Should You Become a Trade Plate Driver? Hours and Pay

[@tradeplatetravels]

A lot of people are asking questions like “ *exactly how much do you earn?* ” or “ *please provide more detail on pay* ”. Also, looks like some people have had very bad experiences trade plating, sadly. *Here are my answers:* PAY - My video was intended to give you a general idea on pay. So exactly what I earn is probably irrelevant to you, because you’ll be working for a different firm, different hours, different journeys - pay will vary widely. But if it helps to know, I earned £114 from going to Weston-super-Mare. If you have an hourly rate, my educated *guess* is you might expect in the region of £11.40-£15 per hour for trade plating. If you’re paid by the mile, I’d estimate you COULD sometimes earn around £500 or more in a high-mileage week (full time), BUT earn much less in other weeks. It’s harder for me to guess on mileage-based pay because I don’t work for a company that does that. Some people have already commented below with what they earned. But like I said in the video, the key thing is you need to be flexible with what you might earn each week. If you’re looking for a useful second income, or some flexible part time work, then Trade Plate Driving could be for you. As a main job, you’ll need to think much more carefully about whether or not it’s financially possible. My apologies, but I don’t want to share any more personal details about exactly what I earn - I’m just not happy sharing that kind of detail with the entire internet! BAD EXPERIENCES - So much of this is down to choosing a good place to work, and thinking about whether this lifestyle would suit you. But one thing I wish I’d mentioned in my video is to be careful who you work for. If you’re interested in trade plate driving, my advice is 1) Find a good place with people you trust to look after you. 2) Make sure you’re going to get your expenses repaid, and 3) Work out how much you’re likely to earn from driving, before you start. I’m very lucky to work with a relatively small, tight-knit and friendly team who know each other and respect their colleagues. All my expenses are repaid and I get an hourly rate, which is much better because it means ultra-long days (10-12 hours plus) are still worthwhile. Whereas mileage-based pay can easily end up being very long days for very little money, if you’re unlucky. On the flip-side, when things go according to plan it’s a really nice job in my opinion. You need to take the rough with the smooth. And DON’T work for a place who won’t refund your travel - I tried that in 2009 and lasted about a week, it’s just not worth it! I have tried my best to give an accurate and honest idea of trade plating and what you can expect from it, but please feel free to leave comments on your own experiences if you would like to help others make their own decisions on trade plate driving. I wish you very safe travels when you’re out and about. Drive safely.

[@ruhulamin1771]

PERFECT explanation, thats enough information for me to make a indicative understanding. Many Thanx Chris

[@bigcahoonaburger8550]

What you don’t put is how do you get from train station to pick up. Assuming they meet you at the stations?

[@Sweetlyfe]

Thanks for the interesting information, I would have enjoyed this if still lived in the UK, but I’m now back home in Australia and I live 2hrs from a major city, and 40mins from a train station, so that’s a shame, I already work casually so my income is always changing and I often take people to appointments or out for the day, so that can involve 2-6hrs of driving plus 60km each way to get to and from work, but it’s country driving to get to work and home, so there is no traffic,only Kangaroos to watch out for. I don’t understand why people think they’re entitled to know exactly how much you get paid because you wouldn’t walk up to a stranger on the street and ask exactly how much they get paid every week/fortnight or month. Even if you were chatting to someone in the pub (I don’t drink so an unlikely scenario for me 😂) and you’re both talking about your work you don’t ask that question. Cheers mate for the interesting information.

[@Sweetlyfe]

@@bigcahoonaburger8550He has to make his own way there and to and from stations, if it’s un walkable I’m sure it’s covered in his expenses, like an Uber or a taxi or a bus.

[@Sweetlyfe]

Ps I I subbed to your channel for the interesting content and as thanks for your video.

[@garycowan7445]

Your vlog just popped up on my feed. So I thought why not. Enjoyed it thank you. I'd always wondered how the system works. Good luck

[@tradeplatetravels]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@person.X.]

Maybe I am wrong but this strikes me as one of the many jobs in the UK that basically pay you next to nothing and so are rarely worth doing. Seems like a great idea at first sight but the more you delve in to it the more you see that there is no viable money in it.

[@uk_prepper6775]

I'm one and I earn anywhere between £900 and £1200 per week. I do drive hgvs though as well as cars and I do a lot of hours for that

[@Elmwood-ze3cr]

@@uk_prepper6775 Ive been thinking of HGV Trade Plate work myself , could you give me any info ie typical day , wages ie Hour Rate or Mileage etc etc Thanks

[@person.X.]

@@uk_prepper6775 That's pretty good. I imagine HGVs makes all the difference vs just cars.

[@darrencollings]

You don’t sound very self employed lol 😂

[@TheVicar]

@@uk_prepper6775 How many hours for that?

[@vmax42dave]

Been there done that, cars and trucks - hitchhiked everywhere on T Plates- 3 pound an hour early 90's... Happy days. 😊

[@chrisfuller4699]

I worked as a trade plater for two and a half years, between 1999 and 2001, for a firm called United Fleet Distribution. I typically worked 70 hours per week. (It wasn't unusual for me to start work at 5am and not finish until well into the evening, often with no food or drink at all during the whole day). On a good week my pay averaged out at 60% of the National Minimum Wage but more usually averaged out at only 40% of the NMW. The longest day I worked was 23½ hours. On another day I worked for 20 hours (without even a glass of water to keep me going) and realised, when I got home, that (after deducting my expenses) I'd earned exactly £1 for the entire day. I hope that things have improved a bit since then!

[@dreamcrusher112]

slavery

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

Parking tickets and speeding fines are an occupational hazard that must be considered too.

[@garydavis1528]

Not really, everyone should avoid so the parasites in the industry provide a reasonable salary over offering peanuts.

[@michaelgreene8257]

I also worked for United Fleet Distribution as a trade plate driver. I personally wouldn’t recommend it, but personally I enjoyed it. That may seem a stupid contradiction to say, but financially it was very low pay, however it tests your emotions to the extreme, and you have to be a complete opportunist throughout the day as to how you manage your route. I had a fuel card to buy diesel or petrol, and I was paid 16p per mile. And your mileage was calculated at the time by UFD, by drawing a straight line on a map then adding 10% to take account of the “wiggly bits”. You get to see parts of the country that you would never otherwise see in a lifetime, you meet and interact with no end of kind people who stop to pick you up, and you end up eating a wide variety of fast foods, and benefit from walking far more than you would normally walk. Overall I enjoyed it, you have a lot of time to think, and it’s like the sun has just come out when someone stops to pick you up, but it is not the best way to earn money.

[@JazzFunkNobby1964]

@@michaelgreene8257 Great reply. A lot of responsibility with this job yet the pay sucks. This is why the government of the day likes to have lots of minimum wage workers on standby. If you don't want to work hard for ten pounds an hour some other poor person will.

[@oggie1967]

Hmmm, food for thought! Might be a good side hustle for when I retire in 4 years! Cheers!👍😊

[@zanteboy]

I did some trade plate driving many moons ago, before the days of sat nav’s and mobile phones, it certainly was character building. Am considering doing again when I semi-retire, I loved driving all day and now the tech is available I can even listen to podcasts whilst the miles pass by! Great video by the way, loved it.

[@reddeviluk]

I recently stopped working on a Friday, would love to do this as a second job. Thanks for the information, will see what's available locally.

[@whatchannel3679]

Very informative and maybe a good hustle this channel to get you some even extra income. Well done mate and good luck. I hope this channel works out for you

[@granthostheflatulent]

When I was 17 (early '80's), 2 weeks after my test I did a run as a trade plate driver - 2 of my mates (also 17 and just passed their driving tests) were friends of a local dodgy Italian garage owner and the three of us were hired to drop off one car and collect 3 for the return - mine wouldn't start - it was a heap - so only 2 of us got paid and made the run. One in a V8 Rover SD1 and the other in a powerful Cavalier. Can't remember what my car was but I remember some crappy silver Ford. My 2 mates drove for them for a while - the fast one (had the V8 Rover) is now a traffic cop and the other is a breakdown tow driver/travelling mechanic. I got the chance to do some flying sponsored by a major aerospace company and didn't drive for them again.

[@leonwilks4114]

My mate uses a recovery truck to deliver vehicle's all over for different companies, he earns upto £250 per delivery, and sometimes gets to fetch another vehicle close to the one he's delivered so can get a couple done in a day, he enjoys the pay and flexibility. Great insight and good luck for the future you

[@dan19752008]

I went on a course last year but left after an hour. I would have enjoyed it but they wanted me to be a semi skilled mechanic. I just wanted to get in the vehicle & go.

[@calvinlaidler7422]

Really interesting insight, thank you for sharing - and nice journey to and from Weston Super Mare, great video, keep them coming !

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you Calvin!

[@stevenmccolm1531]

Back in 2010 I became a Trade Plate Driver for an agency, I was paid per drop-off and a third of my travel expenses. They provided a fuel card and overnight accommodation. The driving was great but you do need to have savings for when you get stranded usually in the middle of nowhere and missed the last train home. I ran out of money and got a job as a security officer.

[@steveporter45]

Hi, just found your channel. What a great video on your life as a trade plate driver. As others have said see trade plate drivers hitching a lift and also on the the road with plates displayed driving along. When I’ve been looking for work I’ve often seen adverts for drivers and had wondered how it works and you answered all that , now I know thankyou.

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you!

[@enforcer9381]

Very informative video. I have done trade plating mainly HGV's back in the late nineties then again in the mid noughties. I did some work for a Car delivery company in Worcester who deliver for a major vehicle manufacturer in Ellesmere port that was a much better experience and very little hitch hiking as they supplied a Chase car still long hours but never got stuck out or abandoned which most of these trade plate companies have a habit of doing! Your experiences are as you know are very common to this industry. You appear to have found a decent employer and good luck to you.

[@rororp]

Thanks nice video. Often wondered how you you guys earned your pay and got paid. Interesting to watch and learn. Thank you.

[@RickieMcleary]

just a small point you may want to check ???, the trade plates only cover the area between them , they should be on the outside front and rear not on the dash as in the first ranger in the video , if you had had a front damage accident you would be paying for any damage to the front since the plates were behind the damage??? . just checked dvla regs for this info .

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Problem is you loose your trade plate on the motorway and you can't complete your job ,can't win !!!

[@davesav1]

Great Video. I was a trade plate driver for BCA for 3 years and the pay was rubbish. We were paid a flat fee per job plus mileage above 50miles so quick local jobs worked out a just flat rate. A fuel card was provided but travel expenses were not refunded (but sometimes could be offered or negotiated) but jobs were planned for us so the travel was minimised, you collections were close to your drop offs. (eg. 3 local jobs per day would be about £60 per day less your travel)

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Never ever work for BCA treat u like shit

[@Leightonk]

I'll 2nd both these comments, BCA are the worst by far

[@oddities-whatnot]

Not paying you travel expenses if you have no choice but to use public transport is a disgraceful practice.

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@rogertempleman-ed2xvI collected a lot from them, probably went to most of their branches around the UK. The staff at some of them treated trade platers like worthless scum. Soul destroying having such little respect. I got out after two years.

[@EppingForest304]

Sounds like an exhausting job for low pay. Catching the train connections could be a nightmare if there’s a cancellation or delay!

[@andrewwetherhill9339]

Ended up being a hobby more than a job due to £5 before travel expenses paid and the odd coffee all out of £20 per car pick up! BCA back in covid times.

[@oddities-whatnot]

I used to collect a lot from BCA for a prestige dealer up north. Sometimes it would be a nice Audi S5 or VW Golf R but then another day it would be a Vauxhall Astra.

[@TerryG7wrs]

I worked on plates in the 90s for PVDS in Stoke-on-Trent I enjoyed it no money but some lovey cars at home every day

[@alex_the_balding_fat_man]

I did trade plating one summer between "proper jobs" over 2 decades ago and loved it. Not sure I'd have enjoyed it so much in the rain in winter though!

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

7am to 1:30am, my longest day with a trade plate job was 4am to 2am, a brand new Transit Tipper from Central Scotland to Nottingham (Beeston van hire if it's still around ?), it kept breaking down, was an absolute nightmare, eventually chucked it completely on the M1, RAC guy eventually found it was a dodgy connection underneath the battery, was working for a company though and was paid by the hour, this was about 20 odd years ago (1998 i think ?). Shortly after the trade plates i went onto Car Transporters and been driving HGV's ever since.

[@tradeplatetravels]

That sounds like a nightmare day for sure

[@uk_prepper6775]

im a trade plate driver. i just got back from scotland, after working a 19 hour shift, getting soaked to the bone and having to camp out in scotland the previous night because the all the accommodation was either sold out or to expensive, yes i carry a bivi bag, blow up mattress and a sleeping bag.

[@tradeplatetravels]

That sounds rough going. Sorry to hear that.

[@1gerard47]

Funny story,with trade plates i left Glasgow on a bus to Manchester to pick up a ford fiesta that i as a mot inspector had passed it the week before, after i had failed it 4 times,the people that bought it at auction in Manchester threatened us with the ministry of transport saying the car shouldn't have passed,said he bought for his wife, so i was sent to bring it back to Glasgow, when the bus stopped at Manchester a guy ahead of me on the bus also had trade plates,he was picked up by the people that where waiting for me,one hour later they returned realizing the mistake ,any get to the house,the wife was sitting on couch watching tv with a boxof milk tray size of a house,she wouldn't havethey fitted in the fiesta,i asked for the mot failure certificate that was carried out in Manchester, the name of the mot station was the name on the peoples front door,yes the guy failed the car himself had his own garage, tyres where all bald,on the drive back up to glasgow the brakes failed,wipers failed, its dark now only one dipped beam headlight working sat for over an hour as it was raining bloody heavy,drove the last 100 miles using the hand brake,what a shit day,we had to get the car legal to mot it again,at our cost then deliver the car back to Manchester a week later, we reported this story to bishopbriggs testing station as that is the ministry of transports main place in Glasgow,,turns out this guy had scammed a few people this way,buying scrap at auctions then doing the exact thing to many others,scumbag englishman,with a 25 stone wife and the house was a tip ,close to vomiting when i walked in their front door,tyres,engine block old starters in the front garden you get the picture,on returning the car i stuck frozen fish in the headlining,😂😂they probably wouldn't have noticed the smell weaks later, scumbags,this would have made a good short story for tv 😂

[@roberttajeb9570]

I tried similar things in Finland. The difference with your situation is we are classified as gig worker (light entrepreneur in Finnish term). So the app gives us a pool of gigs let’s say Helsinki to Tampere for 40 Euros, 1,5 hr journey. We paid our own expenses (bus ticket home or anything), then it will be deducted from our taxable income. For work over 6 hr you will get 1/2 day of day payment or something. It is all about Finnish tax rules. I did several journeys during my summer holiday from my main work. It was nice to be able to go sightseeing to somewhere new. And sometimes feeling different cars and can give advices for colleagues who are looking for car. Funny story my wife actually fell in love with Volvo because on one of my longer drive I asked her if she would like to accompany me delivering the car to the dealership, for the 6 hr journey she said that the seat on the Volvo is more comfortable than our Mercedes.

[@tommarshall1660]

Used to see trade plate drivers standing by the roadside with the plates in view so lorry drivers would pick them up as they knew they were trusted passengers. I assume that will all be stopped now. Very enjoyable video Chris.

[@tradeplatetravels]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Yes I think hitch-hiking is very much a thing of the past, and it's not something I'd want to do.

[@josephdaly3327]

You should try it for the content alone, show every perspective. For starters, just write "Train Station" or "Bus Station" on a piece of paper and hold out you plate (whilst walking if necessary). And as they like to say on T'internet: you'll be amazed at the results.... it's known as a good walk spoiled!

[@josephdaly3327]

...... you'll probably get a lot of abuse initially, but you'll find that most people in general are decent....especially foreigners, they have the greatest empathy. But don't expect HGV's to stop, as the insurance companies won't cover passengers anymore.

[@774Rob]

I did it once from Haydock on the M6. It didn't take long to get picked up by a lorry.

[@r1273m]

Back in the 1960's when I was a student I hitched all over England. Later, when I had a spell as a driver I would always pick up Trade Plate hitchers, I met so many interesting people. I wouldn't fancy it today though, giving a lift or accepting one!

[@romac9516]

Great video thanks, always interesting to hear alternative ways of earning a crust and you do a great job here.

[@paulconnolly5792]

I used to do this on and off 18 years it's good to see and travel, paid by the mile but it's better by the hour and all expenses paid, I used to hitch on the plates as well that's now a thing of the past

[@Ken_oh545]

Why has the hitching stopped? Too dangerous or has it been made illegal?

[@oddities-whatnot]

I was paid by the hour when I did it, and never had to hitch or even use public transport except in extreme circumstances. Another driver picked me up or I had a hire car at my drop off point. Good system.

[@AI-Records24]

Worked for IT FLEET AUTOMOTIVE. Absolutely horrendous “job”. I’d be out at 4am back for 11pm and be earning £80 odd quid. Auctions treat you like dirt, customers treat you like dirt, company treats you like dirt, everybody does to be fair. Minibus drivers were sound most the time though. Didn’t do it for long, I’m worth a lot more than that and refuse to be taken advantage of. I see you’re on hourly, I would consider that if I needed a side hustle but thankfully life has led me down the path of being a business owner myself now.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Your are so right about the treatment. Trade platers get treated like shit, like you’re nothing. No idea why this is. Hated collecting from IT Fleet, used to take ages to get the cars.

[@col_EFC]

I worked for a firm called uniloads in Warrington back in 2000, when I went out on a Monday morning and if lucky back home by friday afternoon. most of my deliveries where post office vans from LDV in birmingham so I would hich hike and most times sleep in the vehicles that I was delivering plus would deliver HGV's from Immingham Docks, done this for a couple of months but gave it up.

[@Makemineawhiskey]

The absolutely worst company I have ever worked for.

[@Makemineawhiskey]

Just thought of a couple of instances of when I worked for them. I was told to pick up a vehicle in a lay by in Hull. I asked if they meant Anlaby? Next was pick up from the Royal Ecclesiastical Court in Aldershot. 'Do you mean the Royal Logistical Corp?' Then, mission impossible. I had got home about 7.00 p.m. after being out for three days. I got a phone call from them, go down to Southampton,(I lived near B'Ham), pick up a road sweeper and be in Newcastle Upon Tyne by 6.00 a.m. the next morning! The last I heard they were employing lots of Eastern European drivers. I had (Uni)loads of bad experiences with them.

[@robermurpy1000g]

Why no fold up bike? There's so much walking between transport nodes.

[@richardgiles2484]

I looked at doing this part-time when I retired for something to do. The more I found out, the more I didn't like the idea so didn't bother 😂😂

[@tradeplatetravels]

It's definitely not for everyone but I genuinely enjoy it. It depends so much on who you're working for.

[@FireBlade9773]

Me too. What aspects made you decide not to?

[@richardgiles2484]

@FireBlade9773 they just expected way too much for min pay 🤣🤣 happy pottering around the house now and more time on my motorcycle trips 🤣🤣🤣

[@PNH63]

Surely with all ridiculous train ticket prices and long delays and wasted time it’s more efficient to use a low loader?

[@sidneydawe9937]

I used to deliver new cars from Wales to London and pick up old rep cars to drive back. I got paid a total of £5 per return trip. This was in 1975 before we had Sat/navs or mobile phones.

[@abeonthehill166]

I would like to do this job 3-4 days per week. I have a Class 1&2 HGV licence but struggle to find regular work. I have sent an Email to this Guys Firm but don’t know if they have anything starting in the Leeds area . ……Thanks for sharing ……..

[@SamMontgomery-d2c]

Thanks for the video Chris!

[@holteenderavfc375]

I did it for a short while (4 days) for BCA. Worst work experience of my life. Was paid by the car. £15. Had to argue to get train fares refunded and was sent from 1 end of England to the other in one day only to get a none starter in Portsmouth. Refused to pay my train fare home. Had to walk 5 miles to the station. No public transport nearby at that time. On the penultimate day, I picked up a car from Bristol that was due to go to Newcastle. I went home to Birmingham and was due to take it the following day. I was messed around so much and ended up out of pocket overall due to train fares. That next morning I drove the car to BCA in Birmingham and told them where to stick the job. Awful experience. How they get away with what they do and don’t pay beggars belief. Only little benefit I did get from it were a couple of pre signed cheques for £20 fuel each. They didn’t get them back.

[@andywhiteley4341]

Just tried this for 2 months and realised just how badly paid it is. So many hours spent on public transport that you don't get paid for. I was leaving the house at 5:30am some days and not getting home till 9pm, averaging less than £7 per hour.

[@paulstanley4103]

You should display your trade plates on the outside of the vehicle. My workshop was fined £1000 - reduced to £400 when I appealed

[@oddities-whatnot]

When I was in this game few years ago, the company said we had to display the plates in the windows as they didn’t want paintwork being scratched. Most police don’t bother about it although one in Norfolk is keen, got one of the drivers I worked with a fine although the company paid it.

[@paulstanley4103]

@@oddities-whatnot wasnt stopped by the Police - picked up on ANPR camera

[@tombristowe846]

Interesting video. Would a Brompton be a good idea?

[@williamfence566]

Looked at this before and after talking to an agency realized that I'm not prepared to work for less than minimum wage per hour. ( It was with BCA who paid a rate per job ). You are fortunate to get per hour

[@Telecaster4959]

Bca usually pay per hour so I don't know where you were based

[@AI-Records24]

@@Telecaster4959they also farm out to agencies though, who then pay per job

[@davidhall3131]

Great video, thanks for sharing, very informative. Wishing you good luck for the future 🍀

[@keefnbailz]

I worked for IT Fleet and my allocator in the head office was the very best. Makes such a difference to your day when you have a good allocator. Do I miss it ..... not a bit now. Work is a 4 letter word in retirement! 😂

[@Alan_GA]

Glad your video popped up on my feed. There was a time I considered doing this job.

[@jbuckley2546]

I'd put up with a lot of travel disruption to visit glamorous WSM on a wet and grey afternoon.

[@dashingwomble]

I’ve just subscribed mate. Great to see the old country, and to see the motor trade is doing well. Great video. I’m looking forward to seeing more. Cheers 🥂 👍

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you for your support!

[@terencesaunders1357]

I did this job for a car showroom in Bournemouth for many years. They would phone me up to tell me were to go, the furthest I went was Aberdeen to drop off a car and pick one up. Like you I have seen the country. I really enjoyed doing it, can’t do it anymore due to arthritis in my leg.

[@tradeplatetravels]

I'm glad you enjoyed your driving, and sorry to hear about your arthritis.

[@robinjones6999]

My boss would fly me up to Scotland from Gatwick and pre buy all the rail tickets. He also provided loads of detailed maps and bus stops - the whole trip was meticulously planned, so I guess I was lucky. The downside was the garage guys were rather unpleasant and garages I visited would look down on you as some sort of second class citizen

[@deano3580]

Very interesting. There may be scope to put all the petrol and train tickets onto a credit card that gives you air miles or a discount. You may then get paid back just before the CC bill is due the next month.

[@J1M1F]

And land yourself a large benefit in kind tax charge from HMRC doing that 👍

[@SirHackaL0t.]

One of my longest days was Swindon to Camarthen with a new car, then onto Leeds with the customers old car and then train back to Swindon. I left at 5am and got home 11pm. I’m paid by the hour.

[@robinjones6999]

I flew to Aberdeen and drove a Golf back - I was knackered

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Were you paid while on the train !!!!!!!!?

[@SirHackaL0t.]

@@Sam_Green____4114 yup, until I get back to the office

[@robinjones6999]

@@Sam_Green____4114 Yes I was actually - I was paid from the moment I left home till I got back - min wage mind, and the big boss/ owner was mad as a box of frogs (passed away a few months ago)

[@ChrisPatrick-q6k]

Blame Beeching

[@ShadyCrackers]

Thank you for this very informative video. Glad you enjoy your travels! I can definitely see the appeal of it.

[@ConnorTCmT]

How come you didn’t get the train to Weston? Would’ve made more sense to get to the seafront rather than the 40 min walk from worle

[@SteveN-pw4dj]

I used to pick quite a few trade plate hitchers up 20-25 years ago on my travels to and from London. I don't see any now, i guess it is too dangerous to do that now.

[@davidwatson4966]

Hi you need to bo careful saying you work for one company as hmrc may tell you are an employee and have to go on the books at TMC. This was due to a high court ruling if you work for a soul source income.

[@ianburnley6873]

Trade Plate Driving or Delivery Driver (Same as a Trade Plate Driver but for jobs where you don't need plates) is OK as a retirement job or part time, but as a full time career I wouldn't recommend it, mostly long hours for low pay.

[@thomasm1964]

If you work exclusively for someone, have to work the hours given and cannot work for anyone else, HMRC considers you to be an employee regardless of whatever your contract says.

[@tradeplatetravels]

Only the first one applies to me, but I will look into this as I've had similar comments. I'm not an expert on tax as you can probably tell...

[@yonmons]

Did it for a short while when I retired from the cops, absolute donkey work, long days/ hours could go on ages about it I’ll leave it to someone else thanks.

[@garyrawson7549]

Chris another cracking video. It was good to find out about you and your other work. And fascinating to find out what trade plating involves. Already waiting for your next one 👍

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you for your support Gary

[@julianowens4071]

Seems like you really enjoy your work,you certainly get to travel and I’ll bet you drive some nice cars

[@tradeplatetravels]

Mainly vans and pick-up trucks!

[@paulbennett8516]

Hi Chris excellent video i was a trade plate driver with BCA for a year enjoyed the job but the organisation of the work was pretty crap & they would be reluctant to pay my expenses after telling me to take taxies & buses to jobs

[@oddities-whatnot]

Yes, and no idea how they can do that. Id refuse to use public transport and say if you want me to use it, you pay for it.

[@MrTrooper31]

I was a Trade Plater for many Years after leaving the Army Starting with HGVs Then i worked for a few months for a company who were basically CROOKS and there customer service to the dealerships in my area was shocking.I started then as a sole trader with my own plates and thats were the Money is 4k a month clear wasn't un common and built a good reputation in my area but not all roses as some customers are not to be trusted,but the good ones are who appreciate you are well worth keeping.Cutting overheads i was always with my Plates out and got some unbelievable Lifts and gathered a lot of like minded trade platers as contacts and what we call the buddy system to help each other out.I retired due to health reasons in 2019 but never regret doing it

[@cmg7960]

So OK question ???? TRADE PLATE, FOOD APPS, TOP UP INSURANCE. Is it worth doing ?? I was a motorcycle courier 20 years ago and have worked in the taxi industry since. I want to be back alone by myself on the road.

[@willswheels283]

This is a job I like the sound of, you’r your own boss, you plan your work days and you get to see places you wouldn’t otherwise get to see. I used to do a vehicle delivery driver job for a logistics firm and I loved the long trips to Scotland and to Portsmouth but most of my days were spent driving fairly “local” trips to Birmingham, Manchester or up to Newcastle upon Tyne and that area. I have off street parking, ie a communal private car park so I guess that wouldn’t prevent me from doing it, and my local station is about 2 miles away so that’s a sort of plus. Do they expect you to use a computer system on an iPad to take pics before and after collection and a questionnaire to fill in on the condition of the vehicle? I found this sort of thing can slow your progress down, especially if it’s raining heavily. How do you get to places that don’t have a local railway station? Interesting vid by the way, thanks.👍

[@norfolkngood8960]

For those self employed and only working for one employer, HMRC tends to take a dim view of this as they can look at itas the employer dodging paying NI etc. I'm sure most of the time it's fine but HMRC can start investigating. When my wife went self employed that was the advice given by HMRC staff at one of their training and Q and A sessions.

[@theWildWests]

However as he clearly states "I have more than one job..." . Therefore genuinely self employed.

[@sassasins031]

@@theWildWests Doesn't work like that unfortunately but with such a low amount of pay HMRC won't chase it.

[@AI-Records24]

I wish they would chase it, unfortunately they aren’t interested in anything other than what you haven’t declared.

[@leoseries]

Never seem to see trade plate driver hitch hikers nowadays. They used to be very common especially on slip roads. Any particular reason?

[@carlharris2808]

I did this job in 1978 in them days lorry drivers the main people to give you a lift because they wanted someone to talk to on the journey and you would slip them a few pounds but now they cannot pick up because of insurance reasons etc some car drivers might stop but not like many years ago.

[@serenityinside1]

@@carlharris2808plus too many lunatics with mental health / drug issues around 😯

[@Makemineawhiskey]

I plated for years. As well as drivers not having insurance there are cameras. I got picked up by a mate, just coincidence, on a slip road to the M6. He told me he had been fined, caught on camera, the slip road being classed as part of the motorway.

[@AI-Records24]

Everyone’s too stressed

[@oddities-whatnot]

Not safe these days. I wouldn’t get in a strangers car now. Did it when I was young but it’s a big risk.

[@williamkerr2304]

You seem very enthusiastic about your job I am glad you get paid by the hour otherwise its not worth doing there are a lot of companies in your game kick the arsenal out of it paye

[@oddities-whatnot]

I was paid by the hour so on a 17 hour day you make a few quid just for driving a nice car or two.

[@Sonya_Makepeace]

My Dad's mate used to do this, it was a pain in his backside. The pay was rubbish for the hours and he only got paid, one way.

[@trendingnewsnow007]

Nice videos. Still sorting out my full drivers licence, i'll surely try TP Driving

[@oddities-whatnot]

It’s a good job if you find a decent company. I worked for a prestige car dealer delivering and collecting cars around the UK. Just make sure you don’t get forced into driving cars that are not roadworthy, illegal tread or no MOT etc this is a bit of a grey area as unless its pre-booked into a LOCAL garage to get the work done, you cant drive it 200 miles to get the MOT, its supposed to be a reasonable distance and not simply passing loads of test centres on the way. This is important as in the rate event of an accident, the insurance provided by your company will not be valid, simply because it has no MOT. I know a company that worked like this. Thats why I got out of that game. It’s my license at the end of the day and I wont risk it for any company that likes to turn a blind eye to the rules.

[@RogersRamblings]

I did a couple of years as a trade plate driver in the early 90s. This before sat navs were readily available and mobile phones were in their infancy. Smartphones were still in the realms of science fiction. A couple of jobs stand out. Starting from West London (where I lived at the time) I had to take a car to Paisley (south west of Glasgow) for 9am. The next collection was from Cumbernauld to go to a village near Nantwich. This was now late afternoon. When I phoned the office, I could make my way home (hitch-hiking) and take potluck for the following day, or there's this... "This" was travel back up to Glasgow (I was the nearest driver) and pick up the following (Friday) morning in the centre of the city, drive to Dyce (near Aberdeen) swap cars and return to the same place in Glasgow to pick up another car to be in Surrey for Monday morning. OK, I'll do that. Hitching to Glasgow I arrived at Hamilton services in the late evening. It was Edinburgh Festival week and all the B&Bs/hotels were full so I ended up spending the night in the coffee shop. In the morning, I hitched into Glasgow and was dropped within walking distance from my pickup point. Heading to Dyce I stopped for a meal and sleep. Returning to Glasgow I collected the car to go to Surrey and set off south. I stopped for fuel and was several miles down the road when I realised I hadn't got a receipt so I could claim back the fuel. After going back I set off again and stopped at the Carlisle BP Truckstop for the night. The following morning (Saturday) I set off south on the A6, I was in no rush so decided to take the senic route. I was at Preston when the skies opened and since I couldn't see the scenery I saw no point in staying on the scenic route and joined the motorway. From then on, direct to London. Another job was to collect from a house the address for which was South Hill, Callington, Cornwall. Looking at that one might think South Hill is the name of a street. It's not, it's a loose collection of houses about three miles away on single track roads.

[@tradeplatetravels]

This makes me realise how lucky I am with the comparatively easy jobs I have!

[@RogersRamblings]

@@tradeplatetravels The people I worked for was a TP company with a number of clients.

[@rogertempleman-ed2xv]

Next time try Ecomotive Leicester all expenses paid ,fuel card ,occasional taxi ,weekly pay

[@RogersRamblings]

@@rogertempleman-ed2xv The only driving I do now is for my own pleasure. 😁😁

[@LukaFontain]

Half way through, when you stay that the first pro of trade plate driving is that you love trade plate driving...that's the main thing. There are many people earning much more than you are who hate what they're doing.

[@yellowsocks.wow24]

Very informative.. thanks Chris

[@travelcampervansandmore]

Hi, I suggest anyone desiring to be a trade plate driver to avoid companies recruiting only self-employed drivers (unless that’s what you want to be). These companies are known within the industry as “slave merchants”.

[@andrewjohnson8465]

Do you have any videos regarding what equipment you take when you're working? Like dashcam phone holder etc. And how do you attach the trade plates to the cars? Thanks in advance

[@tradeplatetravels]

I haven't made any videos like that - yet - but it's something I may do in the future.

[@paulbarnett7196]

how do you fix your plates to the car?

[@martinpearson716]

Hi Chris, just come across your videos and the job and it looks extremely interesting. Anything in the central belt of Scotland with your company? I’m retired now after being made redundant but this looks very interesting. Would need to be an employed basis as self employed doesn’t interest me. Look forward to hearing from you (when your not driving)

[@johnralston5164]

Thanks, great video!

[@danielhopwood5985]

I like the idea of doing this as a job, but i have nowhere to park at home, maybe that is why i recently got rejected from one i applied for, i have no points and have never had an accident in 29 years, so i thought i would have a good chance of getting the job. , , Anyway, thanks for posting this video 👍

[@taxi134-y1q]

Good luck to you fella.

[@huwprice881]

I'm working as a self employed trade plate driver. I get my routes the evening before, plan my routes and buy rail tickets on TrainSplit, if there's a saving to be made. I invariably work a ten hour day, but it can be a lot longer when things don't go to plan. You need to be flexible and diplomatic, and happy to be alone most of the time. I get my expenses paid and then my earnings are based upon miles driven - not so good when you spend ten hours on the train and then drive 25 miles! Daily earning vary from £25 to £70, most people doing it seem to be retired and looking for something to get out of the house. I enjoy seeing lots of new places and the challenge of making it through the day.

[@alanhayward6719]

Very useful and informative video.

[@andrewbeards9760]

Shite pay long unsociable hours ?

[@Joe-lb8qn]

Interesting. Have you consider getting a brompton or similar folding bike to speed up some of the walks from and to train or bus stations?

[@tradeplatetravels]

It's a good idea but not for me - partly because I enjoy a good walk anyway!

[@mallyredfearn6834]

I used to always want to do this, but with no off street parking I couldn't.

[@andrewkimber6183]

great video. back in 1990,I spent 4 months with 'Car Carrying' of East london. The plus was some great cars to kick the bollox out of,(almost no cameras,humps etc),so it could be a lot of fun.The minus was terrible pay ( a rate per job) and many overnight stays away from home. For their customers,it was 'dead money',hence tight margins and low pay

[@ibs5080]

Hello Chris. Ibrahim in Canterbury here. Dual Brit-Canadian who's other home is Vancouver. Just came across your channel and see you've got a lot of very interesting content for a petrolhead like me. I'm now subscribed to your channel and playing catch up with your many videos. Just even a quick look at all your video titles and thumb nails, I can tell I'm in for quite a viewing treat. Well done Sir!

[@tradeplatetravels]

What a very nice comment. Thank you Ibrahim, really appreciated!

[@ibs5080]

@@tradeplatetravels You are very welcome Chris. It will take me a while to work through all your videos but I will most certainly do so. I just had another scroll through your video titles and it truly does look very interesting indeed. I've also had a quick look at your presentation style. Very agreeable. Btw on a side note, I attend many car shows throughout the year and after the event, I often come to YT to see who's made a video of the event. On several occasions I've been most surprised to see myself in the background. Then there was one car show where I actually got interviewed for a YT video, purely as an attendee. Obviously none of this applies for your channel but just thought you might find it amusing.

[@mjp34]

I did this when I was a student around 1991-1994. Of course the old August number plate change worked well with the student holidays. The pay wasn’t fantastic but it was easy money and I got to travel around the country. One of the regular jobs was to drop cars at Hull for export to members of the armed forces. I was also asked to do the same at Dover one New Year’s Eve. The set up was very different at Dover and the customs people were not happy. I ended up in the ‘cells’ for the night whilst my story was checked out. Not the best New Years Eve but all part of life’s rich tapestry. Not sure it would be as good these days due to the greater volume of traffic and large numbers of bell ends that don’t seem to have ever taken a test.

[@cmg7960]

Honestly This would be perfect for me, I am based In Kent, but have my own house in Stoke on Trent. My mother still is in Stoke and she is now 73 years old. I have a full motorbike license since 1993 and passed my Auto car license last September this job looks fun.

[@TheVicar]

Only being able to drive auto cars is going to restrict you massively

[@cmg7960]

@@TheVicar yeah I can drive manual and understand the bite point of a clutch prolly going do that test soon

[@cmg7960]

@@TheVicar Yeah I know, but I also have a full Motorbike license and a base in Kent and Stoke On Trent I can sleep at ?

[@barryfoster453]

Interesting video. Seems to be long hours and the usual fairly poor pay, so not for me (I'm newly retired, so looking for something). It seems to me that the very good reason why companies are always asking for staff is because the pay isn't great! I just turned down a part-time parcel delivery (self-employed) which is paying 92p per parcel!!! They started off the conversation by asking me when I could start...and that's why they are desperate for drivers! And I should add, that 92p was before insurance costs for carrying their parcels. Then there would be fuel, my own insurance, cost of van... I would be lucky to earn 50p! Car delivery would suit someone who loves travel for poor pay. Nice to see differing places, though, and I have just come back home from Brean, near Weston Super Mare to Reading! Coincidence.

[@redballoonstickers]

Autoplate in Middlesbrough pay u £80 a day and u could do anywhere from 12 to 15 hours that day

[@johngriffith5231]

slave labour

[@yessanknow302]

That's terrible.

[@LucidAmethyst]

The obvious question is can you use a trailer to take the vehicles, or even a flat bed? Thus giving you a means to get back?

[@bigglesace1626]

I worked out of Upper Heyford for years, went all over the country. Every day was different and the challenge of working out connections was satisfying, but some days were long. My longest days were up to Inverness and back in a day, lol. Happy days, then, but it got worse in later years with much more one ways and even longer days. Even more 'fun' arriving in the middle of nowhere to find the job's an abort - car not there. Had a few of those, as far afield as Newcastle and even Scotland.

[@tradeplatetravels]

I love the challenge of working out all the connections

[@CHUKDEPHATTE]

The weirdest thing, I have been thinking about trade plating, because i love driving, and this popped up on my feed. that said, i think i may have been romanticising what is actually involved. Thanks for the insight.

[@TheVicar]

Its all about walking around in the rain, planning and using public transport and then not getting paid enough to bother with the hassle

[@AI-Records24]

@@TheVicarexactly. Please do not do it (OP) it’s not worth your health or sanity go and work in Aldi or something and get paid a lot more. Even mcds pay more and you can advance too.

[@staceyismine]

Think you would be best to show a weekly wage break down then a monthly breakdown

[@redkevful]

Back in the mid 80s I worked on trade plates for a couple of friends vehicle delivery company. Didn't do many cars , it was mainly Mercedes Benz wagons from the Mercedes yard near Wakefield and later just outside Barnsley to anywhere in the UK. Most of the time I was using my thumb to get lifts, a time when wagon drivers would give lifts anywhere, the odd occasion I would get the train. There is no way I would do the job these days, not many wagon drivers are allowed to pick up passengers

[@andrewmulvaney5283]

I did the job from 08-18 and if I didn't earn £100 a day it was a poor day. Wouldn't do it now because it's self employed and per job which makes it pointless with the travel between jobs.

[@00L000]

Why don’t you just get a HGV license?.. you get to drive all over the UK. You get good facilities in your truck.. eg bed, fridge etc. and you can earn 17-20ph average.

[@AndrewBishop1971]

even more for ADR

[@bigbrother5777]

As a HGV driver of 40 years, I'll say you are wrong @00L000. You get minimum time with family, get treated most sites like an inconvienient problem, little chance of decent food, stress through the roof with meeting schedules, pay that rarely meets expectations outside of M25, an with newest regs are automatically at fault in any collision

[@00L000]

@@bigbrother5777 well this is false from a driver of 2 years. Working 4 on 4 off for a high street retail shop in the NW paying £24 per hour.

[@robertdey9492]

Shit job done it. Hitching lifts getting soaked walking for miles without lifts.

[@robertdey9492]

Had an HGV 1 and PSV so could move anything. Also if you lost a plate like most do you had to pay for replacement.

[@tellemnothing.7146]

Great video Chris, you must take some great photos on your travels.

[@tradeplatetravels]

Thank you!

[@davidbarlow350]

Spent many years as a plater,but i wouldn't want to do it now considering the standard of driving on British roads. Used to hitch nearly everywhere and never waited more than 15/20 minutes for a lift.(always dress smartly and have a clear destination sign). Collected all over the Country ,also went to France and Spain to collect vehicles. Gave up about 4 years ago.I noticed then that lifts weren't so easy as people become more selfish. it can involve very long days,but ,by hitching,you do meet a lot of interesting people. I always thought that the fact they stopped for you meant they couldn't be that bad a character. Only ever had one lift that was uncomfortable as the bloke didn't seem to know how to drive!

[@Robdoesguitar]

I got picked up by a chap near Telford who had a sheep in the back of car!

[@davidbarlow350]

@@Robdoesguitar I had the same thing happened while hitching in Wales(funnily enough). Although he was a farmer and the sheep was in the back of his small van

[@josephdaly3327]

It's mostly the interesting people that pick you up, and they are usually good conversationalists, which makes the journey much more enjoyable! If you think about it, us hitchhikers are probably the original influencers. No one would even think of giving you a lift if you weren't standing there with your thumb out, or trade plate in hand... It's the idiots who just pap, holler and pass you by that have the real e-motion-al issues!

[@robinharrison3907]

Great Video Bud 👍👍Very interesting watch 👍Seen people with Trade Plates now I know what they are doing 👍👍

[@AdventCocktailRecipes-wg5vx]

I think I'd invest in a folding bike to get me between stations and pick-ups/ offs.