And Its Goodnight from.......

[Noble Express Couriers]

Its official, after much deliberation...well after getting smashed with some mates and putting the world to rights, I have decided that I am definately getting the hell out of this game.

A number of factors contributed to my decision (and I hope all wannabees and newbees read carefully).

In no particular order:-

1. The long days and nights driving on our country's over crowded ad under-maintained road network.
2. The un rewarding slog of working all day for £40 some days (some days worse)
3. The constant dice with death due to other incompetant road users.
4. Metophorically being in an overcrowded nest where only a few get jobs, and even then theyl probably pay a pittance.
5. Not wanting to compete with every man and his van anymore - the fact is if they want to work for peanuts, let them.
6. Constantly wanting to smash my computer up everytime I get sent a job alert that reads something like "pallet to be in Rochdale today...From Birmingham...pays £40 C.O.D".....WHATEVER!!
7. Having all of your cashflow abliterated thanks to people not paying you on time. Which inturn makes me struggle to pay my drivers on time.
8. Dealing with the sales finance department of a particular famous high street bank.
9. Always having to go in at a ridiculous price just to get the work.
10. Any type of work exchange where you have to cough up extortionate fee annually.

Apart from that ive thoroughly enjoyed running my company - im proud that I gave it a good go and had it not been for differnt circumstances it would have been a roaring success.

Im not dissolving the company or bankrupting it - the courier company I have now will do all of the transport and deliveries for my new company. Obviously I cant tell you what it is because that would be advertising, but lets put it this way, I am going to be selling a product that every courier will need....roughly about every 10-15k miles

I dont regret one minute of being in the courier industry (apart from wishing I never started it haha ) Ive met some great people, some not so great, but its all part of charachter building. Ive shared some of my knowledge with others, and ive learned of others aswel, so its not all been a waste of time.

One bit of advice I would give to anyone looking to start in this game is think, just think really long and hard about whether your ready for this industry. Its great that you love driving, its great that you dont mind driving the length and bredth of the country...but sooner or later the fact that youl be earning about minimum wage will dawn on you and then something has to give....if id have stayed in this game much longer that something would have been my sanity in all fairness.

I would guess that there is about 8 couriers to every available courier job, a few years ago it was the other way round. You could charge good money for a good job, get paid and jobs a good'un. Now your lucky to even get the job let alone get paid for the buggger.

Well this is the end of the couriering but not the end of me - im off to do some more market research for my new company which is already formed and goes live on the 2nd August, so its exciting times all round really.

One thing I would like to say to my fellow couriers is Good Luck, because in all fairness thats exactly what youl need and some.

[A KIRK]

BEst of luck, looks like you have thought this through.

A good little write up for people to read.

Enjoy selling tyres

[IRMA777]

Yes some very hard facts of life which a lot of noobs need to read and digest. shame it had to come to this tho,by the way how long were you trading ?? All the best in your new venture.

[maverick]

All the best buddy

[MK BIKER]

all the best, is there much call for shrinks in Rugby?

[ian]

Well all the best in what ever your gonna do next. I have a couple of sidelines while things are quiet. but i really hope newbies take a good look and read what you've written. I dont usually read long posts like this, but i'm so pleased i did. Maybe your post will wake a few newbies up. its always a shame to see someone close the doors for whatever reason.
I have seen a sight where people post work (not an exchange site) but some couriers from the forums are already on there for one reason or another. the thing is....... a GARDENER is quoting for removal and courier work well 1 man n his . pickup needs another job by the looks of things. now thats what we're up against.
Well good luck again, and dont forget your still welcome to come on and have a moan. tbh you might give me some competition in moaning at the min

[Darren]

Well i'll get slated for this


but you will only ever get out of a business,and life for that matter, what you are willing to put into it .....

We can all blame others for our own faliure......

[ian]

totally agree Darren, but you have to admit they dont help things.
This is why we get the "how much" questions on here. Oh please dont get me started. i'm goin to bed

[Fridge]

Good luck buddy

I am shutting my business down on the 23rd July. Like you, people wanting things delivered in another part of the county for next to nothing. But also because of personal reasons. I am writing plans for another business venture, but that wont take shape for another couple of years or so.

Good luck

[Andrew Brown]

All the best pal it has been tuff recently but such is life good luck on your new venture take care

[slim]

Good Luck Noble. Good write up. Got the T shirt.

[Noble Express Couriers]

thanks for all the good luck wishes guy....damn Mr Kirk you are good!!

I dont look at it as a failure but more of a not wanting to fight a losing battle. im also a firm believer of you get out what you put in, but theres only so much you can put in (gamble in my opinion) in the hope that you will get something out of it....if that makes sense.

Anyhow im sure il still keep a keen eye on this forum, it does make good, frustrating, and happy reading all at the same time - thats what makes the forum unique - some of the humour and sarcasm on here is brilliant.

Plus I gotta keep me account active so all you guys can PM me when you require those things that im selling that couriers will need every 10-15k miles or so!!! haha (Note to Mods: Not that im advertising or touting for work!! )

Cheers again guys!

[freestyleminibus2]

Good luck,my fronts last 90k.

[675]

Sad to see someone who has made alot of effort and was professional having to throw in the towel.
I agree with your list, and I lay the blame to this situation of too many chasing too few jobs, mainly with the Freight Exchanges.
They has driven down prices, and enabled the e bay cowboy to prosper.

Good luck in your new venture.





Just hope your wise words will sink in with the 'I love driving and 'what should I charge' brigade, and make many new starters think again!


It wont though

[freddykrugger]

We were all 'newbies' and startin out at some point.

What is it with people?
ok I can see that more chasing less work will drive prices down, but hey, thats competition.
What gives people the right to a monopoly on the jobs?

I was advised not to enter this career when I started out 4 years or so, ago
but I went ahead cause it was what I wanted.
last year was probably the best I'd had, and the downturn this year I put down to the economy and not some man with van.

Everytime some new guy comes knockin on here, just please remember that probably was you at some point.



(Stands back and awaits abuse)

[Martyn Peters]

Good luck with your new venture, Its always a shame to see experience leave the industry, but it does open new doors for others, thats called life i think.

Times are hard at the moment but I also think that its down to the economy and the lack of confidence we have in the countries finances at the moment not down to the new starters. However saying that I firmly believe that this industry should be regulated a lot more to put a stop to people thinking that its easy money and starting up whenever they like without giving too much thought into what they are doing.

[steve jones]

Back in the day where the only maps we had was in paper and ink form,this alone would scare alot of people away from the job.Of course a much diffrent story now,even woman are in the job.
So in short the more skill we take away from the job the more weebles we get entering the job.

Best of Luck.

[freddykrugger]

[slim]

[slim]

[The Enforcer]

[Bluenose]

[steve jones]

[steve jones]

[ray valentine]

Goodbye and good luck,

My last set lasted 120K. so i wont be your best customer.

As to not being able to get a decent price for a job, this is as much to do with the exchange sites as the man and van?