Food Courier Insurance
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Is food delivery a good job to get into?

Like every job much depends upon your own capabilities and ambitions. An important thing to remember though, about the food delivery business, is that it is not only growing rapidly but going through enormous changes, and is likely to continue to do so in the future. The opportunities for ambitious people to make a lot of money are there!

What kind of jobs are available?

There are two types of jobs; full-time ones in which you could be a salaried employee and part-time ones in which you would be part of the gig economy; self-employed with few if any benefits but with the chance to work your own hours and earn decent money in your spare time. full-time jobs are few and far between and are concentrated in the big cities, although Just Eat in particular plan to create a lot more.

As a part-time rider/driver you would, in theory, be able to name your own working hours. To be realistic though, apart from a few locations, there is little work available during the day so most of it comes during the evenings. Most delivery staff make themselves available for work for 4 to 5 hour shifts in the late afternoon.

What sort of transport would I need?

A bicycle or e-bike is the most economical way of getting around but you would have to accept that you would not get many deliveries done during a shift, and subsequently not earn as much, by relying on pedal power alone. In addition you would be unlikely to get the more profitable longer distance deliveries, and there would be a greater risk of food arriving cold, which could leave you open to complaints and eventually losing your job.

A moped or scooter is a favourite amongst most delivery staff; they are reasonably nippy and able to get through heavy traffic much more easily than a car could. A disadvantage of course is that you would be open to the weather and so waterproof gear would be essential.

A car would not only give you a more comfortable way of travelling but it would also be a lot safer for you. An accident involving a dented wing on a car could be one that caused serious injuries to someone on two wheels; and your own personal safety is something you have to consider very seriously.

In a busy inner-city area a car could very easily get stuck in traffic jams which could be much more easily negotiated by someone on two wheels. However if you lived in an area with light traffic you may appreciate the fact that you could carry more goods, travel further, and keep food hot for longer, whilst listening to your favourite music on the radio.

So; The choice of the best means of transport would come down to your budget, where you would be working, and your own priorities.

What sort of equipment would I need?

No matter what type of transport you choose you would need at least one waterproof, well insulated bag. If you're doing multiple deliveries you may need to have more than one bag, particularly if you are making deliveries for customers who require halal food, which must be kept separate from non-halal.

If you have two wheeled transport you will need a decent crash helmet, waterproof trousers and jacket, reflective strips, a smart phone and a phone mount.

How much would I earn?

This could vary enormously depending mainly upon how much effort you were to put in, which area you worked in, how much competition there was from other delivery drivers for the available work, and which type of order made up the majority of your deliveries. This is important since bigger outlets such as chains like McDonald's may get very busy, meaning that you have to wait for orders to be prepared for you, which can cut into your hourly earnings.

If you look on the various employee websites and read postings by food delivery drivers you will see claims of anywhere between £8 and £30 an hour, but these can vary enormously. It appears that the people who earn the most are those who are prepared to bend the rules and deliver food for more than one operator; this can increase earnings in the short term but could mean dismissal if caught out!

To sum up:

Delivering food could make a great second job, or part time one. If you could get a full time salaried job then so much the better. For unemployed people though there would be a huge extra benefit that isn't generally appreciated.

if you are applying for a job the prospective employer will want to know what work you have done previously. Now who would you employ: someone who was content to sit at home relying on state benefits; or someone who literally 'got on a bike'? I think the answer is obvious.

There is also another advantage. The fast food market is growing rapidly and it's good to get into an industry right at the start. There will soon be more opportunities not only in food preparation and delivery but also working on the high technology systems and marketing that make the whole thing tick. There are huge changes ahead and the future innovator may well be you.

First you'll need insurance though! Click on the link now and compare quotes.