Author: News Desk

Delivery Driver Robbed, Sacked and Charged

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Becoming a delivery driver has become quite popular in this day and age. Many people have vans, and they are making money with them it seems.

Amazon are one such company who are always on the lookout for self employed courier drivers. Millions of packages are delivered every day and they don’t deliver themselves now, do they.

It is the courier drivers around the nation who are busy going from door to door and making sure Mr Jones and Mrs Smith get the items they ordered. On time and in one piece.

One courier driver didn’t have that much luck though, on this particular day not so long ago which seemed just like an ordinary day…until, one of those criminal gangs came out of nowhere and proceeded to rob him of all 62 parcels that were in his van that day.

Make no mistake about it, these criminal gangs are organised and efficient. One minute they are not there, and then they are there, and in no time at all they are gone…with the loot of course.

This courier driver, through no fault of his own had been stripped of the main assets of his van, but at least he managed to stop his van being stolen as well.

However, after reporting back to base the delivery driver found his superiors not very sympathetic at all, to the point where they were actually pointing the finger of blame directly at him.

That’s right. Gone are the days of being an innocent victim of crime. It appears we are now in the days where even if you are stolen from then you are to blame.

At this point it is probably worth mentioning that although this courier driver was delivering parcels for Amazon, it was actually another company he was getting the work from. Kind of like a sub contracting deal no doubt.

Anyway, what proceeded to happen was that after being robbed, the courier driver then had the second blow of the day…he was sacked. This company did not want any parcels going missing, and if they did, well, you get your P45 right away.

Not only that, but about a week later this driver got a text from the company saying that he was being charged for the stolen packages and that it would come directly out of his wages.

Not only was this guy robbed, but he was also sacked and charged, and is now probably in a position where he is considering a career change.

That is why I always advise any courier driver…make sure you know exactly what happens if you are robbed while on the job.

Obviously in this story the company hiring the driver didn’t offer him courier insurance as part of the job, which means he should have sorted it out himself.

Anyone can compare courier insurance right here at the nations favourite van insurance website. All you need to do is fill in the simple 3 minute form and then get quotes from around 40 companies.

Can’t Stand The Heat…Get Out Of The Van, Man

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Self driving vans are all over the place…California, New York, Tokyo, Slough. Are they having it too easy though? A bit too…temperate.

The company Waymo, who are owned by Google and have been testing self driving vans all around the world, well, they seem to think all of their testing has been on the “easy setting,” and that is why they have decided to move on to pastures new.

Where exactly…perhaps Benidorm or Aya Napa? Places where the sun shines year round and the self driving vans would get a bit more heat.

No they are going even more extreme than that. Forget about the Costa Del Sol…the place where it really gets cooking is in the Nevada Desert.

Some parts of the desert over there in Nevada reach temperatures that would make your average white van man be forced to take off his socks. The shorts and vest would stay on of course, complete with a hat to keep their head out of direct sun.

Perhaps the ice cream vans of Britain could find a new trade in the desert of Nevada? I’m sure there would be a big queue for 99 cones once the midday sun came out and temperatures reached 50 degrees Celsius

While Waymo are testing in Nevada to see how the vehicles react, the one thing I think they should be testing for is how the average white van driver would react.

We all know that warmer weather tends to bring out their more aggressive side…the summer of rage, it was called.

How would they react in the heat of the desert? Putting them in the situation would be the only way to get our answer, but what I do know is that if they could access the Nations Favourite Van Insurance Website then it would go a long way to making them more chilled out.

I would imagine your average white van man, so to speak, would get a bit hot under the collar while navigating around the emptiness of the Nevada desert.

Of course, it would be the self driving Google van doing the driving, but that wouldn’t stop the agitation, if you ask me.

Even if it was a mirage they were seeing over yonder, of a cyclist swerving out and acting like they owned the road.

I’m sure that would soon get their attention, and even after finding out it was just their minds (and the desert) playing tricks on them, I’m sure there would still be a bit of swearing and fist banging.

All out rage? Maybe not. As long as they have access to Wi-Fi then they can always access Cheap Van Insurance to get quotes, even in the Nevada Desert.

December is Over…Insure Your Van NOW!

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All through the month of December van owners were being warned to NOT insure their van. “Just don’t do it,” they said.

Who exactly? Experts of course, who after going through the van insurance prices for every month of the year, they found that December was the most expensive time to get a quote and sign on the dotted line.

Fortunately, December the 31st has now passed and the drunk behaviour of New Years Eve is beginning to turn to plain sobriety, and this means one thing and one thing only…buy van insurance right NOW!

That’s right. If December was the month for buying Christmas presents then January is most definitely the month for buying van insurance.

Research found that in January and February you will automatically save, on average, around 20% for van insurance compared to the exact same policy in December.

Not only that, but if you visit the nations favourite van insurance comparison website first, then, get ready for even more potential savings.

Why such a change in price anyway, after all, it is only a new month? According to experts, it has something to do with the fact that van insurance companies like to relax a bit during the month of December, which means when it comes time for a van driver to get a quote there is less competition between the companies, leading to more expensive prices.

Then January comes around and all of those van insurance companies are done with putting their feet up…what they want now is some action and they are determined to get it.

Action in the form of new customers and more money of course, and what happens is that the industry becomes extremely competitive.

It is the van owner who wins. The average van driver who just wants a fair price. The white van man or woman, so to speak, who are the foundation of this very country.

Well, to all commercial vehicle owners in the UK, get ready to save 20%, 30%, 40% or even 50% on your van insurance, because right now is the best time to get started.

What better place to get started than right here at Cheap Van Insurance? There is no better place, as we have not been called the “Nations Favourite” for nothing.

“OBEY!” is what we say when it comes to the opinions of experts, and if they are saying “buy van insurance in January,” then you should stop thinking and just “OBEY!”

All you have to do is fill out the simple 3 minute form right here on our website and you instantly get quotes from around 40 van insurance companies.

Introducing…The White Van Woman

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I’ve spoken a lot recently about the so called “white van man” but reports are suggesting it is the “white van woman” that should be getting attention.

All the headlines have been about destruction, anger, drunkenness, and home movies…the “winter of unrest,” it has been called. White van men unchained.

However, a recent survey quite clearly shows us that 32% of van purchases are now made by women. Will they soon be making headlines with incidents of rage and unrest? Who knows, they might do.

One of the reasons for women getting behind the wheel of the traditional white van is because they are being used for more varied pursuits.

For example, nearly 1.5 million households have at least one van parked in the garage or on the drive, and almost half of those people admit they use it for both business and pleasure.

So a self employed business woman may very well use the van for driving around with stock during the week, and then load it up with a couple of bikes at the weekend to go and enjoy a bike ride.

Research also shows that women like to buy vans such as Ford Transits and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, so they can travel about in style. White is the preferred colour, and Cheap Van Insurance is their favourite comparison website.

There is also more women who are getting into trades such as building, roofing, plumbing, delivery driving, and carpentry. I’m sure they all consider Cheap Van Insurance to be the number 1 website.

Applying for C1 and C1E licences is something else that women are starting to do more of, so they can start driving vehicles that are considered to be heavy…between 3500 and 7500kg.

This all benefits the van industry of course, where van sales are the best ever and van accessories are big business.

It’s estimated that between January and October of this year there are around 10.5 million internet ads relating to vans being clicked on per month. Business is good and it looks like it is only going to get better.

Sure, we talk a lot about the negative side of the van industry on this blog, what with rage and unrest…and ice cream cones being thrown around, but when it comes down to it, the news is very much good.

It becomes even better when you visit Cheap Van Insurance to get your next quote, because you instantly get to compare around 40 companies, and then it becomes easy to choose the best one.

The Winter of Unrest – White Van Drivers Unchained

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Just when you thought it was safe to go out on the roads again, the so called “white van man” has been unchained and is coming to a place near by.

Experts are calling it the “winter of unrest” where drivers of those white vans that are so commonly seen around our roads have decided to start acting out again.

All out rage? Maybe, but this is more like a discontent that can only come during those winter months. I thought that van drivers were more chilled around this time of year…I was wrong.

Take the story of a white van man who went on a crusade of destruction in a quiet residential English town. 5 stationary cars took a hit that day, as well as innocent garden walls and a shop.

It was the beginning of this winter of unrest, that’s for sure, where Police estimate many thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused that day.

8 Police cars rushed to the scene with sirens blazing, no doubt, and a state of the art helicopter was hovering above tracking the van driver as he fled on foot, running away from the havoc his van had wreaked on that quiet street.

Why did he do it? If the Police ever find him then he may very well give us some clues when questioned. Maybe the word “unrest” will appear in the official transcripts. Who knows for sure.

What about the age old rivalry between white van drivers and cyclists, has that been a spark during this winter of unrest? Yes it has, unfortunately, in an incident that was witnessed by a pedestrian on the street although there was no mobile phone footage.

Instead, it was a quick incident that happened and before you know it, the van driver was fleeing the scene…fleeing away from the act that had just been committed, a pensioner being knocked from a bicycle.

It seems the van driver got annoyed with the cyclist and then, without warning, rammed him from behind.

According to the bystander the cyclist was not injured and Police have commented that no incident has been reported, but it just goes to show you what van drivers are potentially capable of in this winter of unrest.

Of course, it’s also Christmas time and a time when workers like to go out and enjoy a drink or two after a hard day doing things. However, for one particular white van man as they are called, a drink or two turned into several and then he proceeded to drive his van home.

Not directly home though. He took a scenic detour while under the influence and then decided it would be a good idea to drive full speed through a wall and into a garden. A few too many pints then, and a lot of “unrest,” but fortunately this guy has been found guilty in a court of law.

Is it all about destruction, violence and dangerous driving though, or are there other ways this “unrest” has been seen among the white van community this winter? One incident stands out.

An incident that the driver would have got away with, had he not filmed it on his phone, and the footage later found by Police.

They were at his house for a totally different reason you see…it had nothing to with the winter of unrest, but, when searching they found footage that has led many to refer to this van driver as…

“White Hand Man!”

I won’t go into details about exactly what was on that footage, but what I will say is that it was done while he was speeding along the motorway. I’m sure you can fill in the rest of the details yourself.

Perhaps he had visited the nations favourite van insurance comparison site and got cheap quotes that would make anyone happy, but then that feeling of “unrest” came on again, and he decided to activate the video camera on his mobile phone.

Who knows for sure, but what I do know is that we must now look forward to a new year and hopefully a step away from rage and unrest. A time for the so called white van men to change their ways.

Ford Want Self Driving Vans on the Road by 2021

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One topic I’ve talked about on this blog quite a bit is self driving vans, everyone is interested about them. Well, Ford could be first to market.

The self driving van market that is, which is expected to be worth billions of pounds in a very short amount of time.

Builders, roofers, delivery drivers, electricians, and trades people all around the country are waiting with baited breath…wondering just when one of these driverless machines will become available to buy.

The popular and well known motor company Ford are one of the major brands vying for a piece of the market, and from what I’ve been hearing they are right at the forefront of technology.

So much so that a recent statement by Ford mentioned that a self driving van could be on the market by the year 2021. The future is nearly here, it seems.

According to experts, one of the main reasons why Ford are potentially ahead of the competition when it comes to self driving vans is because they already have many years of experience in the commercial market.

Not only that, but they also own a major share in a company called “Argo AI” which many are calling the best self driving sensor hardware out there right now.

This type of Artificial Intelligence will soon be driving the van, while the owners themselves will be able to put their feet up, read the paper and enjoy a ham sandwich without being disturbed.

In my opinion, I think self driving vans is going to be a good thing for van drivers, especially the so called white van man who has been known to lose control and fly into a rage at times.

Being able to put their feet up and relax will no doubt go a long way in reducing that anger that can sometimes erupt. Who cares about a traffic jam or annoying cyclists when you are browsing social media and drinking a cup of tea? Many van drivers won’t, I’m sure.

Interestingly, Ford have been working closely with Domino’s Pizza in this self driving venture, as they look to better understand what companies want out of vehicles that have to make deliveries.

Does this mean that UK delivery drivers should start writing their resignation letters? Absolutely not, because while Ford may very well have a driverless van in 2021 that could take over the role of doing the actual driving, there will still need to be someone there to make the deliveries and take over when there are any glitches. I’m sure there are going to be many of those during the first few years.

It’s the robots that delivery drivers should fear if you ask me. Once robots start getting in the drivers seat then the traditional human delivery driver could find themselves out of a job. We are all friends now though, for now.

The good news is that in 2021 van drivers will be able to visit the nations favourite van insurance comparison website to get the best quotes. Just fill in the simple form and instantly compare around 40 van insurance companies.

Supermarket Delivery Drivers Make Up To £12 An Hour

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The time for making money as a supermarket delivery driver is right now. Customers need shopping delivered, and supermarkets need drivers.

It’s the perfect match and many of our nations supermarkets are on the hunt for delivery drivers who are polite, friendly, and of course…good drivers.

How much do these drivers get paid you might wondering? More than you would expect, especially if you are lucky enough to get hired by one particular supermarket.

Ocado to be exact, who are willing to pay up to £12 an hour just for you to get in one of their vans and deliver groceries to their millions of customers.

What about Asda, are they worth working for as a delivery driver? They certainly are, with the average pay at roughly £8.50 an hour but this also includes a competitive bonus package and discount for when you do your own shopping.

In return you must be a people person and also have no trouble driving a 3.5 ton automatic van. If you have more than 3 points on your licence then forget about it, because Asda don’t want your application.

The same can be said for Tesco who also don’t like to see penalty points on your licence if you are applying to be one of their delivery drivers. They do like to see a full driving licence though which must have been held for at least 12 months.

If you become a delivery driver for Tesco then expect to get a full workout each and every day because they get you doing other things as well. Things like checking the baskets and loading up the van…they might even get you on the shop floor stacking shelves.

The main job is driving of course, where you will be expected to be a safe and courteous driver who treats every delivery of shopping as if it was your own.

Another supermarket that is always on the lookout for delivery drivers is Sainsbury’s, who are not as strict as Asda when it comes to points on your licence, they don’t mind if you have 6, but they are more strict when it comes to experience, they want 3 years of driving experience.

If you start driving one of the Sainsbury’s vans around UK roads then expect to be compensated with £8.20 an hour for your time.

Should you even consider supermarket delivery driving though? It was only a couple of months ago when I reported how robots are soon expected to take over this kind of role, especially once vans become self driving.

In my opinion this won’t be for a few years yet, which means you should go ahead and apply to your local supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Ocado.

Delivery driving is a boom profession right now. A real gold rush. There are many self employed positions in the courier industry as an example.

Just make sure you get the correct van insurance if you are going down the self employed route, something which you can find right here at this site.

Covea Go After White Van Men

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White van drivers have gotten a bad rep recently. If they are not ripping off car doors they are threatening cyclists. The Summer of Rage, it was called.

Now winter is here and most white van men are sitting in their vans with warm blankets and flasks of tea. A few hours of work here and there, but no time for all out rage…wait until the warmer weather for that.

Despite the reputation of the white van man being less than desirable a van insurance company by the name of “Covea” have decided to launch a new insurance product designed specifically for van owners who own the popular white vans.

It will be branded under the name “Your Van” and will also be made available to brokers so that everyone around the country has the opportunity to take a look at what they have got to offer.

“Contrary to what many people may say about the white van man our experience shows that commercial vehicle is a market with a solid performance,” said a spokesperson for Covea.

Perhaps they have been reading the blog right here at Cheap Van Insurance, where we often report on the exploits of the average white van driver as they rampage around the country (and get some work done as well of course).

Sure, there are a few stories that might not exactly paint white van drivers in a flattering light, but in my experience they are a good bunch who provide a valuable service to millions.

Where would you be without that Argos delivery this Christmas or what if that kitchen extension never got built? It is the white van owners of this nation who keep things on the straight and narrow, if they suddenly disappeared then it would be…CHAOS.

Not only that, but recent telematics data from a company called Quartix shows us that white van drivers are in fact, the safest drivers in the UK.

They might very well explode in fits of rage when put into the wrong situation, but when it comes to driving at the speed limit and keeping their hands at 10 and 2, well, they are the group that van insurers want as their customers.

That is why it’s no surprise that Covea are going after the white van man, but should the white van men even consider this particular company? In my opinion, no.

That’s not to say that Covea and their new product “Your Van” is not very good, it’s just that there is only one place that white van drivers should look for the best van insurance in the country…the site you are on right now.

Don’t Defrost Your Van Insurance This Winter

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It’s that time of year again, where morning temperatures are mostly in the minus and van drivers around the country are defrosting windscreens.

Police have recently taken to the airwaves in a bid to warn van drivers about the dangers of not defrosting windscreens correctly and leaving their van unattended

For example, did you know that if you are pulled over by Police this winter and you still have ice on your windscreen, then the Police officer will instantly slap a £60 fine on you? They are just doing their job.

Also, were you aware that if you leave the engine of your van running on the roadside while defrosting the windscreen, the Police officers have been instructed to give you a £20 fine? With all these fines, van drivers will be going without ham sandwiches and flasks of tea before too long.

Perhaps most alarming of all is the message from Police, that if your van is stolen why you were defrosting your windscreen, and you had just nipped into the house to “warm up for a bit,” then your van insurance company probably won’t pay out.

That’s right. Thousands of pounds worth of your property could disappear into the cold winter morning and there is not a thing you could do about it. Your van and power tools just gone, leaving you to start all over again…or go down the local job centre.

The message here is clear if you ask me…do not leave your keys in the ignition while defrosting the windscreen, especially if you plan to leave the van unattended, even for a few seconds.

Gangs of van thieves are everywhere right now, patrolling the morning streets of the UK just looking for that one opportunity. They are organised, quick, and fearless, and will think nothing of taking away everything you have worked hard for over the years.

This has led the Police to give out advice on what van drivers should be doing on those cold and freezing mornings.

Firstly, make sure you give yourself enough time to defrost your window. One of the main reasons why people get it wrong in the first place is because they are rushing.

Secondly, be prepared by using a windscreen shield overnight, and then in the morning, get rid of the ice with a basic scraper. Don’t turn on your engine and then leave the vehicle

Unfortunately, I think many van owners are going to ignore this message from Police, which means this winter could prove to be costly for many of our nations tradespeople and delivery drivers.

With that being said, you can make it not so expensive, and even a bit cheaper, by using a van insurance comparison website. Simply fill in the form and then get instant deals from around 40 companies.

Vans in The Village Not So Safe, Anymore

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Theft from vans is a daily occurrence in cities and towns around the UK, we know that for sure, but the quiet village? It’s not so quiet right now.

Instead, if you take a walk around any village in the UK at night and in the early hours of the morning, then if you listen closely you will hear the sound of ambitious van thieves going about their trade.

The most common target for these thieves is power tools, that are often left in the back of vans by tradespeople such as builders, roofers, electricians, carpenters, and welders.

Back in the good old days your typical UK village was a safe haven from the nightly crimewaves that were gripping cities and towns.

You could park up your van in a country lane, go to a local village pub with your mates, and then when you got back everything would still be there…power tools as well.

These days, if you park your van down a country lane and go for a walk across the local farm, then by the time you get back your van will have been stripped bare, to the point where all you will be left with is the wellington boots on your feet.

Take villages in Cambridgeshire as a recent example, once safe and picturesque places to visit but now a prime target for those van criminals.

Between October 17th and 24th there was a reported six incidents of van crime in just two Cambridgeshire villages, where an estimated £8000 worth of power tools were stolen.

Police in the area are advising the public to be vigilant, and if they see anyone acting suspiciously then contact them immediately.

The problem is that these criminal gangs are so organised, and so well versed in what they do…that they are often in and out before anyone knows they were there.

Even if you do see something or catch them in the act on CCTV, the Police are typically so slow to respond that it isn’t even worth the bother. The van criminals are long gone before the cops show up…back to their base in the city where the loot can be offloaded.

“Just let your van insurance company take care of it,” a normal response might be from the Police, and ideally that is what would happen.

However, many tradespeople are deciding not to insure the contents of their van, which means when power tools go missing they have no cover. They have to be replaced out of their own pocket.

My advice to any van owner in the villages around the UK is to make sure you are fully covered for everything you keep in your van. This means power tools of course. Use a van insurance comparison website site to get the really cheap prices.

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