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Originally Posted by Road_Warrior
Put simply, I'm over my public service job. Dealing with the argumentative BS and abuse from "customers" has done my head in to the point of having anxiety attacks, so I'm looking for either a reclassification or a new career path, if only for a little while.
I enjoy driving, and courier work has attracted my interest. I know next to nothing about the industry, the conditions, pay, hours expected or whatever, so here I am turning to the great knowledge base to find out a bit more. Have you done it or are you a courier at the moment? Any good or give it a miss? Anything in particular I should know? I'm located in metro Perth if that helps.
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I do delivery work (some may call it a courier position) that is a set defined area in which I work for a major international company.
Most of the major transport companies now use agents (owner drivers) to do all of their courier work , this includes Toll express , TNT , AAE & Startrek , Allied , Fastway is franchise as is Couriers Please - major internationals UPS & DHL are just starting using contract drivers to do their runs , Fedex use company drivers:
My experience (6 years) has been split between "set runs" and "ad hock courier work" - ad hock is a point to point courier job and there are many companies that supply owner drivers with constant work - Direct couriers , Bonds express , Kings - look in the yellow pages for more.
You will need to purchase a Van - the best option is a 2 tonne with barn rear doors as this gives you the capacity to carry pallets and gets you more good paying work .
I'm on the other side of the country but the work is the same everywhere - The Mercedes Sprinter and VW Crafter are probably the pick of the Vans - the Iveco and Transit are at the bottom of the list , Toyota don't do barn doors , Fiat has been advertising good deals on their Vans and Renaults are also out there at reasonable prices , Renault and Fiat are front wheel drive which is a minus to many people and the Ford Transit is just bloody awfull but the engine has good torque - the company that I contract to has up till now used the Transit but are waiting on delivery of a new fleet of Sprinters .
One doesn't need much inteligence to be a courier driver , however the smarter ones get the better jobs .
The going rate here in Brisbane is between $22-$24 per hour for a one tonner (hourly hire) and $26-$30 for a 2 tonner (hourly hire)
Set run $$ are what you can negotiate with the Courier company including minimum hours for the set run = some days the run may take 9 hours and other days you are finished in 5 hours but you still get paid for 9 hours.
Can contact me if you want to know more as it is a bit of a minefield out there .