While doing delivery work can be easy for some, it can also be very challenging. Those who are just starting out will, more often than not, face one or all of the following three problems inherent in the business. But fear not: there are effective solutions, and often, keeping your wits about you is enough to breeze through any obstacles.

Vehicle Breakdowns

When you’re engaged in delivery work, naturally the equipment you rely most heavily on is your vehicle. Unfortunately, some people tend to make the wrong decision when it comes to purchasing the vehicles they will use as a regular part of their business. Many tend to buy the cheapest one, and often this can mean it is on the verge of a breakdown. This occurs because some people consider the purchase of a vehicle as an expense rather than an investment. As a result, vehicle breakdown is a major problem among those in the haulage business. Thankfully, the solution is simple: do not buy inferior vehicles, especially if it’s something you’re going to use every single business day. You don’t need anything fancy, prestigious or luxurious – just choose carefully and select one that can reliably do the job even in the most trying times.

Marketing or Advertising

Many of those who take on delivery work for a regular living are baffled at the concept of marketing or advertising their services, as if the process were completely alien. What must be clearly understood here is that advertising or marketing is part and parcel (to use a trite expression) of the haulage business; how else do you make your services known to the greatest number of people? Again, thankfully, there are now many new ways to advertise your business, and most of these means are not expensive – some are even free. For starters, you can advertise on online listings such as Craigslist or any such free websites that target a local audience. You can also have your own website or blog (there is plenty of free software out there) and a page on Facebook. The point is that you have at your beck and call a host of incredibly effective means to advertise, which were not available a decade ago.

Schedule Tracking

Another ‘Achilles’ heel’ for those who start taking on delivery work is schedule management. Success can come at a cost: you might end up taking on more than you can chew. If you fail to manage things well, your business might end up imploding. An organised hauler is a successful hauler, and the importance of schedule management or tracking – which becomes even more important as you begin getting more jobs – cannot be emphasised enough. The solution is to use tools or software that allow you to keep a detailed schedule. Getting a day planner is good for starters, but proceeding to the use of powerful customer management software will give your business a boost.