Author: News Desk

2020 – Are We There Yet?

Posted on by News Desk

So, delivery drivers are (somewhat) breathing a sigh of relief that Christmas is finally over and the last-minute deluge of everyone needing everything yesterday has almost abated. (Unless you’re still working like a dog delivering sale parcels here, there and everywhere). Hopefully, you’ve had a good few days off, will enjoy another this week before things start to resume an air of finally getting back to something approaching normality. 

Spare a moment for some reflection on the year you’ve had. Maybe you’ve got a new van, maybe 2020 is the year you’re going to. What lessons did you learn this year? How many parking fines, tickets and arguments with traffic wardens did you get into? If it’s single digit, you’re doing okay. If it’s more, maybe the new millennium will be the time for you to think about how you can redress the balance a little. 

How’s your health been? Sitting behind the wheel day after day isn’t the healthiest life, and the stress of being on the road doesn’t just wash over most people. Are there things you could do better or do you need to work some regular exercise into your routine? Or find a better way to blow off steam at the end of a working week than sinking a few pints in the pub. 

How about your driving? Did you have any near misses or scrapes and dings you could have avoided with a little more care and attention? Did your rush to be at your destination get the better of you sometimes and lead to silly mistakes you didn’t need to make?

Did you get any speeding fines or other points on your license this year? Could you have avoided them? If you did, no doubt you’re paying the price in terms of your van insurance premiums. If you already have a few convictions are you going to find yourself in a tough spot if you rack up any more this year? 

Did you neglect keeping on top of your servicing and van maintenance? Did a little problem become bigger as a result? Driving without up to date tax and insurance is just foolish and keeping your van on the road when it needs some TLC is equally irresponsible. 

Buying a new van? How will you finance it? Make sure you look into all the different options that are available before committing to whatever the dealership suggests. 

What will the next few years hold? Maybe you’re happy to just keep on trucking, but maybe you’re looking forward to working a new patch or changing what your day to day driving involves. If so, make some tangible goals you can work towards getting to where you want to be.

Wherever you’re going, and whatever you’re doing, just remember if you’re van insurance requirements are going to change, we’ve got your back. Just fill in our simple form for the best quotes for van insurance to be coming to you direct, leaving you free to worry about something else (possibly) far more interesting.

Van drivers, we salute you all and wish you a very happy new year.

The Van Driver’s Carol Service – Part Two

Posted on by News Desk

Wow – we were blown away by last week’s carols – you LOVED them!

So, who were we to say no, when you asked for more? But, with just 2 days before Christmas, before we bless you with yet another CVI belter, we did just want to take a moment to thank you all. You keep our country moving. Businesses, big and small simply couldn’t function without you. Hopefully, it’s just a matter of hours before you can deliver that last parcel, hang up the van keys and just relax for a few days, before it starts all over again.

Van drivers of the UK; we salute you.

On the First Day of Christmas:

On the first day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Insurance savings for all to see

On the second day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the third day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the fourth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the fifth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Five-staaaar service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the sixth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the seventh day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the eight day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the ninth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see

On the tenth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Ten roadside repairs, nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see 

On the eleventh day of Christmas, CVI gave to me 

Eleven football shirts, ten roadside repairs, nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, CVI gave to me

Twelve months of savings, eleven football shirts, ten roadside repairs, nine parking tickets, Eight London jobs, seven pairs of socks, six footwell mats, five-star service, four 4 by 2’s, three furry dice, two magic trees and insurance savings for all to see 

Happy Christmas everyone! Safe driving!

All Hail The Van Driver’s Carol Service!

Posted on by News Desk

In honour of you, our wonderful, Great British van drivers, slogging their hearts out year-round, up and down the very core of our green and pleasant land… to celebrate you, we decided we’d create your very own Christmas carols. (Because who wants to sing about Wise Men or do impersonations of Mariah Carey… maybe some of you do, but you probably want to save that for when you’re at home) …

So, with no expense spared, here we go (everybody join in) …

Van Driver’s Wonderland

“Van Drivers, are you listening?

To the song that we’re singing?

We’re driving along, singing our song, 

Saving on insurance as we go.

In the van, there’s some tyres

For our goods, we’ve got buyers

The diesel is paid,

The shortcuts we’ve made

Saving on insurance as we go

In the forecourt, we can eat a pasty

With a nice hot brew to wash it down

Hit some traffic and we’ll say no ma’am

There’re no delays when we are in your town

Later on, we’ll perspire

And set the AC higher

To face unafraid

Rush hour in Portslade

Saving on insurance as we go

We wish you some happy driving

We wish you some happy driving 

We wish you some happy driving

We wish you some happy driving 

And a happy new year

Great savings we bring

Our comparison is king

We wish you some happy driving

And a happy new year

… Admit it, you’re going to be singing these ones loud AND proud! Drive safe!

Tips for Tiredness:

Posted on by News Desk

It’s getting to that time of year when for many of you, our humble, van driving readers, things really shift up a gear (pardon the pun), as Christmas deliveries begin to peak and you’re here, there and everywhere and working all the hours God sends trying to fit 15 hours of work into eight or nine.

It’s exhausting. 

You’re rushing around with impossible targets to hit, just a breath away from telling your boss where to shove it most of the day. The traffic is worse, thanks to the crappy weather and pensioners with nothing better to do than take a little 20 mile an hour pootle into town to look at the pretty Christmas windows, when you’ve got a job to do.

When you feel like that, even if you are working more hours than you know is good for you, it’s important you make time for yourself. Stress causes people to make silly mistakes and tiredness can, as we all know, be fatal. If you’re feeling your blood pressure rising, it’s easy to tell yourself to man (or woman up) and have a few beers to unwind when you get home. But not only is that just making the problem worse, overdo it and get breathalysed in the morning, and it could cost you your job. 

Save the booze for the night before your day off, and start each working day with a clear head.

Eat well. Again, if you are busy and rushing, it’s easy to skip a meal or live off junk food. But good nutrition will give you the energy to face the challenges of a busy schedule.

Try and make time for yourself. Even if you don’t have much, make a little. You may want to lose yourself in gaming, or a box set or a good movie. When you’re doing whatever it is, try and put the phone/iPad/laptop down and focus on doing just one thing.

Try and get some exercise. We get it, you’re exhausted already, but if you’re able to get a kick about in, or a quick gym sesh, the endorphins that creates will make you feel 100% better. And you’ll sleep better too.

Keep electronics out of the bedroom. No sitting on your phone or TV in bed. The blue light emitted is proven to create sleep problems. Instead, focus on using your bedroom for, well, sleeping. 

Don’t kid yourself into thinking that a coffee is going to perk you up when you’re driving. Neither will opening a window. You need to pull over and rest. Just napping for 15 -20 minutes will make all the difference. And you’ll feel refreshed when you wake and more alert and ready to get back on it. 

Take a tip from the ladies. Time spent on you, is time well spent. Go and get a massage (no, not that kind) in a spa or salon. It’s like one of those big secrets of the male world – loads of guys do it, but few admit it. You’ll help undo some of those knots from your time behind the wheel and sleep and feel so much better for it. 

If you need to put the brakes on – do so. We don’t mean your van – we mean all of it. If you are struggling and finding it too much, you need to say no. Whether that’s to extra social activities, or to overtime requests, no amount of extra dosh in your pay packet is worth the consequences if you’re truly burned out.

Perfect Christmas gifts for Van Drivers

Posted on by News Desk

Okay, so you’ve been asked what you’d like and besides that box set and PS4 game that you know you’re not going to get, what can you ask for?

Here are our top ideas to make any driving days just that little bit better.

Like your coffee? How about a portable espresso machine? Perfect for coffee on the go. This takes classic coffee pod filters, and can be plugged in to your van’s power socket.

Or what about a heated lunch box? This is great for those who drive long distances and want a hot meal, without paying an arm and a leg at the service stations – just plug it in to your car charger socket and enjoy a nice warm lunch, rather than a chilly limp sandwich.

Magnetic phone and coin pads.Never be rifling around for coins again, have your phone where you can see it, and generally be a little more organised with one of these. 

Heated seat pads. Because there’s nothing like a warm bum on a cold day! Or, go the whole hog and ask for an in-car electric blanket. Perfect if you’re a driver up north who frequently battles with the snow and can sometimes see yourself stuck in accident traffic or impassable roads. 

In-car Wi-Fi. Turn your cab into your office with one of these great gadgets. Be always on, listen to music, game while you’re waiting for a pick-up (but not in a traffic jam, please)

Mini hoover.Let’s make spiders dropping from the visor a thing of the past, people. An in-van mini hoover can help clear up those crumbs and that dirt in no time. 

Hanging storage. Keep all your paperwork in one place, and find things fast. It will shave a few minutes off your day, and in an industry where every second counts, you’ll be thankful for it.

A lumbar support cushion. Because being a van driver plays havoc with most people’s backs, given enough time behind the wheel. A solid, supporting cushion for your back will pay dividends and save the cost of those trips to the osteopath. (although we can recommend a brilliant one, if you do need one). 

Van detailing kit.Because we all like a nice, clean van, don’t we? Oh, wait. Well, maybe if you get one, you’ll actually use it. We can’t force you to, but you know, it might just give you the motivation that none of the lads have managed. Make it a new year’s resolution. 

A driving experiences.No chugging along, waiting for the diesel to finally kick in and give you some oomph. Blast out your driving frustrations with a track session in a supercar at one of the U.K.’s race tracks and unleash your inner Lewis Hamilton (other F1 drivers are available). 

White Van Men Are Great In Bed, Study Finds

Posted on by News Desk

Well, well well. If this wasn’t something you didn’t already know but are bloody chuffed to read again, here it is…

White van men are good in bed. It’s official! And, as your cheerleaders and (un)official sponsors of white van men and women everywhere, we felt we simply had to share it!

The poll, commissioned by online doctor service, Zava, decreed that while white van men were king of making the moves between the sheets, while tradesmen, managers and house-husbands all left a lot to be desired (probably something to do with the hunky WMV down the road). 

A huge 20% of all the respondents in the survey, white van men included, said stress was a major issue that hampered their love-lives. 

While many men of the 1035 surveyed said at some points in time that they struggled to rise to the occasion, most said that they felt unable to talk to their partner or their doctor about it, and 17% had secretly resorted to taking little blue pills to help alleviate the issue.  Over 60% of managers admitted to struggling to get things moving, 20% more than those who work in skilled or semi-skilled jobs, such as white van men. And the good news is you can feel a little bit sorry for all the rich gits swanning around in their fancy cars and posh suits. Those earning between £60,000 – £100,000 were most likely to report ED issues, the study found.

Something that others, who aren’t white van men, have observed is that there’s something very primal and macho about being a white van man (as if you didn’t know), which probably contributes to their stellar performance in the bedroom. If you’re spending all day being macho and manly, it makes sense that carries on home to your private life. It’s just a more blokey way to live and comes with a certain power and status that other road-users simply can’t muster. 

So, you can keep your suits, and your flash cars and give your van a little pat on the bonnet for making you what you are. A tiger in the bedroom. As soon as you’ve helped the wife with the washing up, that is. 

Winter Driving – Are you prepared?

Posted on by News Desk

As winter spreads its icy tendrils out over our green and pleasant land, most of us don’t do anything to prepare either ourselves or our vans for winter. But the days are most definitely shorter, and the north of the country has already seen its first snow, and some are saying it’s going to be our worst winter for a while. So here at CVI, in the name of being responsible writers, we thought we’d arm you with our top tips for staying safe this winter.

  1. Give yourself more space to the car in front. Yes, we know this goes against everything many van drivers believe, but being bumper to bumper with the car in front isn’t actually a good idea, especially in winter. Slowing down and giving yourself more space to the vehicle in front, so you have a greater chance of recovering the van if you do lose control can be the difference between life and death – not just yours, but of other vehicles around you. 
  2. Check your van is ready for the road. That means checking your tyre pressures are ok, (even better if you have a set of winter tyres for this time of year), your fluids are topped up, including some de-icer in your screen wash, your van battery is working well and you have a personal emergency kit ready if you need it. That includes water, a blanket or duvet and a couple of little snack bars to keep you going if you do get stuck. It’s recommended that you check your type pressure each week to be safe. Also check your roadside emergency kit is complete, your fire extinguisher is tested and you have everything you should have.
  3. Winter tyres are worth the investment. They will ensure you have better grip in the ice and snow, are less likely to aquaplane in the wet and the compound is better suited to winter conditions. Invest in a set and they should last you for years to come. 
  4. Do you know how to handle your van in case of a spin or a skid? Just thinking through and visualising how you’d handle this will leave you better prepared than just winging it in the moment. 
  5. Keep everything clean. Again, we know keeping your van clean isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but ensuring windscreens, lights and wiper blades are clean and in good working order can help keep your vision of the road at its best.
  6. Give yourself extra time. When the weather is bad, don’t just assume you’ll get from A to B in your usual time. You won’t, and rushing to get there is putting your life in danger when conditions are bad. 
  7. Try to avoid stopping on hills in snowy and icy conditions. Use a low gear to get to the top, because once you’ve stopped on a steep hill, getting going again, especially in a heavy van, is easier said than done. 
  8. Make sure your van insurance is up to date and you have enough cover for the contents. If you’re delivering Christmas gifts, check your policy covers the full value of what you’re carrying. The cheapest van insurance policy often isn’t the best. Thankfully, this is something we can help with, by filling out our form and getting the pick of the best deals and offers available.

All these things can help to keep you safe, keep other road users safe and make sure you’re around for the joys of spring, even if it does feel as if that’s a very long time to wait still. 

Why you may be feeling SAD…

Posted on by News Desk

While the majority of our readers here at CVI are waiting each week with baited breath to read out latest news, it appears that one or two of you may be nodding off… at the wheel.

Yes, in shocking news from Motoring Research, they found that almost half of all van drivers have, at some point, fallen asleep at the wheel. And now the clocks have gone back, van drivers up and down the country are even more likely to feel tired and struggle with their moods during the shorter days and longer nights.

The study of 2,000 van drivers found that 83% of respondents said that tiredness was a greater issue for them during the autumn and winter months, and 45% said that they find their mood to be affected by the change of seasons. And why wouldn’t you? Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect many of us in countries with short winter days, and long dark nights, and while treatment is surprisingly straightforward, it appears to be something that many people are embarrassed to seek medical help for.

Going back to falling asleep at the wheel – if you are feeling a little drowsy, what should van drivers who are feeling sleepy to do? Well, it’s been proven that simply opening the window doesn’t work, so that’s 58% of the respondents to the survey who aren’t doing the right thing. At all. Instead, the guidance is to pull over and take a 15-45-minute nap, and thankfully 2/3 of the van drivers said that they do actually this when they are really tired. 

But if you do feel that it’s a little more than a bad night’s sleep and this time of year brings a repeat of the same symptoms, the advice is simple, make sure you lay off the caffeine and alcohol, get a regular sleep pattern, take some form of exercise to boost endorphins and tire you a little and seek medical advice if you feel that you are a sufferer of SAD (Seasonal Affective disorder). If going to the doctors is too much, you could also invest in a SAD light for yourself. Just 10 minutes a day is enough to help make those depressing dark mornings a tad less terrible. 

Van Theft is Only Getting Worse.

Posted on by News Desk

Shocking news here at CVI HQ. 

We’re disappointed to report that new figures show that the number of stolen vans has increased by 45% since 2015. 

45%! 

If that wasn’t bad enough, the last year has been particularly awful for white van man and woman, with nearly 10,000 vans reported stolen in 2018/19.

We’re sad for you. It shouldn’t be this hard to make a living, without some little git having it away with your motor. And as if living in London and dealing with that traffic and congestions charges wasn’t punishment enough, more thefts occurred there than anywhere else (4,777 – nearly half of all vans stolen in the past 12 months). That’s an increase of 15% on the figures from 2017/18.

Outside of the capital, Leicestershire was the second worse area in the country for van thefts, with an 8x increase from the previous year.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, who commissioned the report, suggests that keyless vehicle entry could be partially to blame for the rise in van thefts. That’s definitely one new bit of kit you don’t want on your car. 

Better news however, if you live in the West Midlands, who saw a huge 73% decrease in van theft, which likely has nothing at all to do with Aston Villa being promoted to The Premiership this season, but you never know. Meanwhile, Surrey saw a scant 1% decrease which possibly might be rugby or cricket-related but that’s not our forte and we’re clutching at straws a bit, so we’ll leave that conclusion there.

Keyless Entry is Problematic

Keyless entry is proving to be more of a potential problem than a benefit it seems with thefts of both cars and vans on the rise, thanks to technology hacks that allow thieves an easy way in. And while the wisdom is to add extra security locks and bulkheads and to park your van in a way that doors can’t be accessed easily, it’s not really that simple, is it? You didn’t buy a van tonotbe able to easily access all the extra things you’ve got inside it, without moving it somewhere else and bringing out a prison warden size set of keys for all the extra bolts and padlocks you’ve been forced to add. 

Personally, we’d be insisting on a van without keyless technology, if we were in the market for a new one. But keyless or not, it just goes to show just how important a good van insurance policy is for you guys and girls. And if it’s renewal time, its more important than ever that you check the small print and T&Cs to ensure your personal belongings are also covered and that your van insurance premium adequately covers the costs of the goods that you’re transporting. And that we can help with. Just fill out our form and let the best providers save you a job by coming to you with the most competitive insurance quotes around.

A Haunting Tale About Van Drivers in a Post-Apocalyptic Brexit World

Posted on by News Desk

Brexit. 

If like 99.9% of the UK population, you’ve given up trying to understand what the hell happened, what is going to happen and what’s real or not real, like the rest of us, you’re probably over it, and resigned to whatever will happen, will happen.

Let alone trying to understand what any of it actually means.

If you’re a UK van driver who drives their van… well, in the UK, the answer is that to a large degree, Brexit won’t affect you if it does actually happen on October 31st.

If you drive abroad, we hope you’ve looked into the implications in a little more detail, as it’s potentially the stuff of nightmares. 

The customs implications for importing and exploring in and out of Europe are many – there is the extra time it takes to prepare and procure the correct paperwork. There’s the expense of paying for customs charges, most of which will be charged back to the client, but will add extra costs onto your bottom line. Then there’s the time of waiting at borders to have your goods checked in and checked out. If you’re delivering fresh food items for a client – this could be a massive blow to them – and you.

Basically – you’re buggered. 

There is an action in place to try and ensure that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, that both sides agree a continuation as things are until the end of the year, while a solution is sought, but this still has sticking points if you’re travelling through non-EU countries such as Switzerland and there will be restrictions on the number of deliveries that can be made under this agreement.

Added Van Insurance Costs

If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also need to ensure you have a foreign use extension to over any countries you deliver to. And a green Card driving permit to drive in the EU post-Brexit (currently not charged for by your insurance company, but give it time…) These Green Cards are only valid for a maximum of 90 days, so you’ll need to be sure you’re on top of renewing these to keep driving legally abroad. And you should already have one, but you need to be sure you’re not driving on a UK standard license – you’ll need an international driving permit.

While we wait with bated breath to see what happens, we at CVI can’t see how Brexit’s going to be a good thing for our international van driving friends. All you can do, is ensure you have a really good van insurance policy, that your paperwork is in order, and that you pack extra sandwiches for the inevitable long queue at customs. Sweet dreams all, don’t have nightmares. 

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