tunes to keep you entertained, and lets you know about a snarl up on the M25 before you end up stuck in traffic for hours on end. This is especially true for couriers - when you've got a long day of courier jobs ahead of you, you want to make sure you've got some good tunes playing.
The life of a long distance lorry driver can sometimes be lonely and monotonous and it's not uncommon to look for company and comfort in the bottom of a fast food bag. But, as many drivers find out to their detriment, getting into the habit of grabbing food on the go, or snacking on sweets and chocolates, can lead to strange thickenings around the waistline! Transport contracts, by their very nature, can mean that a driver may be on the road for two or even three meals a day. If you're going to be away from home cooking that often, it's important to make your food choices wisely, and the easiest way to avoid temptation is to plan ahead and take as much as you can with you.
Whenever you get a group of people together who drive for a living - be it carrying out transport contracts, couriering parcels, or delivering people in a mini cab - the talk is going to turn to the weird and wonderful stories that evolve from spending so much time on the road. Many tales are about the characters they've met at truck stops and cafes and many more are about near misses and disasters (always the other guy's fault of course!). Then there are the 'strange but true' (honest!) tales; the unexplained phenomenons, the ghostly encounters or the spooky UFO brushes with aliens. These are perhaps the most entertaining tales from the road but definitely to be digested with a large pinch
Each time you travel along the motorway, you are bound to see lorries lining the inside lane. However, what we often tend to forget, is that these lorries do in fact have a final destination. This could be down a narrow country road, up a very steep hill, or even in a place where lorries are not allowed, and yet their delivery work must be completed.
