Tag: december

Delivering the gift of Christmas

Posted on by News Desk

So, for those of you who are delivery drivers, this year should, in theory, have been ‘it’ – the run up to Christmas, the busting your chops to squeeze in endless deliveries of Christmas goods for the people who shop online.

But this year has been different in so many ways and the Christmas rush may not be over, come December 24th. While last year saw a run of online ordering putting unprecedented demand on van drivers over the festive period, nothing could have prepared us for what happened in March, when COVID struck. 

The poor delivery drivers of the UK didn’t know what had hit them. It was like Christmas all over again, with the country locked down and ordering online becming something of a national pastime. Delivery drivers didn’t know what had hit them, as they worked around the clock, busting a gut to get things to people – from food to fancy fripperies, and everything inbetween. 

And this Christmas, the heat is on again. Brexit related stockpiling is seeing delays at UK ports and a huge backlog of things to get to people, from building supplies to Christmas presents. With most of the country in tier 3, that is all in addition to those who are reliant on online ordering to deliver everything from clothes to groceries. And now, as of yesterday, ports into the UK are closed. Who knows what that will mean. More deliveries, fewer deliveries… many businesses will be scratching their heads and trying to figure out if they actually have anything to send at all.

Many experts are predicting that this seasonal rush will carry on right into January and even beyond, depending on what happens with Brexit and how quickly the COVID vaccine can be rolled out. But of course, with this new raft of port closures, the truth is nobody knows what is coming next.

So, while it doesn’t really help ease those tired limbs or the sheer exhaustion, we just want you to know that this Christmas, we here at Cheap Van Insurance doff our caps to you all – from the delivery drivers, to the man and vans, to the builders and brickies and everything in between. Here’s hoping next year gets back to something approaching normal and life can return to the heady days when people went out and actually got things for themselves. 

What’s in a work/life balance?

Posted on by News Desk

A news story that caught the eye of the Cheap Van Insurance team last week created a lot of conversation at head office. The furore blew up after a woman called Evandra texted a carpet fitter at 12.15am, requesting a quote for his services.

Suffice to say, the carpet fitter in question was not best pleased and told her in no uncertain terms. Which leads to an interesting debate. If you are a tradesman or woman who advertises online and publishes their number, when is the right time to ignore the phone.

On the one hand, business is business, right? And on the other, everyone is entitled to some down time. 

Many felt that had Evandra emailed her request, the time was immaterial, but that to text at that time considered an unreasonable breach of privacy and she was unreasonable to do so. 

Others felt that a text was fair game and she shouldn’t have necessarily expected a reply at that time, but that she wasn’t unwarranted to send it. 

We understand, those with kids or ageing family may not feel able to put their phone in flight mode or silent during the night, but many do, so who is to say what she did was inconsiderate? We are so used to living in a 24/7 society, many think nothing of firing out a few email before bed to chase thins up and make things happen. 

The debate was a close-run thing, with a poll taken by those investing in the debate voting almost 60% to 40% that she was in the wrong for making her request by text at that time. 

Our advice: if you’re a tradesman, invest in a work phone. Switch it off at a time that works for you and forget about it to the next day, if it’s out of hours. And if you’re a customer, just try to remember that sole traders, workmen and small businesses are entitled to a little down time too. 

The Van Driver’s Carol Service – Part Two

Posted on by News Desk

Wow – we were blown away by last week’s carols – you LOVED them!

So, who were we to say no, when you asked for more? But, with just 2 days before Christmas, before we bless you with yet another CVI belter, we did just want to take a moment to thank you all. You keep our country moving. Businesses, big and small simply couldn’t function without you. Hopefully, it’s just a matter of hours before you can deliver that last parcel, hang up the van keys and just relax for a few days, before it starts all over again.

Van drivers of the UK; we salute you.

On the First Day of Christmas:

On the first day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Insurance savings for all to see

On the second day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the third day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the fourth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the fifth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Five-staaaar service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the sixth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the seventh day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the eight day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the ninth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the tenth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Ten roadside repairs, nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see 

On the eleventh day of Christmas, CVI gave to me 

Eleven football shirts, ten roadside repairs, nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Twelve months of savings, eleven football shirts, ten roadside repairs, nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see 

Happy Christmas everyone! Safe driving!

Tips for Tiredness:

Posted on by News Desk

It’s getting to that time of year when for many of you, our humble, van driving readers, things really shift up a gear (pardon the pun), as Christmas deliveries begin to peak and you’re here, there and everywhere and working all the hours God sends trying to fit 15 hours of work into eight or nine.

It’s exhausting. 

You’re rushing around with impossible targets to hit, just a breath away from telling your boss where to shove it most of the day. The traffic is worse, thanks to the crappy weather and pensioners with nothing better to do than take a little 20 mile an hour pootle into town to look at the pretty Christmas windows, when you’ve got a job to do.

When you feel like that, even if you are working more hours than you know is good for you, it’s important you make time for yourself. Stress causes people to make silly mistakes and tiredness can, as we all know, be fatal. If you’re feeling your blood pressure rising, it’s easy to tell yourself to man (or woman up) and have a few beers to unwind when you get home. But not only is that just making the problem worse, overdo it and get breathalysed in the morning, and it could cost you your job. 

Save the booze for the night before your day off, and start each working day with a clear head.

Eat well. Again, if you are busy and rushing, it’s easy to skip a meal or live off junk food. But good nutrition will give you the energy to face the challenges of a busy schedule.

Try and make time for yourself. Even if you don’t have much, make a little. You may want to lose yourself in gaming, or a box set or a good movie. When you’re doing whatever it is, try and put the phone/iPad/laptop down and focus on doing just one thing.

Try and get some exercise. We get it, you’re exhausted already, but if you’re able to get a kick about in, or a quick gym sesh, the endorphins that creates will make you feel 100% better. And you’ll sleep better too.

Keep electronics out of the bedroom. No sitting on your phone or TV in bed. The blue light emitted is proven to create sleep problems. Instead, focus on using your bedroom for, well, sleeping. 

Don’t kid yourself into thinking that a coffee is going to perk you up when you’re driving. Neither will opening a window. You need to pull over and rest. Just napping for 15 -20 minutes will make all the difference. And you’ll feel refreshed when you wake and more alert and ready to get back on it. 

Take a tip from the ladies. Time spent on you, is time well spent. Go and get a massage (no, not that kind) in a spa or salon. It’s like one of those big secrets of the male world – loads of guys do it, but few admit it. You’ll help undo some of those knots from your time behind the wheel and sleep and feel so much better for it. 

If you need to put the brakes on – do so. We don’t mean your van – we mean all of it. If you are struggling and finding it too much, you need to say no. Whether that’s to extra social activities, or to overtime requests, no amount of extra dosh in your pay packet is worth the consequences if you’re truly burned out.

Perfect Christmas gifts for Van Drivers

Posted on by News Desk

Okay, so you’ve been asked what you’d like and besides that box set and PS4 game that you know you’re not going to get, what can you ask for?

Here are our top ideas to make any driving days just that little bit better.

Like your coffee? How about a portable espresso machine? Perfect for coffee on the go. This takes classic coffee pod filters, and can be plugged in to your van’s power socket.

Or what about a heated lunch box? This is great for those who drive long distances and want a hot meal, without paying an arm and a leg at the service stations – just plug it in to your car charger socket and enjoy a nice warm lunch, rather than a chilly limp sandwich.

Magnetic phone and coin pads.Never be rifling around for coins again, have your phone where you can see it, and generally be a little more organised with one of these. 

Heated seat pads. Because there’s nothing like a warm bum on a cold day! Or, go the whole hog and ask for an in-car electric blanket. Perfect if you’re a driver up north who frequently battles with the snow and can sometimes see yourself stuck in accident traffic or impassable roads. 

In-car Wi-Fi. Turn your cab into your office with one of these great gadgets. Be always on, listen to music, game while you’re waiting for a pick-up (but not in a traffic jam, please)

Mini hoover.Let’s make spiders dropping from the visor a thing of the past, people. An in-van mini hoover can help clear up those crumbs and that dirt in no time. 

Hanging storage. Keep all your paperwork in one place, and find things fast. It will shave a few minutes off your day, and in an industry where every second counts, you’ll be thankful for it.

A lumbar support cushion. Because being a van driver plays havoc with most people’s backs, given enough time behind the wheel. A solid, supporting cushion for your back will pay dividends and save the cost of those trips to the osteopath. (although we can recommend a brilliant one, if you do need one). 

Van detailing kit.Because we all like a nice, clean van, don’t we? Oh, wait. Well, maybe if you get one, you’ll actually use it. We can’t force you to, but you know, it might just give you the motivation that none of the lads have managed. Make it a new year’s resolution. 

A driving experiences.No chugging along, waiting for the diesel to finally kick in and give you some oomph. Blast out your driving frustrations with a track session in a supercar at one of the U.K.’s race tracks and unleash your inner Lewis Hamilton (other F1 drivers are available). 

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