Arrow Blog

Delivering in London without getting a ticket

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date October 7, 2009
Categories In Courier World

Part two of our guest blog from Nick Parkin owner of the Pimlico flats blog and community. Something we would all need to know, how to park in London and NOT get a ticket.

How to Deliver in London without collecting a ticket.

Make it obvious you are loading/unloading – leave an empty cardboard box in a loading place. Having said all that – I did see a joiner cutting plywood from the back of his van, he cut a piece – took it in to nail it up and came out to find he was clamped! If you are present and loading a warden will probably speak to you instead of ticketing.
For an easy life find a loading bay, or ask your delivery destination if they have a bay you can stay in temporarily.
If you have no alternative but to stop illegally – be unobtrusive. If you double bank you will stand out for as far as there is a line of sight and draw wardens in from far and wide.
If you have no alternative but to stop illegally – be inoffensive. If you block traffic, neighbours, or are dangerous, you may face more than just a ticket.
Check Doorways, the private parking wardens hide near commercial delivery points.
Keep an eye out, in busy areas you may need to see your van every 60 secs. In quiet residential areas of central London the longest you can expect to survive illegally parked without a ticket is around 15 mins.
Ask bystanders to watch your van for you, but be sure that you are within shouting distance.
You stand a better survival chance close to the end of parking restrictions, and are most likely to be ticketed at 09:00 – 10:00.

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Subcontractors

There are two ways you can work for Arrow Light Haulage, as an employee or as a subcontractor.

A sub contractor is a person who works as a self employed owner driver and on occasions completes work for us. They are responsible for their own tax, national insurance and where applicable, VAT

We are an equal opportunities employer and working as a subcontractor is no guarantee of a permanent position with our same day courier company, each application is weighed on it’s individual merits and the applicants ability to do the job.

What you need to work for us and what we need to see before a telephone interview can take place.

Current clean driving license
Your own clean and tidy vehicle
Satellite navigation system
Goods in Transit insurance
A polite and patient demeanour
Excellent customer service skills
Physically fit and able to lift boxes etc sometimes up to 25kgs
CRB Check
10 year checkable work history
2 current references

If you have all this, please email Kevin Arrow at info@arrowlighthaulage.co.uk with your details and we will process your application as a subcontractor for us.

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How to move a car / van / lorry engine.

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date July 22, 2009
Categories In Courier World, Packing For Transportation

Whilst there are no specific requirements when moving an engine, it helps to prepare the engine first. In theory you could remove it from a vehicle and ‘throw’ it in the back of a van and it would get to it’s destination in one piece.

Here’s how to do it properly…

It’s advisable to remove all liquids, prior to engine removal.
That includes all coolants and oils.

When it’s removed, using soft rags plug the holes left by the hoses and pipes – this prevents residues leaking in the van and staining / damaging the van floor.

Where possible place the engine onto a plastic pallet, this is so that it if there is any spillage it can be easily removed and the pallet used again. A wooden pallet in this instance isn’t re-usuable.

It may be worth wrapping the engine in recycled plastic sheeting for it’s journey.

Secure the engine to the pallet using metal or plastic straps.

Be very careful if you are looking to co-load an engine with food, cardboard, any porous materials as it can contaminate and damage other items in transit.

Sarah

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When it all goes wrong – we still deliver

Wednesday was a difficult day for our same day courier and delivery business. It started off very well, two contracts were due to start and we were prepping our drivers with the new requirements. Two of our biggest ad hoc / express delivery customers were booking in jobs and we had all four of the fleet out, on the road.

At midday just before the new contracts were about to start our daughter collapsed, in a heap on the floor. We were stunned, she had been a bit quiet but no other indication that she was unwell.

It was surprising how fast the ‘emergency’ action plan (which up until now had just been spoken about) kicked in. Sarah took our most precious delivery to the hospital and I organised the afternoon remotely, using the phone and mobile internet. I could be right at their side whilst still keeping my finger on the pulse, thanks to the systems being in place.

Our new and existing customers are very happy – it was excellent service as usual. Our precious package was fine – she has flu and not meningitis as Sarah was convinced.

I was relieved, how do you know your emergency systems will work? no amount of dry runs can prepare you for the moment they have to be implemented.

I spoke to one of the new customers that day and she was laughing that I had been sitting all day in the garden getting a sun tan… I didn’t disillusion her and say where I actually was – it was business as usual, for all of our team.

Regards

Kevin

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The mysteries of a same day courier quote explained

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date June 27, 2009
Categories In Courier World

Ever rang for a quote from a courier and thought “how much!” and then spent the next hour ringing round trying to get it cheaper? Did you find it? Did you find the right service before you asked for a quote?

Finding the right courier and service is essential. If you want to send a letter you take it to the post office. If you want to send a valuable tender document out of hours, then you call an express or same day courier.
Often people confuse the services of a parcel carrier with that of a courier.

A parcel carrier will deliver your item in 24 to 48 hours and they are dependent on volume.

A same day courier charges by distance traveled, so whether you send an envelope of a pallet, the cost would be the same.

Quotes also depend on the items value, the Royal Mail insure to the value of £2.5k same day couriers often to the value of 10k, we have insurance to the value of 30k.

So next time you call a courier service and describe something as urgent, think… is it really? and if it really is, be prepared to pay same day prices, no courier in their right mind would be able to travel 200 miles for just £20. What / where else could your items be going? What condition would your goods arrive in?

If you ask for the right service, you will get an accurate quote and not have to spend hours on the phone chasing for the lowest price.

Sarah

PS remember, service wise – you get what you pay for!

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Coming soon… our new video

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date June 24, 2009
Categories In Courier World

You may have seen my tweets on it – we have made a video for our business in conjunction with Business Video Production. It was a prize that we won in a competition, on BT Tradespace – if you are not there already but would like to be, please email me / message me and I shall send you a referral email.

Today, just moments a go I downloaded the high quality version and I am really thrilled with the end result!

Making a business video was something that I thought about, but never really followed through with. It was pointed out to me that many of the people that booked our services would also look on youtube, use it like a search engine. When I did a search I found lots of spoof videos or ones that showed how parcel depots worked. Uk courier companies didn’t seem to be keen to use video to promote their businesses!

When I got the phonecall announcing we had won this opportunity, I was stunned and quiet, very quiet. Yes I know, unbelievable Happy to chat online, but face to face I can be quite shy, and yes I used to run a pub… but that isn’t the real me and now I could be seen by anyone… anyone who was interested. I didn’t eat for a week! I then thought about it, Kevin is the face of the business, if it was a person he would be it’s brain and soul so it really should have more of him in it than me! Yay! I am off the hook.
My husband Kevin talks about his business and Pat from Pepperpot Couriers talks about our business relationship. It gives a strong, positive vibe about our business.

When we were filming it I was a bit apprehensive, and they filmed us with the sound recording but don’t use the sound in the video… so somewhere there is a recording full of courier banter It took a while to film, even though the video itself is just 2 minutes long… and even longer to edit it as I am notoriously hard to please! Kevin and Pat were great, yes am still worried about that soundtrack and lip readers…

Richard Coulson the chap that managed the project for us was a brilliant help, full of ideas and advice. Even if he ignored my requests for a sultry film noir, only teasing Richard!

I shall upload the video version in the video onto our website, when its available as Richard has kindly said he would put it on YouTube for me.

Please feel free to tell me your thoughts and whether it conveys our companies message. Also would you consider having a video made?

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Couriers and communication

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date June 24, 2009
Categories In Courier World

This week we started with two new customers. We also added an XLWB to our fleet to enable taking more pallets / awkward shaped items for delivery.

Both our new customers have a defined set of procedures and as always included in the communications process. We deliver urgent and express same day items for them, and one has already expressed the delight at the cost savings they are making.

Communications for one of our new customers has been a complete revelation, they are not used to couriers that communicate and are really liking the difference that working with us provides.

So, a good week all round especially in a time – starting new contracts – which can be difficult. So, thanks team.

It’s good to know who professional you are and it’s good to have feedback from our customers about this.

Kevin

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A Courier for your Gym Equipment

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date June 8, 2009
Categories In Moving awkward /fragile goods, Moving Fragile Goods

With summer almost upon us, people turn to getting fit. With gym equipment bargains to be had on Ebay, BT Tradespace and other online stores, the next consideration is the courier for delivery

What can be moved by same day or overnight courier?

Exercise bikes
Rowing machine
Bench Press
Elliptical trainers
Treadmills
Weight machine
Star climbers

Ideally items would be dismantled and in their original packaging, it makes it easier to load and strap into place. It it’s unable to be sent in it’s original packaging, then we can still collect and deliver for you – it can be wrapped in our soft felt blankets.

Gym equipment for the parcel networks

Exercise balls
Exercise bands
Chin bars
Some abdominal trainers
Some small weights

When packing weights for transportation you need to make sure the box can take the combined weights and packaging is strong enough and that the box won’t collapse when lifted. Exercise balls need to be defalted for posting and abdominable trainers need to fit in a box, but be sure they are not putting you over the volumetric weight that your parcel company takes.

If you require any advice about getting your gym equipment please give us a call on 0844 884 3331

Regards,
Kevin

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Furniture Couriers and delivery

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date April 21, 2009
Categories In Courier World

Do you need a furniture courier? do you have items of furniture that you have bought from a store, free-cycled or ebayed?

Sofa
Chairs
Antiques
Sideboards
Dressers
Beds
Cabinets
Desks and other items of office furniture

Arrow Light Haulage the Essex based same day courier company are happy to quote to move your items. Whether they are high value or sentimental value, we look after them as if they are our own.

All our furniture deliveries are wrapped in felt blankets if they are not packaged already, then strapped to the vehicle – so they don’t slip and slide in transit.

Whether it’s one item or a houseful, we can offer you help and a two man team if items are really heavy.

Kevin

0844 884 3331

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Couriers that deliver on Saturday

Post author By Kevin Arrow
Post date March 16, 2009
Categories In Courier World

As a same day courier service, we are happy to deliver to customers on a weekend. The advantages of this for the customer are :-

No need to take a days leave to wait in for your delivery
Quicker – less traffic or the driver to sit in!
No congestion fees if delivery is within the zone

So, does your delivery happen on your terms?

If you are not sure if this is available, then ask your company – if it’s not, you know where we are.

Sarah

PS we can collect items and store them safely and securely on a weekday, for prompt weekend delivery.

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