The gig economy has, in recent years, become something of a fixture in the UK economy. More and more people are getting into freelancing gigs, whether or not they really are self-directing their work or simply working on a freelance contract with a company that might have traditionally been their employer. From freelance taxi-like services to deliveries, drivers are a significant portion of this new workforce of freelancers. However, those looking to get into that line of work should know a few things about the kind of career they want.


You may be in need of additional training

For certain freelance driving jobs, passing your driving test might be enough to qualify you. However, if you’re looking to drive larger vehicles in order to work as part of the delivery services running through the country, you’re likely to need a special license to drive the vehicles in question. Even if that isn’t the case, it might be recommended you go to driving school simply to sharpen your skills and remain as vigilant on the road as you can.

There are limits to how much you can drive

A lot of people might be thinking about the notion of driving all day to earn as much money as possible. However, recent changes to driving labour laws could mean that you don’t spend quite as much time on the road as you might think. The laws can differ depending on the circumstances, with different regulations on HGV driving hours compared to regulations on regular car driving hours. However, it’s important to make sure you know what your limits are within the law. Not only can you be held liable for driving too much, but most who hire driving contractors will endeavour to ensure they don’t push past those limits.

You will be expected to work around any obstacles yourself

Freelance couriers or drivers need to learn how to think on their feet when it comes to the kind of delays and obstacles that you might encounter on the road. A blocked route or situation that involves a lot of traffic can be a serious roadblock in your earnings. As such, make sure that you’re using a high-quality GPS that can help with smart route planning.

You’re likely to need your own insurance

All drivers are going to need car insurance, of course, but when driving becomes your profession then you might need additional insurance to cover your professional liabilities. For instance, you may have a need for HGV haulage insurance, which protects the value of the goods within the vehicle should you end up in a collision, accident, or incident that otherwise damages your goods. Otherwise, you might find that you have to pay the cost of any goods that get damaged during transit.

Freelancing as a driver is a viable option for a lot of people looking to make some additional money. However, it’s not always as simple as it is often made out to be.