Author: News Desk

Takeaway Delivery Driver Goes Viral on TikTok

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Fame. It may not be every delivery driver’s dream, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) for some, you may end up getting it anyway. All it takes is a short clip (around 15 seconds) and some musical talent from our now famous delivery driver. 

The clip, which has gone viral on a social media app called Tiktok, has gained 1.8 million views so far. The video continues to gain traction and more and more people are acknowledging the talents of the blessed takeaway driver.

As you may know, when placing an order for a takeaway online/through an app, you are able to provide additional details. These details could be crucial for the delivery driver. For example, if you can only choose from an option of Flat 4 as your door number… when there’s actually a Flat 4A, 4B and 4C. 

However, this particular user on Tiktok (@kfresh420kickit), decided to upload his first video showing his hilarious demand for his food delivery. He asked the driver to:

“Knock a cool beat so I know it’s you and not a bad guy.”

Not your everyday delivery instruction, huh?

You can view the viral clip below: 

@kfresh420kickit♬ original sound – kfresh420kickit

Now, we’re willing to bet that takeaway shops and delivery drivers get strange requests like this all the time. Perhaps, asking the chef to write their favourite joke on the inside of their pizza box. Or, to climb in through the window and deliver the Amazon goods straight into the kitchen. We’re sure they’re a lot more interesting than that, too.

In this case, the brave driver delivered the tasty goods, as well as a barrel of laughs, by singing and thumping a drumbeat on the door. Okay, we’ll be honest, it isn’t like the poor fella is the new Mozart, Eminem or even Justin Bieber, but he can definitely drum along to the tune of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. And successfully, too. Surely that’s talent, otherwise, we don’t know what is. If you’re not sure what song that is, you can listen to it here.

If your dreams don’t quite involve fame, singing or dancing, you can keep it real right here. Or, if you’re thinking about becoming a delivery driver and need to insure your van, simply get a quote by filling out this form (singing a tune not required).

A nation divided: are you tickled pink or seeing red?

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Ignore the terrible colour puns, but we’d be telling a white lie if we said we didn’t smirk whilst writing it.

Last week we had drivers versus e-scooters. This week it’s a bright pink van.

Yep, you read that correctly. A pink coloured van in Stoke-on-Trent has divided the nation on where it should be parked – and its colour.

Now, we’re all for colourful vans, to be honest. Perhaps, the brighter, the better? But that doesn’t mean we look down our noses at a neutral palette. We show no prejudice to any van and its paintwork colour here…

However, some of you have declared a worker’s van sporting a rather dashing bright pink colour, to be a ‘monstrosity’. So much so, that neighbours have been leaving notes on the windscreen, asking for it to be parked elsewhere. We only wish we could state they were polite notes.

Are we looking through rose-tinted glasses at this situation?

We’ve seen several brightly coloured vans in our time; from sunshine yellow to boastful oranges, sky blue to royal purple. Some would argue their eye-catching presentation is a positive tool for advertising. After all, you’re a lot more likely to stare and pay attention to a fluorescent pink van, than a bleak grey one. 

The worker, who had parked the unsightly considered van on his street, faced criticism for not having it outside his own home. However, his reasoning seemed just: he didn’t want to congest his street, and felt he’d parked it in the best place to avoid this. His neighbours, feeling the van was an eyesore, considered the reason to be a pitiful excuse. 

And so, the pink van has divided the nation. In colour, and parking position.

Would you leave a (not so polite) note, or speak with the man himself? The comments section (scroll down to the bottom) might leave you feeling blue, or perhaps you might be a green-eyed monster and want a shocking pink van yourself. 

If you’re considering updating the paintwork on your van – to a lovely snowy white or loud lime green – we don’t judge.

However, we do judge van insurance deals, and if they’re not cheap, we don’t want to know about it. Thankfully, we’ve collected all the best deals right here. Fill in the form and see for yourself!

The Battle of the Century? Van Drivers Versus E-Scooters

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This post is a warning for all our lovely van drivers out there on the roads, simply minding their own business.

E-scooters can now be categorised into the same class as motor vehicles.

This could put you at a greater risk of losing legal protection for any personal injury claims you may need to make, as a result of other motorists’ actions.

Let’s hope you never have to, but what’s the deal?

Let us set the scene.

You’re driving along your usual delivery route when suddenly, you find yourself staring at someone hurtling towards you on an e-scooter.

But wait – why are they riding along without a care in the world on the opposite way of a street that’s meant to be one-way? 

You have no choice but to swerve.

In swerving, you end up injuring yourself.

Whiplash.

Awful whiplash, actually.

However, due to a new loophole, you won’t be able to claim for legal aid.

Especially if the claim falls below £5,000.

Bad times.

There has been a rise in the number of people becoming e-scooter riders lately, and that’s all well and good and that (especially for the environment), but let’s face it.

They aren’t half annoying.

Especially, for motorists in vans, mainly due to safety issues, plus the risk of losing out on legal aid.

Whilst the e-scooters are only able to speed along at the menacing speed of 30 miles per hour, they can still be used on roads and even in cycle lanes.

However, this is only allowed in areas where around 50 rental schemes (lasting 12 months) have been rolled out in certain areas.

There are currently 31 regions taking part.

There has been speculation that the environmentally friendly scheme came about to reduce the number of people using private transport after Covid-19 restrictions start to loosen and lift.

Safety is currently a huge concern surrounding the e-scooters, especially when not all users consider safety paramount. 

So, have you spotted any e-scooters lately?

Perhaps you rent one yourself?!

The impact of e-scooters in public spaces is currently being monitored.

So if you have experienced a close shave with one, or would like to share your experiences, it’s time to get in touch with the UK’s Department of Transport!

Whichever side of the battle you find yourself on, at least you know you’re covered with cheap van insurance costs.

Simply fill out this form and let us take care of the rest.

Are You Britain’s Next Van Driver of the Year?

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We all think we’re the world’s greatest drivers – but not many of us can demonstrate this. Unless you’re a model van driver on the streets, adhering to every rule and speed limit out there. Oh, and can you recite van legislation like it’s a nursery rhyme?

Let’s face it, van drivers don’t have the best rep when it comes to their driving skills. News articles each week yell about another unfortunate debacle involving the driver of a van…  However, we know and firmly believe there are plenty of van drivers out there who are actually deserving of a medal. So, if you’re reading this, and you’re wondering if we’re talking about you, well then… How can you be put to the test to prove that you’re actually the best? Oh, there’s a way.

Logistics UK’s annual hunt for the UK’s next best van driver is here once again. This will be the seventh year the competition has taken place. Intrigued? Well then, get your competitive boots out from the back of the van and read on…

The contest is described as challenging, and only the best and knowledgeable van drivers should enter, if they dare. The contest involves a mix of practical and theory based tests. Van drivers will need to be fully rehearsed in the latest driving regulations and legislation (safety wise and pretty much anything relevant to vans), to take part in the theoretical side to the challenges. 

The practical challenges will include safe driving and challenging manoeuvres, alongside observation tests. If your concentration skills aren’t up to scratch, then perhaps being an observer might be better than a contestant. Sounds like fun, right?

The event this year is in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and takes place on the 10th of July. You have until the 2nd of June to register for the event, so if you’re reading this before the 2nd, then hurry on over to this link and sign up. 

You will need to pass risk assessments and licence checks to be shortlisted to the final 15 contestants, so make sure you have the time and evidence to put into this. If you’re thinking a competition for the UK’s best van driver isn’t quite for you, well then, we have the next best thing: cheap van insurance deals. What more could you want, right?

Avoid Fines From The Latest Driving Law

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Okay, own up.

Are you guilty of tailgating?

Maybe you’ve done so in the past.

Perhaps, that one Tuesday when you were running late and the Nissan Micra in front of you was crawling along at a snail’s pace?

The Nissan needed a hint, or you were going to fall behind on deliveries. 

Or, perhaps reading the above makes you angry.

Are you on the side of van drivers who absolutely hate tailgating?

Have you ever fallen victim to it yourself? 

Well, whether you’re guilty or not, you may want to rethink driving too close to other cars.

This is solely down to the latest driving law that may be on the cards and introduced very soon.

A law that penalises drivers who might be driving, let’s say, a little too close for comfort. 

And surprisingly, it’s you, the drivers, who are backing these proposals from recent campaigns.

Nearly 90% of motorists would happily support these plans to hand out fines to offenders, as it would unequivocally promote and increase road safety.

Do you agree that more needs to be done?

Recent results from trials surrounding tailgating indicate a likelihood of the new rule catching potentially thousands of offenders.

The UK government trialled the technology that would be used to catch tailgaters in Northamptonshire, specifically across the M1.

The tech is able to detect whether motorists – yes, that even includes you in the Ford Transit there, sir – are keeping a 2-second gap from the vehicle in front of you.

And this is at all times! 

Tailgating is a potentially risky and major problem for drivers on the road, especially for our lovely, innocent drivers.

Did you know it was listed as the reason for nearly 600 severe accidents in the previous year?

Tragically, in 28 of these, death was the result for some people.

Perhaps this is an excellent time for the government to put these proposals into action, especially with recent campaigns gaining so much support.

So, what do we think?

Not worth the risk, eh.

The last thing you want after being out and about in your van is to come home to a letter stating you’ve been caught tailgating.

Safer roads are something we definitely stand for – that, and cheap van insurance, of course!

Know your Van’s Weight Limit Or Be Fined up to £300!

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This week’s latest news comes to us from the wonderful town of Reading. You may have heard about an unlucky driver who was fined a whopping £6,000 for breaching restrictions to do with his van’s weight. 

Thankfully, not all of us who breach weight restrictions can expect a £6,000 fine. The Mercedes Sprinter driver had overloaded his van by 900 kg. So, not just by a smidgen then. Unlucky for our Sprinter driver, a weighbridge found an excess weight of 25.7%. The Public Protection Partnership (PPP) quickly spotted how low the van was to the ground. It was clear the van was under strain.

We’re sure you already know this, but it is against the law to breach weight restrictions, and unfortunately, the driver’s defendant company found themselves paying over £6k for the sorry mistake. 

Do you know how much weight you’re legally allowed to have in your van? 

Avoid the fines and stay up to date with the latest laws. The DVSA may carry out spot checks, so here’s an easy reminder of how you can stay safe and know just how much you should be carrying:

  • Your van’s gross vehicle weight (GVW) minus (-) your van’s unladen weight.

Let’s explore an example:

  1. GVW is 4000 kg. Unladen weight is 2250 kg. 
  2. Therefore, 4000 kg – 2250 kg = 1,750 kg. 
  3. So, 1,750 kg is the most your payload can weigh.

It’s important not to forget that the payload weight also includes any excess luggage and passengers, too. How you load your van could also affect the overall weight, as you want to make sure you’re not putting too much weight at the front to cause an overload.

Learn More About Van Weight Limits

If you’re unsure about how much weight you’re carrying and want to check within the limits, you can visit your local weighbridge. 

If you’re new to van driving, it might be worth checking out the latest government guidance on loading and driving a van. There’s even a handy video. Access further information and visit the site here.

Whether you’re new to driving a van or know all the rules and regulations like the back of your hand, we’ve got you covered with insurance. So, if you’re on the lookout for cheap van insurance, take a couple of minutes out of your day to see just how much we could save you right here.

Should We Be Cautious Of Driverless Vans?

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You may have heard the recent rumors of the latest government plans surrounding self-driving cars.

If you haven’t, allow us to help:

The UK is set to legalise driverless cars later this year, however, there are some people out there who fear this could bring a whole range of additional headaches.

Whilst some people feel this is a move designed to keep drivers safer out there, others feel it could be distracting.

The government believes road safety could be improved by a reduction in human error, which causes over 85% of road accidents.

However, necessary training will need to be deployed for anyone considering using self-driving vehicles, which could bring about a busier workload to some industries.

At the moment, there are only plans for driverless cars to allow assistance for speeds that go up to 37 miles per hour, and on motorways.

However, just like with cruise control options on some motors, handing over control to your vehicle doesn’t mean you will be free to do something else.

The same laws apply, so you can’t use your mobile phone (unless hands-free), or start eating that KFC you just picked up from Peterborough services.

Full attention will still need to be kept on the road.

Should the requirement be there, drivers will need to be able to take control of their vans immediately. 

At the moment, we are waiting for changes to the Highway Code and other laws to come into place before any of this can happen.

Others say vigorous testing needs to happen before allowing these plans to come to fruition, too.

Some argue that self-driving vehicles aren’t always the safest options, as a recent Tesla crash has shown. 

So, should we allow technology to fully take control of our wheels?

How do you think it might affect your industry?

If you drive a van for your job, you might welcome this information.

On the other hand, do you feel autonomous vans might be a step too far?

Let us know your thoughts!

For us, vans with drivers, or without, we’re concerned with giving you the best deals.

So, you can bet that we’ve got you covered with the cheapest van insurance deals around.

£17k for using your home toilet? Every little helps…

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Okay, so Tesco is not paying their delivery drivers £17,000 to use their home toilets, unfortunately.

If they were, well then sign my partner up, because I’m certain he would end up bankrupting the company.

I’m sure all delivery drivers have been there.

You’ve still got a couple of deliveries to go, and you’re suddenly bursting to use the loo.

What do you do when these situations arise?

Especially if you work for Tesco, whose vans have tracker systems fitted.

This means they can check up on you every 5 minutes or so, alongside monitoring your speed and location.

Well, for one Tesco delivery worker, his solution was his home toilet.

Nothing too crude here, thank you.

This week’s tale fuels itself with justice and a hefty £17k package.

Tesco’s Scottish branch awarded Billy Fitzsimmons £17k in compensation after his unfair dismissal.

Due to his ailments, he required to use the toilet far more than your average person.

An employment tribunal ordered Tesco to pay Mr Fitzsimmons for not taking his medical problems into consideration.

His employer penalised him for using his toilet at home, even though he only stopped by between deliveries.

After discovering these stops, his boss learned about his urinary tract infection and enlarged prostate, which required urgent restroom access.

However, Tesco bosses claimed they were not aware that Mr Fitzsimmons also experienced incontinence.

Although they were aware of his other illnesses.

Unfortunately, he’d also had to visit home on some occasions to change. 

After conducting his business at home, Mr Fitzsimmons would wait in his delivery van until he had to drop off groceries to the next client.

Nothing wrong with that, right?

Deliveries were always made in a timely manner, and not a single person ever made a complaint against him.

Discrimination against disability isn’t a joke.

Fortunately for Mr Fitzsimmons, the judges agreed with him.

Hopefully, many of you will not have faced an illness or a situation like this, but I’m sure we can relate to needing the toilet after a long drive.

We wish Mr Fitzsimmons the best, and if he ever requires cheap van insurance for another role, we’re here to help!

Meet the Busker Who Converted His Peugeot Expert Van

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Have you ever considered converting your van? Throughout the pandemic, there have been a number of people with similar ideas of converting humble vans into top-of-the-range camper vans. You may have seen a growing trend, especially in areas like Australia and New Zealand. In the UK, when you consider how many of us have been stuck indoors for so long, you might find the appeal to be out on the road growing stronger every day.

Every now and again, we’ll hear tales of rowdy van drivers gone wild, or on the other side of the spectrum, vegan van drivers who are going green. This time, read on to hear the lovely tale of a modest busker from Grimsby in Lincolnshire.

For Josh Robins, a 27-year-old musician who now lives in Cambridge, the ongoing pandemic and multiple lockdowns saw him revert to his busking roots. Like many industries, Covid-19 brought the arts and entertainment sector to a halt. So, with venues shut down and performances cancelled, Josh found that his band ‘The Mardlers’ wouldn’t be able to do very much. Instead, he opted to travel around the UK, passionately busking along the way, as he had done for the past 10 years.

Josh had previously used his trusty van when out and about gigging before the pandemic hit the UK. So, why not put it to use? However, this wasn’t a premium conversion — in fact, it’s far from it. With a bed in the back, he cooked meals on a small hob at the front of the van. He also confessed he missed the use of a toilet he could have permanent access to. Be that as it may, Josh found he had more time to dedicate to writing music, instead of falling for distractions such as Netflix.

When it comes down to it, Josh used the essentials to travel around the UK and do what he loves. What we really appreciate is the fact that he did it all using a Peugeot Expert van. Could you do it? Whether you’re thinking about making your musician/busking dreams true or not, there’s one area in which we can help with. If you’re travelling the UK in a van — converted or not — you’re still going to need the cheapest van insurance quotes around.

Long drives? Back pain? Here’s some advice.

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Long Drives and Back Pain

How to Stay Comfortable On The Road

We’ve all felt the burn of a long drive.

Whether it’s in a shiny new van or a reliable old one, those hours take a toll.

Sitting in the same position for hours isn’t easy.

And, let’s be honest, back pain doesn’t care about age.

But here’s some good news.

Simon Reynolds, a former driver performance manager at Formula One McLaren, knows a thing or two about avoiding back pain.

Now a sports therapist, Reynolds has shared his best tips to help you stay comfortable on those long drives.

Start With Seat Ergonomics

Before you even step into your vehicle, take a moment for seat adjustments.

Why?

Preventing back and neck pain begins with full visibility of the road and easy mirror access.

Check your mirrors—they should require just a simple, comfortable glance.

Recline For Spinal Support

Next, consider reclining your seat back just enough to support your spine.

An unsupported head leads to tension, and an unsupported upper spine only adds to the discomfort.

Above all, remember lumbar support.

Without it, the pelvis can shift backward, putting stress on your lower back over time.

Choose The Right Seat Cushion

Did you know that seat cushions come in various shapes and padding options?

Surprisingly, many car seats don’t provide adequate lower back support.

By adding a thin cushion, however, you can help maintain the natural curve in your lower back.

This small adjustment may not only reduce discomfort but also help prevent medical issues over time.

Perfect Your Leg Position

Leg positioning is crucial.

The seat should support your legs without forcing them to stretch too far.

Contrary to popular belief, your leg shouldn’t be fully outstretched when pressing the pedal.

Instead, aim for a slight bend in your leg when braking or accelerating.

And keep your bottom snug against the driver’s seat.

Find Your Best Steering Position

For optimal steering, keep your elbows slightly bent.

But lock your shoulders back against the seat.

If this feels off, adjust the steering wheel height for a more natural fit.

Take Regular Breaks For Physical And Mental Health

The most important tip?

Take breaks.

Ideally, stop every hour for a quick stretch or a short walk.

These breaks help prevent aches and keep your body in good shape for the road ahead.

With these tips, you’re set for a more comfortable, healthier drive.

So, will you be trying these tips?

Whether it’s in your comfy new van or an old banger, we hope it helps you in some way.

At least you can rest easy and search for cheap van insurance deals with us, without breaking the bank (or, your back).

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