Job as a courier / messenger?

It isn't easy, I will grant you that. My main comments are that:

• You are paid per parcel delivered rather than any minimum guarantee. As far as I recall I was earning an average of £2.50 to £3.00 per parcel. Rates could be different now. Do the maths to calculate how many you need to deliver a day to get to the wage you want. As I recall the most I did in a day was 45.
  
• It will take time to build up the ability to deliver a good number of parcels per day. You need to learn client locations and central London A-Z. You also need to develop a good relationship with your handler, so that they give you parcels (rather than giving it to any of the umpteen other couriers they handle).
  
• Being able to deliver multiple parcels from different clients to different locations at the same time is critical if you want to earn enough, so try to start doing that as early as possible.
  
• When you go to interview / start work make sure you clearly understand the protocol for communicating over the radio quickly and efficiently. Try and find a firm that starts you off with a radio rather than with you using your own mobile. They are more likely to be a serious operation.
  
• You need a large waterproof messenger bag. If you can carry 4-5 large lever arch files in it, it is probably big enough (although no bag is ever really big enough).
  
• Carry at least three spare tubes at all times.
  
• Make sure you eat well. I lost a stone in a month when I started out. In particular, make sure you eat a good lunch (or enough during the day). I found that my concentration could start to waver in the afternoon and that is when accidents are likely to happen.
  
• Clients treats you like you are at the bottom of the food chain. If you would have a problem dealing with this it is not the job for you.
  
• With summer coming there will be a surge in demand for jobs, so it may not be straightforward to find an opening immediately.
  

Nice.... sound advice T-V, thanks I will take it on board...

I only worked for about 4 months btw, so probably best to get further info from someone more knowledgeable.

T-V's advice is sound.

I couriered for a while many years back - its hard work make no mistake, the money is never as good as you expect it to be and it takes time & effort to build the relationship with your controller.

Yes, try and do multiple packages but equally don't hold onto one in the hope that you'll get another job going that way, get the jobs in, do 'em and move onto the next, over time you'll pick up tricks that enable you to do more at a time.

Expect to get dirty, wet and cold. You need to get to the office early and you'll work all day with little or no "official" break.

Its an evil nasty way to make a living, your bike will break, you legs will hurt and you'll hate your controller.

But....it can be lots of fun and when things are going well it might just be one of the best jobs ever.

Good luck!!

Thanks Brighton.... despite the knowledge that its a really tough job I am looking forward to trying it, I am no stranger to tough jobs (was a scaffolder for a couple years in between graduating and becoming a teacher) and have been feeling a proper need to be working outside again doing something physical recently. redundancy has in a way forced a decision I had been toying with making anyway...

Sorry, the site's been a bit unreliable, but should be working a little better.

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/forum/discussion/597/got-a-question-about-being-or-becoming-a-cycle-courier-bicycle-messenger-check-for-answers-here/#Item_0

The main thing I would add is that wages are as low as I can remember, and I started in 1986, so at a 25 year low.

Has the number of jobs dried up as well, or is the volume the same as five years ago?

what would be the average wage at this moment in time?

skully just did his first delivery...... to SE20. Ouch

Great job, shame about the CTRLers.

Has the number of jobs dried up as well, or is the volume the same as five years ago?

what would be the average wage at this moment in time?

Volume is down, and there is a lot of downward pressure on per job prices, particularly pedal bike - it's not uncommon for courier companies to offer £2 to the client (which translates to a pound or so to the rider) as a loss-leader.

I don't have current figures, but in 2003, the average was reported at £300. I would guess it's currently in the low 200s, and that's before tax, bike, clothing, holiday, sick etc all of which riders have to fund themselves. So a lot less than minimum wage.

I wrote this about courier wages in 2009:

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/ft-reckons-couriers-make-400-a-week-austin-horse-is-uninsured

I guess it has been steady downhill since 2007 when you could walk into most firms and they would take you on the spot. Funnily enough I remember delivering a job down Moorgate and seeing people queueing outside Northern Rock to take out their savings. Beginning of the end.

One of the kids in a school last week asked my how much I get paid. "About £30" was his guess. That I didn't have to say 'Yes, that's pretty near it' reminded me again how happy I am not to be a courier any more.

One of the kids in a school last week asked my how much I get paid. "About £30" was his guess. That I didn't have to say 'Yes, that's pretty near it' reminded me again how happy I am not to be a courier any more.

is that your way of saying you've got my £20 for those phil spacers????

Any time, would be nice to see you.

Remember, this is only my opinion, and I say it without apology:

Basically, getting a job as a courier is like signing up to go to war. Your at war with everything on the road: cars, peds, buses, cabs, bikes, commuters and yourself. I'm usually on the road in the morning for about ten minutes before another road user does something that fucks me off to the point I start shouting all manner of bollocks at them. By the same token, a lot of the things I do piss other users off, so its swings and roundabouts, and I try not to take anything personally.

If your emotionally unstable dont do it. If you like a beer during the day or a smoke, chances are you wont be as productive as the next man who doesnt.

My advice is, turn up at the firm you wanna ride for as son as their fleet dept opens in the morning, and get stuck in. Other couriers will give you advice, some of them will give you good advice, some bad. If your street knowledge is shit, you wont get hired, unless you cheat the test - this has been done by many riders but I wouldnt recommend you do it.

I've done it for two years and cant imagine doing anything else, the future scares the shit outta me as I'll never find a job this fun again.

Just dont work for my agency, we've got too many riders already.

Feel free to PM me with questions - but I might not have the right answers, this is all I'm gonna say for now.

Big up Moving Target, Bill, my controllers and fellow colleagues and all other working couriers worldwide you are all heroes, dont forget Donkey Derby tomorrow in the Horseshoe, Clerkenwell Close open to all working couriers. . .beers and shenanegans guarenteed

Just dont work for my agency, we've got too many riders already.

Ah, the line from every single courier known to man.

I know there have been a few threads on this matter already but I would quite like some up to date information.

I am taking a year out from university to do some serious travelling but I would quite like a job until Christmas, preferably as a bicycle courier in London.

I've applied to a few places and not heard back from and failed the geography test at CitySprint even though my London road knowledge isn't bad. Are there any smaller companies currently recruiting or bigger ones likely to take on a rookie? I'm not too worried about earning slightly less at a smaller company. Other than internet searches is there any other way I can get a job as a courier or get contacts in the industry?

Cheers,

Hugo

Indeed there are many threads on here.

Best bet is to go to Moving Target which is the couriers website.

August is pretty much the worst time to be looking - not much work to go around with a lot of city business on hold for the summer, and few firms will be looking to take on any more riders to spread what work there is even further. Things will pick up through September, so if you keep asking round you'll find a circuit before too long.

mate just go to courier systems they will take on anyone normally who can stand up...just as long as you don't mind not getting paid lol.good luck

You really are a waste of skin.

because i gave someone true advice ?