No matter how successful you are, as an independent courier driver you need always keep an eye out for new work. Here are four fresh ways to do this.
How many of us dream of being our own boss? The freedom of working for yourself, and hence working when you want, and how you want, is very alluring.
But there are particular stresses faced by the self-employed. Having a contract and having someone promising you a set amount of work provides a degree of security. When you work independently in the transportation industry, you must always be on the lookout for the next job.
Swim in a small yet busy pond
If you work as a courier driver you will no doubt know the basic means for getting work. The traditional methods of being reliable, staying competitive, and marketing yourself effectively are no doubt your bread and butter. But there are some innovative ways to make sure the jobs keep flowing to you. One is to be aware of how to find deliveries in a small but busy pond. It is easy to be drawn to markets and clients who stand out because they are targeted or advertised among big companies, but big companies mean stiff competition. If you can find niche markets that are relatively small, but have a consistent demand for work, you can tailor your business to be a big fish in these little ponds.
Keep in touch, 24/7
Opportunity spurns the ill prepared. Many a courier driver will regret being offered a job they were just not ready for at the time. A clever way to stay open to new opportunities is to be efficient with your online connectivity. New smartphone apps and online exchanges allow every driver, regardless of their technical expertise, to communicate with their co-workers, broadcast messages to potential clients, and be ready to converse with clients at any given time. This means when a chance to get work comes along, you can be ready to pounce.
Vary your clients
It is comforting to establish a solid client base, as these are the people who will not let you down. At the very least, they will not want to let you down. However, the changing nature of any market place means a courier driver should diversify their client base just in case they lose all the proverbial eggs they have placed in their market basket. By varying your clients, you'll not only get different kinds of work from different industries, you'll also open yourself to a broader set of possible contacts.
Invest in skills
It can be easy to be so busy chasing work that you don't spend any time preparing yourself to chase work more effectively. A courier driver may seem to need only a limited set of skills, but what with the variety of vehicular licenses, transport needs, delivery technologies and warehousing equipment on offer, it is vital for you to invest in your skills and training. This will enable you to have more work options.
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