DPD Driver Franchise

A question about : DPD Driver Franchise

I am unemployed and with a family of 4 (including wife) to support I thought about getting a driving job. Most of these tend to be self employed and PD were advertising in my area for Self Employed driver including use of van so I phoned them. They have sent me a pack which does not say how much I would be paid per delivery or how much the vehicle lease would cost. Merely that franchises start from as little as Ј1300.
Can someone here give me some pointers as to cost against potential reward?

Best answers:

• Is there a number to call so you can ask the questions? Asking them directly would be my first port of call.
• Thanks Gordon Hose but I don't think that it would get an unbiased view from them. I would like to hear from people like myself who are, have been or have considered this proposition or from those that would suggest I steer well clear.
• lol, why would it be an unbiased view?
  Call them and ask and you'll have the answers you need.
  As it's a franchise, I assume you invoice them the going rate.
• The best job at DPD is Linehaul driver. Pick up loaded wagon, drive to hub and park on bay or in trailer park. Go to sleep/watch TV in drivers restaurant until 10 minutes before your departure time. Go to loading dock, check its ready, drive to depot - 10hrs with 3-4 of it sat doing nowt. Years ago when I did it that was Ј600 a week plus monthly performance bonus.
• I've just stumbled upon this thread whilst searching for some details for my nephew, so I apologise for resurrecting a *buried* thread - however I feel it may be pertinent to correct some misguided or indeed incorrect information.
  I am a current franchisee for DPD with nearly 17 years under my belt, and maybe an extra 1 as an employee of Parceline (DPD's former name).
  One of the biggest problems we have is the opinion of our *employed* colleagues who, frankly have no idea of what a franchise involves or the costs therein.
  Linehaul drivers do have it quite easy (one of my best friends is a current linehaul driver) - but they don't earn anywhere near the money I earn. And a blowout costing 30% of your income? Seriously, do you really actually believe that?
  A franchise at DPD is one of the cheapest start-up businesses around (Ј1300) and the current earning expectations of a new franchisee to earn up to Ј30k ish *after* direct expenses. Direct expenses are things such as vehicle lease, insurances, fuel and service costs. Other indirect expenses such as your own mobile phone, holiday cover, accountancy etc are not included in this figure but as they are tax deductable (and with different tax rates for self employed or limited companies) should be easily swallowed.
  Im not going to say its all roses. If you are don't turn in for work, you do not earn anything and you will get fined Ј150, but then if you are the sort of person who feels the need to stay in bed because you have a cold then don't run your own business. I have only been fined on one occasion, after an accident at work - and the only reason they fined me was to cover their own procedures as they knew I would have to sue them to cover my own losses (funny old world, huh?). There have been occasions when I have had an upset stomache, migraine etc and I have rung up explained the situation and either turned up later in the day when I was better or just been told to "get well soon, we'll cover it".
  If you have a blowout, you will have to pay for it - what did you expect, the tyre fairy to come and fix your van for you? When I leased a van from them I bought and carried my own spare tyre etc and researched which companies were cheaper to call out in cases of emergency. But even if you use ATS to fix your van it would never cost 30% of weekly profit.
  You have to pay for a manual handling course? Sure, but why not - YOU ARE SELF EMPLOYED! Just as an update I believe these courses are now supplied free, at least the refresher courses are.
  Long hours? Sure, i'm at the depot for 6:30 most days and some days I'll work 12 hours and others i'll work 8 - it's the luck of the draw and dependent on business/route.
  I do hear a lot of naysayers when talking about DPD franchises sometimes, mostly from the ill-informed, the jealous or just the plain ignorant. If you can handle the life, the hours and the work load you can earn a very decent living. I have managed to support my family to a very high standard and now own 2 houses - all thanks to my franchise career at DPD. I would throughly recommend a franchise to anyone who asks me, provided they walk in with their eyes open and realise that it's not an employed job. If you become self-employed then take responsibility for your own actions, prepare for the worst case scenario if you can (tyres?) and be prepared to work hard to achieve what you want to.
  Oh and mostly, I would advise those who have no in-depth experience of a subject matter to keep your opinions based on what you know, not on the hearsay or misguided opinions you pick up. Had I seen this message earlier I would have advised the OP, an un-employed family man, to go for it as it is certainly a less risky venture than the one he plumped for - I hope he was ultimately successful in what he did though.
• I too have stumbled across this thread, and concur with goli's comments. Likewise i am a franchise holder and have been for 5 years, I start at 5.30 (by choice) and am always back in my depot at 4.30pm ish, i never work more than 12hrs, but do work hard in those 12hrs. But i do earn very good money for the effort i put in, which9 means my family can have a nice lifestyle with 2 holidays a year (DPD will give you 2 service breaks a year, which means they will cover your route whilst you take a week off, you dont earn, but you dont incure any penalties) I would reccomend a franchise but only if youre prepared to work hard and not expect an easy ride.
• This type of thing isn't real self employment, you are still dictated to, it's just that firms like DPD have got around employment legislation.
  It is sub-contracting to their rules. I mean, that Ј150 fine, is in effect you fining yourself for having a day off! Well it would be if you were really self employed.
  And if you were really self employed then why are you told what holidays you can have?!
  I was genuinely self employed in this sector, as I had my own vehicles and customers, and could do what I wanted!
  I moved on to something better but I'd never advise anyone to take up a franchise with muppets like DPD and the rest.
• Hi all, glad to see everyones got there opinion. Personally, dont put negitives on a job when you havent even done the bloody job!
  Right, im in the process of starting up with dpd as a franchise....
  Yes it is Ј1300 up front , Ј1000 of that is the deposit for leasing the van. Ј150 if you don't turn in for work, but yes you have to realise that dpd need to pay someone to carry out YOUR CONTRACT!.
  I'm on the business course all next week (unpaid) but you do get a Ј300 bonus in your 2nd months wage as thank you for attending the course.
  You don't need to do 6 days a week, i'm not going to do saturdays as im a youth football coach.
  Ј25 you have to pay for a basic disclosure.
  You do need to be commited to the job but its the same as any self employed job, but if you don't then go for an easy Ј6 an hour/ Ј200 a week job.
  I start on the 23rd april and i will keep this blog updated so it gives everyone an idea on taking out a franchise with dpd.
• Hi, have you any reccomendation for everyday health insurance? Were all human, and if i break my leg or something more serious then i want to ensure im covered while at dpd.
  Also, what depot do you run from?
  Quote:
• Hi Andrewsjohn,
  I am also looking at becoming a DPD ODF, what do you think so far?
• Anyone actually working for DPD as a franchisee? I'd be most grateful for any info you could provide.
  Thanks