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Should I Become a Self-Employed Courier Driver?

Written by | 18-Jun-2018 12:55:15

You’re a fairly experienced driver for a delivery company. You know the score. You’re used to spending your working days in relative solitude. Is it time to take the leap to become a self-employed courier driver?

Working for an organisation is a great way to develop skills in a secure environment. It’s also a great way to do some industry espionage. Savvy employees will be alert and keep an eye on how all aspects of a delivery business is run so that one day they can be their own boss. There are a number of reasons to make this move: we highlight a few of the best below.

Be Your Own Boss

You pick the jobs you want. These days the value of flexible working hours is priceless, and as a self-employed courier driver you are no longer at the mercy of the fleet manager or dispatcher. 

Offset Costs

Your base ‘depot’ will be your home and so a proportion of your home expenses will be tax deductible (gas, electricity, water etc) since this will be where you manage your office. Plus there will be no more petrol bills for commuting to work – your deliveries will start and end from the parking space outside your house.

Develop Your Skills

One of the most exciting aspects of being a self-employed courier driver is the chance it gives you to develop your skill set, take on new challenges and grow massively in experience. To succeed you will always be finding new ways to improve your efficiency and meet your customers’ demands.

Earn More

It will take some time to establish yourself and to increase your ROI, but be patient – it’s worth it. You can expect to earn up to 45% more than an employed driver. Learning to make use of networks like Courier Exchange will help you maximise your profits. Taking on return loads as often as possible will double the return on your costs.

Are You Brave Enough?

Going the independent route is something you should do if you want to get your teeth into a satisfying challenge. It’s not something you should do if you’re looking for an easy life or because you hate your boss.

You’ll need grit, determination and masses of energy but you’ll be investing in your independence and your career development.

If you are a self-employed courier driver or you are thinking of becoming one, feel free to get in touch with us for more information on how you can grow your business as a member of our exchange network.