I was plating back in 2005-2006, everything was on paper then. I hated the sound of a stone hitting the vehicle screen even by keeping my distance from the back of lorries-we were self employed and contracted by the plating company so any damage had to come out of our wages. The trick with used cars was to mark down that the windscreen already had CV ( chips various)!, so if you got a stone chip it had already been signed for by the sender! The dead end days happened two to three times a month and that wasn't nice because you had to get yourself to your first collection the next day without a vehicle from the previous day. Used to collect from Long Marston, Upper Heyford and some Top Gear test track storage compound up the M1. You learnt where you could hitch from and where not to, 12 hour days were considered normal with my worst being a 19hr day (nearly fell asleep at the wheel coming home)! Blackbush auctions was a nightmare-always the last collection of the day-the cars were running on fumes so you had to try to coast them to the nearest filling station-ran out of petrol one night there-had to hitch to buy a fuel can and fuel-put another 1 1/2 hrs on an already 14 hr day! We used to recieve our collections the night before via fax and the company would aim for us to move upto four vehicles a day, so sometimes we could phone the customers that evening and arrange a cheaky lift. Sometimes we would get a key to key so you already had a vehicle waiting for you at your drop-off point, and pulling your vehicle from a storage compound before they closed whilst you were delivering another vehicle was common, so you knew that you had a set of wheels at the end of the day-whenever that would be! The one thing that was good out of all the difficulties was the sense of adventure-you really had to plan your hitching points, what trains you could use and build up a list of other platers who could help you out. I expect now electric vehicles make their own complications with planning charging stops and the time that those stops would comsume. If I had to I would do it again but probably on a part time basis if that oppurtunity arose, but I don't think I would have the energy now for the long days (and the electric cars would do my head in ! I suppose all platers have to take their share of milkfloat deliveries these days !)

Did this job for IT Fleet a good few years back now. Always had a carry home, and for 95% of the time, it was a job I enjoyed. So glad I didn't have the pain of charging milk floats and hanging around!

I did trade plate deliveries everything from cars to 50 ton cranes Including trucks. And we only used public transport inside the M25. Going home the same day is not being a trade plater driver. I started Sunday night/Monday morning and finished on Friday unless I could do a pick up from somewhere like Trafford Park. Drivers who did jobs like you have just shown were the lowest paid and missed the best part of the job. Aberdeen drop off to Lockerbie pick up hitching in between is a two drop day. We tried to get four or more a day and help out other drivers. The Aberdeen drop started in Portishead. Although I lived near Rochdale my base office was in Avonmouth. Great to hear about the people still doing the job, but I miss the experience of never being quite sure that you would get to the last vehicle before the place closed 😅

Just a bit of advice I got from a friend, charge ups between 25-85% take less time than the last 20% (40-60mins). So it’s better to stop twice. Elon musk explained it best “imagine the battery is an empty car park, whilst there’s lots of spaces, it fills up very quickly, once you get to 80% capacity, cars then have to do a lot more driving around to find the last few spaces and that’s what drags out the last bit of charging)

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

Wow I had no idea that’s how it works, super helpful advice thanks! 😊

@chrispenn715

Ай бұрын

Yep - you beat me to it. I have an MG4 EV which I happily do 500 mile round trips with. I start from home with 100% and then top up to 80% when I need to (every couple of hundred miles). I usually need a pee break before the car needs to stop 🙂

@stephengreen8986

Ай бұрын

As an Electric car owner I didn't know this either. I try to follow the charge at 20 stop at 80 rule on home charging but like formula 1 a two stop strategy can make sense on a journey.

@54356776

Ай бұрын

Anyone who's had any electronics in their life should know this. Batteries are all like this. I'm not looking for conflict when I say this, it's just lots of people think of ev's and don't register the existing references that they've already experienced. Charging a phone or a car is mostly the same thing.

@IanBennetts

21 күн бұрын

Bit late to mention it now but... The iPace can charge at up to 100kW, there's an MFG 150kW charging station just a few minutes away from that 50kW BP charger. Could've got to 80% in 40 minutes. One problem with EVs is that they're all different when it comes to charging and you need to know in advance so you can use it correctly. Good thing it wasn't a small battery Nissan Leaf with a Chademo connection.

I did this job back in the early 1980,s for a Volvo dealer based in Dumfries just over the border into Scotland. At the time I was 18 years old with a full license held for under a year. It’s inconceivable these days that a dealership would allow such a young person to take charge of a luxury vehicle. Regarding EV’s I have owned them for ten years now. I share your frustrations, they are only suitable for short to medium range, charging on the road is a nightmare.

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

Wow I take my hat off to you because I’d be lost doing this job without a GPS! Yes electrics are great but not for 6 hour drives on an already half battery 😂 what a day!

Great video…More please. Looks like a tricky but enjoyable job.

Nice video buddy. We need more of this 😊

Oh wow I loveeee this!! 😍 show us more!!

Cool Video😎Keep them coming

Just found your Channell,great content and you came across very well in your thoughts and dealings..Thanks.

Hey, thanks for taking the time to do these videos. 4 questions for you: 1. SALARY - you said they pay by the mile. Are you willing to say exactly how much they pay? .... and would you say its better to be paid by the hour? 2. REIMBURSEMENTS - There's another channel similar to yours called TradePlateTravels. He says that certain companies reimburse for any travel, petrol, or electric charging. Is that true? 3. GARAGE/ DRIVEWAY- some job boards say that this is required if the driver takes the vehicle home overnight. Is this true? And how problematic would it be if you don't have these? 4. FLEXIBILITY - one week I may want to work 2 days, and the following week 5 days. Is that okay for most companies?

@jenniferwinters

Күн бұрын

@@mrpeace7708 great questions, I’ll link you to my other video where I do a Q&A but some of these questions I haven’t covered so thanks for brining them up!

She a good talker... entertained me fr 13 mins. 🙂

I've seen a few of these trade plate jobs after falling in a rabit hole.. you're the first one that is with a company that let's you keep the final vehicle overnight so you're not stuck waiting for public transport or finding your own way home. Happy birthday for Wesnesday

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

It’s definitely an interesting job and I can’t recommend giving it a go enough if you’re not the office type (like me) and want something a bit different, but honestly the pay is the downfall. You get paid my the miles you drive not by the hours so the transport inbetween on buses etc isn’t paid and it’s not a good way to earn a liveable income, I was also working weekends at Domino’s to supplement my pay so there’s always that to consider too! 😊

@PaulCunningham-sf5pu

Ай бұрын

Love your video very good

I seen every inch of the uk over 4 years working as a shop fitter it was great lots of travelling but didn’t mind was only young wax an experience

Back in the 1980's, I got paid to drive a few luxury cars too. I used to repossess them for a large finance company. My first job was to locate the vehicle & owner from the details provided by the office. It would mean early mornings & late nights. Some defaulters were extremely belligerent & would not handover keys. Some vehicles were intentionally scammed & often hidden in garages or other locations. I would covertly watch the owner until I found where the car was being kept. I had new keys cut & the police would be informed that I was about to take the vehicle without consent. I took them from driveways, office car parks & taxi ranks. A tough life on the road & not for everyone! Good luck in Canada, I hope it all works out well for you!

Happy belated birthday Jen interesting job

I'm also a driver for Ecomotive, with EVs I never go above 60 mph. The other week I had a Kia EV from BCA Glasgow East, on pickup 28 mile range, luckily there was a charging point 5 mins away, 2 hrs to full charge, got to a shell charging station just of the A1 with around 50% charge, so another hour I was at 100% again, so it was onwards to home in Hull. I only took that car to Eco's office in Leicester, 98 miles range at drop off. Never went above 60

@Jimages_uk

Ай бұрын

Avoid charging to 100%, you are wasting loads of time doing that, let it go down to 20% and then charge up to 80%, it charges a lot faster between those two points, you might have to stop one more time, but over all, you will spend far less time charging, and get to have another coffee break

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

Jeeeeeez pal that’s a rough one, it’s all part of the fun right 😂 I’d take this over an office job any day haha

@54356776

Ай бұрын

​@@Jimages_uk That's also recommended for battery health also. Great advice.

@rogertempleman-ed2xv

28 күн бұрын

Worked for Ecomotive for 5 years excellent company to deal with ,retired now but I miss it ,one tip always talk to the office,???

An excellent example of why EV's as they are just not made for long distances ! How much time do you waste waiting for them to charge ? Hybrids make more sense, but pure EV's don't unless you live in a city.

@t4bs594

23 күн бұрын

I'm afraid to say that your comment is wrong. The Jaguar doesn't have a very good range, but many EVs do. Mine, for example will easily go as far as I need to go. Range is not an issue. On a full battery, mine does about 340 miles. And my car charges at 250 KW. My experience is that by the time I have gone for a pee and bought a take away coffee and walk back to the car, it's ready to go. In the old days, I used to go for a pee, buy a coffee and then I'd have to stop at the filling station and spend £50 on diesel.

Given that you do big mileage, what's the most comfortable car you have driven?

A great advert to not buy a electric car after new purchase they all drop like brick's in value that's why company's buy them on lease so they can hand them back great video,

😂 put music on it runs off the 12v battery not the traction battery, the heater dose hammer range though.

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

Lollll didn’t know that about the music so thanks for the insight haha

@t4bs594

23 күн бұрын

@@jenniferwinters Put music on, seat heater on, heated steering wheel on. None affects range. Heat your body, not the car - where nobody else is and where you are not. You're not in the back, you're in the heated driving seat with warm hands. Does not affect range. Air conditioning affects range, the heater does not. So, turn it up to 20 degrees, for example, but turn the air con button off. Just use the heater.

May be show a bit of each vehicles you do

Radio don't take batteries but heater does

Do you do this full time I’ve just retired and wouldn’t mind something similar a few days a week

So up at 0300 get to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 pick up a battery 🔋 and head back to England so 18 hr day really is your pay good on min wage that’s least 220 quid

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

You aren’t paid by the hour you are paid by the mileage you cover but I’ll go into that in another video 🙂

Don't how or why your video came onto my you tube but kind of glad it did . I'm a hgv driver in South Essex and was wondering how these trade plates jobs pay . Years ago we used to pick up tradies hitching a lift but unfortunately what with truck cameras , company policies on passengers .... we can't now . Was thinking is this a part time job I can do on my days off ..... does it pay ? . Have subbed , good vid ❤

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

That’s actually hilarious that you say that because this video was filmed around 2 years ago and I’ve only just gotten around to edit it… in the meantime I’ve got my Class 1 qualification 😂 we’re essentially swapping jobs haha Thanks for the lovely comment and I’d say try out trade plating as it’s a fun job and you can see all over the country - but it can be stressful at times (like any job) and the pay isn’t great. If it’s just a part time side income then go for it but one thing I’d say is definitely don’t rely on it as a full time income cause you’re only looking at an average of £400 a week (and as you can see you can end up doing crazy hours) 🤣 glad you enjoyed it! Got some videos coming up about my experience getting my HGV quals and moving to Canada so be sure to stick around 😁

@MrMarv75

Ай бұрын

@jenniferwinters ah great advice , look forward to vuds of you getting your hgv licence and travels to Canada. Don't blame ya for moving out to there . UK has gone to rat shit with many things . You've got some balls tho . I'll look into that trade job . Keep safe . Gareth

@AndrewHealy-ft7jl

25 күн бұрын

@@jenniferwinters don’t you have to get HGV qualifications in Canada if your moving there, the uk ones can’t be transferred over so you would need to do your lessons and test all over again in Canada.

I'd love this job, problem is taking public transport to get their.

"Scotland", technically part of the UK, the last time i looked it was fully part of the UK!

Hey how did you get into this work? It’s mad that the jag can not hold its juice either and feel your pain. Electric cars is a no for me I’m sticking with being a dinosaur with a petrol and a diesel

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

Hey thanks for watching! Just apply to nationwide Trade Plate / Vehicle Movement companies and the onboarding process is usually really quick if you get selected, then you have to go for a couple days training 😊

@jamescharlton924

Ай бұрын

@@jenniferwinterssweet as thanks :)

I’m thinking of doing this one day. Do you work for a company or do you have your own plate and insurance ? Perhaps make a video on how you started. Do you have to take before and after photos to show any damage ? Do you have to wash it? Thanks. Oh and how do you get your expenses back or is it just a flat rate per job?

@daver4972

19 күн бұрын

I've done this for three companies, typically before & after photos are taken and if the car is going to an end user rather than a dealership you'd typically wash it - although if you call ahead they sometimes tell you not to bother🙂. I normally had to pay for my own public transport unless it was inordinately expensive due to poor planning. Pay was a standard fee for up to 50 miles (£23?) and then 22p(?) per mile thereafter. £500 per week wasn't unusual but the hours were a killer - leaving at 5am and getting home post 8pm was typical.

@MiniEggs1999

19 күн бұрын

Thanks. Did you have your own plates and insurance or did they provide that? Does it matter much if you live somewhere near their office?

@daver4972

19 күн бұрын

@@MiniEggs1999 The companies provided plates & insurance. I didn't need to be based near the office but did need a drive to park the vehicles on overnight. Be wary if you're thinking of trying this, there are some sharks out there and everything is the drivers fault - any excuse to charge against the driver's wages.

29.....?

Just subscribed give you some support keep it up it’s hard work at times making videos

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

Thanks buddy welcome to the family! 🥳

What about pat,terms, conditions

After watching this i thought i'd google some reviews on this work and boy they're not good. I thought running pubs years ago doing 140hrs a week on your feet all day was bad enough but i certainly wouldn't want this job having now read the reviews. There was nothing good in the reviews bar you get to drive nice cars and see some of the country then it's all down hill. Good luck, maybe your chanel will fly and you'll make your money that way as you won't be making it driving trade plates.

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

This footage was from 2 years ago, I’m now living in Canada training to be a truck driver so I’ve definitely moved on but I loved the job while it lasted - more videos on that to come!

Where was that? That view was amazing

@jenniferwinters

Ай бұрын

I wish I could remember which road it was but it was on the way to Glasgow in Scotland somewhere 😄

You hightlight the whole reason why after having an ev car most get rid as this country doesnt have the infrastructure of efficient charging to stop range anxiety

@t4bs594

23 күн бұрын

That is not true. Over 90% of people who have an EV would not go bak to petrol . That is a fact.

@hemlock68

23 күн бұрын

@@t4bs594 the dumb thing is....trace the elec back esp in uk , comes from fossil fuel....the smuggery of evs

@t4bs594

23 күн бұрын

@@hemlock68 You're not quite right about the fossil fuel electricity used for EVs. But, if you were correct, EVs are still cleaner than petrol and diesel. It's not smuggery. The fact is, most EVs are better cars.

@hemlock68

23 күн бұрын

@@t4bs594 but they sound like a fridge , heartless , i like gas guzzling lambos etc Humans will always love the " real " engine & its gut wrenching visceral sound. Tesla may go faster but its bland space car

@hemlock68

23 күн бұрын

@@t4bs594 fact is most energy in the uk comes from dirty sources and will do so for years. Whats funny most of our cheap goods are from china from a totally dirty manufacturing system. Just accept it. The energy dashboard shows you that.

I fill my car with petrol. It takes 5 minutes to fill. A full tank has a 360 mile range. Which lunatic thought electric cars will catch on with the general public?? Drivers have not got hours to waste hanging around for batteries to fully charge.

Ah, the joys of driving an electric car...

Its a bit cheeky expecting you to get a bus....sounds like a bad deal to me.

I will never buy an EV.

Should say 'Trade plate Driver'...?

Too much paperwork now.

Well I guess it's a job but personally I can't imagine much worse than getting up at 3 am to deliver cars, spending hundreds or even thousands of hours on Britain's dull, crowded motorways when you're dead tired, suffering from lack of sleep and trying to stay awake, then trudging around in the rain and cold to get to bus and train stations etc. I hope they paid you well (no mention of the pay) but I doubt it. And doing your job driving long distances with EVs must be a nightmare.

Electric cars shouldn't be on road belong in ocean for fishes 😅

Fuck elec cars for long trips they are crap!

Hola auntie do you drive barefoot 🦶

Wish you had talked more about the role and moaned less about driving an EV.

@jenniferwinters

16 күн бұрын

And I wish you didn't feel the need to be unnecessarily rude but it looks like we can't always get what we want Chris :) If you'd have taken the time to read some of the other comments rather than rushing to post your own opinion, you would've noticed that I've commented numerous times mentioning I will be doing a video about the ins and outs of trade plating in the future - this video however, is a day in the life vlog, hence why I was 'moaning' aka sharing my thoughts and frustrations about my experience that day after an almost 18 hour work day, and it wasn't as informative as you'd have probably liked on this occasion. Thanks for the view though :)

Rubbish job, I believe you don't get paid for travelling in between pickups and you have to pay all expenses upfront and claim it back.