Pricing for a flat rate courier job

We are often asked to quote for delivering items for a flat rate regardless of size around a certain area. For example just Essex, Kent and London, just the South of England, just England or anywhere in the UK are often areas we quote for.

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As we deliver in dedicated vehicles (we don’t tranship between vehicles) we know our courier service reduces breakages and our service is excellent. All our drivers are paid at least minimum wage and we have up to date software and satellite navigation systems to ensure that your packages are delivered safely and securely, and in one piece!

Often companies receiving quotes are only interested in a low price, they fail to take into account the cost of redelivery or failed deliveries, fuel surcharges or overweight surcharges, so when getting a quote these need to be asked about. Read the small print of the service level agreement before you send in your consignments.

Items over 35kgs will need two people to deliver the item, it’s health and safety guidelines and our drivers follow them. So asking companies to cut the size of the team down to deliver your goods could put them in a position where they decline your work.

Getting a quote for large quantities to be delivered in one area shouldn’t be like pulling teeth and as a customer you can get the best price for higher volume. Often courier companies will have a minimum volume amount, a sliding scale of prices based on volume is a sensible solution if times are quiet for your delivery needs.This means you will not be charged for deliveries that have not been made keeping your expenditure down and your courier company happy.

One thing that is important when delivering in bulk is that the information on your delivery notes is as accurate as possible. Often sales teams will fill out the purchase order without a real thought to the delivery address or contact details being fully filled out on the delivery notes. If you want trouble free deliveries made ensure that the full delivery address is included with postcode and a contact name and phone number for your customer is easily accessible.

Arrow Light Haulage has extensive experience in this field and is only too happy to advise your company regarding reducing your delivery costs whilst still staying as environmentally friendly as possible.

Sarah Arrow
Same day couriers at a flat rate

Collecting in Basildon, delivering in London? Parking in London

Today we are sharing a guest blog from @pimlico_flats, it’s something relevant to all us van and delivery drivers – parking in London.

Image by Dominic’s pics via Flickr

It’s serialised into three parts, here’s the first.

Parking in London

Parking anywhere in London is an art that requires skills that Londoners acquire from an early age. Parking is something that you either get right, or you lose your vehicle, so here are the 3 steps to delivering in London without falling foul of the authorities.

Know the rules. A No Brainer I know – but never the less if you know what you are doing you stand a better chance of succeeding.

1. Double Yellow Lines – no waiting at any time
2. Single Yellow Lines – look for a plate which defines what times are acceptable
3. Loading – local regulations apply. As an example where there are no additional restrictions (kerb markings) Westminster allows unlimited 20 mins loading in residents parking bays, and on yellow lines before 11:00 or after 18:30.
4. Yellow marks on the kerb – loading restrictions supercede the above.
   1. i. Two marks it means no loading (or waiting) at any time.
   2. ii. One mark it means no loading for a lesser period as indicated on the signs, or timeplates,
5. Double red lines – Stopping is not permitted at any time
6. Single red lines – Stopping is not permitted except at the times indicated by the signs
7. Red route clearway – Stopping is only permitted in lay-bys (red lines are only marked at junctions)
8. http://www.parkingforvans.com/loading_in_london/loadingandunloading gives you the local Loading Regulations

Nick Parkin M.A., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., Dip.Man.Tech.

Proprietor

Pimlico Flats

Office: 0207 630 5408

Thanks Nick, please look out for parts two and three later this week.

If you would like to post a guest blog here, please get in touch with Sarah – Sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.uk and mention guest blog in the subject line.

How to park in London and NOT get a ticket

Our guest blog from Nick Parkin owner of the Pimlico flats blog and community. Something we would all need to know, how to park in London and NOT get a ticket.

Image by sean dreilinger via Flickr

How to Deliver in London without collecting a ticket.

1. Make it obvious you are loading/unloading – leave an empty cardboard box in a loading place. Having said all that – I did see a joiner cutting plywood from the back of his van, he cut a piece – took it in to nail it up and came out to find he was clamped! If you are present and loading a warden will probably speak to you instead of ticketing.
2. For an easy life find a loading bay, or ask your delivery destination if they have a bay you can stay in temporarily.
3. If you have no alternative but to stop illegally – be unobtrusive. If you double bank you will stand out for as far as there is a line of sight and draw wardens in from far and wide.
4. If you have no alternative but to stop illegally – be inoffensive. If you block traffic, neighbours, or are dangerous, you may face more than just a ticket.
5. Check Doorways, the private parking wardens hide near commercial delivery points.
6. Keep an eye out, in busy areas you may need to see your van every 60 secs. In quiet residential areas of central London the longest you can expect to survive illegally parked without a ticket is around 15 mins.
7. Ask bystanders to watch your van for you, but be sure that you are within shouting distance.
8. You stand a better survival chance close to the end of parking restrictions, and are most likely to be ticketed at 09:00 – 10:00.

Nick Parkin M.A., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., Dip.Man.Tech.

Proprietor

Pimlico Flats

Office: 0207 630 5408

Thanks Nick, some great tips

If you would like to post a guest blog here, please get in touch with Sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.u

Delivering - what to so if you get a ticket whilst unloading

A guest blog by Nick Parkin from the Pimlico Flats blog and community (you know where to go if you need to rent a property in London, Nick knows all the ins and outs!)

Image by Ange Soleil ( a.k.a Tweng ) via Flickr

What to do if you get a ticket whilst loading / unloading in London

• If a parking attendant or traffic warden finds a vehicle parked on a yellow line without seeing any loading or unloading taking place a parking ticket will be issued. It is for the driver of that vehicle to demonstrate that he or she was loading or unloading, the shorter the observation period of the parking attendant or traffic warden the easier it will be for the motorist to claim that an exemption applies

• It is reasonable to expect that deliveries of smaller items should take less time than those of larger items and hence there would be a greater burden on the driver to justify a lengthy absence from the vehicle. Drivers making a delivery in the course of a trade or business will, in the majority of cases, be able to produce some form of documentation in the event of a ticket being issued.

• Get witnesses – I once received a ticket from a Westminster Council Warden, and quoted a Police Traffic Warden as my witness against the ticket, WCC kindly reversed the fine.

Nick Parkin M.A., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., Dip.Man.Tech.

Proprietor

Pimlico Flats

Office: 0207 630 5408

Thanks Nick, much appreciated.

If you would like to post a guest blog, please get in touch with Sarah – sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.uk