Courier Business Stuff

Go and see a solicitor or at least Citizens Advice. I’ve not kept up with consumer law but i’m fairly sure that under these circumstances you can reject the vehicle as not fit for purpose and claim a full refund.

I could easily be wrong about this, but if it’s giving this much hassle it’s got to be worth getting some proper legal advice.
 

Posted under Vans

Paul, do you mean that the driver knew the weight of the goods but loaded anyway?

I think you’ve got your answer right there then. Unless (and I’m not actually suggesting that you would do this) you and the subcontractor mutually decided to ‘turn a blind eye’ to the fact that he would be a few kg over, or if you misled the subcontractor about the weight, then it’s entirely his fault and the costs are legally and morally his responsibility.
 

Posted under Legal Issues, Vans

someone wrote:The only people to object to sign writing are other couriers you sub from when they are paranoid or terrified your going to try n nick their customers

As I’ve said before when this topic is raised, I’ve always had sign written vans.
1) Its my/our business and I’ll promote it as I want.
2) More professional appearence, especially when you/your driver wears a matching uniform
3) Less hassel and more leniency from Police, Traffic Warden & Security Guards when tipping/parked on double yellows etc!

Do a search for the last time this came up and the majority went WITH the sign writing!

1) I think the only people that notice are other couriers
2) Only your own customer would notice anyway and just the uniform would create the same impression, as would a clean white shirt, a tie (clip-on for H&S reasons ), polished boots and just ‘clean’ overalls.
3) I agree 100%. How about ‘generic’ signwriting though? Express Sameday Courier – no logos, no phone numbers. That way you don’t get the bad driving complaints or the fake insurance claims either.

I don’t care much either way myself. Given the choice of a plain van or a company liveried van for some jobs the plain van might influence the choice under certain circumstances. I know that many other companies are strongly against their subcontractors having liveried vans though.

Posted under Courier Basics, Vans

Small vans: Fiesta, Astra, Combo, Berlingo, Connect, Caddy.

LWB Connect is just about a Midi van, Dispatch/Scudo is a Midi, Vito is borderline Midi/Transit, Traffic is borderline Transit/Midi.

If you’ve got a van smaller than a Berlingo (Fiesta/Astra) then check what the goods are before putting your bid in.

Posted under Courier Basics, Vans

Your speedo is allowed by law to over-read by 10% but never under-read. So the manufacturers tend to make them over-read.

Your satnav is probably more likely to show closer to your real speed.

Neither is likely to be 100% accurate, although the Satnav should be much more accurate most of the time – particularly on level ground.
 

Posted under Speeding, Vans

That’s my understanding of the situation Lawrence. In fact I’m surprised that your earlier vehicles are taxed on emissions to start with since there are no official CO2 emissions figures for them. 
 

Posted under Vans

Do they still have the GVW of the vehicle on them?

And while I’m on the subject, if anyone’s got a recent V5 for a Berlingo/Combo etc sized van, are they described as ‘car derived van’ or ‘panel van’ or something else?
 

Posted under Vans

It’s not helped by the old hands in the transport offices that have “LWB Transit carries 35cwt” engrained on their brains. Back in the day you really could expect your Mk2 Transit to carry 1750kg legally.

Posted under Vans