In-Car Essentials for the Courier

Even if you have been doing owner driver jobs for some time, you may not be fully equipped to make the most of every day you spend on the road. A little advance planning can make all the difference between struggling through the day and enjoying every moment of it.

So with that in mind, here are some pointers you can think about when you are out and about doing owner driver jobs.

Always pack snacks

Owner driver jobs mean you can drive for miles in a single day. You can't do that without eating something, but there is no reason to resort to unhealthy snacks such as chocolate bars. If you want a mood-enhancing snack to rely on, make sure you pack easy to eat fruit and vegetable sticks, as well as healthy nuts.

Have an in car charger for your mobile phone

There is nothing worse than realising you forgot to charge your phone the night before and having it run down on you while you are on the road. Make sure your forgetfulness never gets in the way of a job well done - get an in-car charger that slots into your cigarette lighter socket. This means you can charge your phone while you are driving.

Carry spare change

You never know when you might need cash for something when doing owner driver jobs. It's fine to carry a note or two, but there is no substitute for a few odd coins. This is particularly true if you live or work near a toll road of some kind. Always make sure you have some in the car, but don't keep any of it in plain sight.

Always have a collection of spare ballpoint pens

One pen is never enough. There are always occasions when a customer signs for an item and then walks off with your pen without even thinking about it. If you only have the one pen and you don't realise it is missing until half a mile up the road, you'll be stuck. So be prepared.

Always have a bottle of water on hand

You need to keep hydrated if you want to maintain a good attention span and alertness - important if you are driving for much of the day. Pop a bottle of water in the freezer overnight and take it out to take with you the next morning when you leave for work. This is the best way to ensure you have a cold drink on hand to sip all day. Coffee and tea are fine too, but you'll end up with headaches if that is all you drink all day.

If you employ these few tips to ensure you are prepared for most things, you'll have a much nicer day behind the wheel than you may have otherwise.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day owner driver jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.