Well, title sums it up really… I’ve been on the knowledge a couple of years, hopefully get my badge in a year or two, so I know the streets pretty well, and know how to handle a 600 in traffic… Been a postie for 6 years but its got way to political and its got me down to the point i’m definitely leaving, and because of my circumstances, getting out on the bike in town every day isn’t really a problem for me…
Anyway, can anyone recommend any firms to try and get in with, knew an ex-courier who recommend glh to me a year or so back, and i’ve heard a few good things from lewis day, may give them both a call monday moring and see where it gets me but having no previous experience myself of the courier circuits feel I’m going in a bit blind so yeah, any firms to look out for etc? and can anyone recommend a good insurance company for couriers?
As an ex courier I would suggest you reconsider being a bike courier, commuting to and from work is great. But riding 8 till 6 all day is a completely different game. In winter its a very very hard way to make a living.
A group of us were sitting around chatting as one of the couriers ended up wrapped around a post box after a car driver jumped a red light. He did live but spent 3 months in hosi… We worked out that on average you have a serious accident every 18 months (Based on 10 riders). As I had been one for 2 years thought it was time to change profession. That was serious accidents not the multitude of minor ones you have sliding down the road.
Unless your one of the favoured riders which you will not be, the money will be crap. Try van courier its alot safer
Thanks for the advice matey, I know what you’re saying, often out on the bike for those hours in all conditions, and it can be a killer… but as it turns out, at the moment, as you say money doesn’t seem to be there, and management in my current job seem to have chilled for now so will keep this on the backburner for the minute… but advice noted and much appreciated
Distance just doesn’t pay anymore on regular circuits. Get a 125cc auto to cut the running cost by 2/3rds would be my advice if your serious about trying it. ChazEDIT: give CDS a try, great bunch to work for
good advice already given, i was a courier for a while, i di about 9 months in total, with no off’s, some close calls but i was being watched i rekon!
i worked for Lewis Day Medical Service’s- Good Company to work for, enjoyed my time doing medical couriering, i liked the job just teh money wasnt there, or i juts couldnt earn enough.
i also worked for GLH, again a good company, bit smaller then LD but still good guys to work for, unliek a lot of courier firms they never ripped me off and are a good bunch of lads to work for.
Riding evreyday for a living is hard work, while your riding your also trying to rememeber where your going, which drop your doing first…and then you have to contend with mad cyclists, suicidal pedestrians, scooters and rush hour racers…its like commuting…but much more instense!! 10 hour days being commonplace.
i’m glad i no longer do it, but i do miss it a little bit, specially when the suns shining, i had some fun days.
Probably peaked in the 80s, I worked for West1 (amongst others). Started to die off around the turn of the 90s with ISDN, email killed it. I always stop & chat to the guys on the circuit even now and ask them how things are. The response is always the same: the work just isn’t there. Rates have hardly moved in 25 years, guarantees… if you can get one, are less than they were 25 years ago. Meanwhile everything has gone through the roof.
It’ll make you a better rider without doubt, better than any police class oner, but there’s a heavy price on that, too.
