Free during launch
For owner driversOwner driver work, planned from your cab.
You drive, you quote and you do the books. Laydn does some of the looking: priced loads on the board, alerts for your area, backloads near your drop and whole days planned in one go. And it takes no commission.
- Van to artic
- Full days planned
- 0% commission
In short
How do owner drivers find work in the UK?
Owner drivers usually combine their own customers, subcontract work from bigger hauliers and courier firms, and freight exchanges. The best weeks come from loads that link together. On Laydn you can browse priced loads, set alerts for your area and vehicle, and let Planr chain live loads into a day that heads back towards home.
Planr
Plan a full day in one go.
Give Planr your starting point, the date and your vehicle, and it chains live loads into a day's route, keeping the empty miles down and heading you back towards home.
You see what the day adds up to before you commit, and you still put your hand up for each load on it. Away for a few days? Roamr is a planning guide for multi-day trips.
- Several live loads chained into one day
- Fewer empty miles between legs
- The day's total before you commit
Laydr alerts
Loads come to your phone.
Set an alert with a postcode, how far you'll drive to collect, your vehicle and your hours. Laydr checks every new load against it and sends a push notification when one matches.
Set as many as you need: one around home, another around where your work usually ends.
- Postcode, distance, vehicle and hours
- Straight away or batched
- Alerts tidy themselves away when they end
Backloads
Fill the way back.
Open any load and Laydn suggests loads that start near its drop, weighed up on distance, timing, money and your vehicle, so you can line up the way home before you take the job out.
- Suggestions on every load
- Wrong vehicle ruled out
- You still choose each job
Getting set up
What you need as an owner driver.
The essentials for running your own lorry. Rules change, so check the details on GOV.UK or with an adviser.
An operator's licence
Carrying goods for hire or reward in a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes needs a standard operator's licence from the Traffic Commissioner.
A transport manager
A standard licence needs a transport manager with a Transport Manager CPC. Many owner drivers take the qualification themselves.
Financial standing
You have to show you have enough money available to run the vehicle. The amounts are set each year.
Insurance
Hire and reward vehicle insurance, goods in transit and public liability are the usual starting points.
Finding owner driver jobs in the UK
Owner drivers win work in a few ways, and the steadiest earners use several at once.
Subcontracting for hauliers
Many hauliers bring in owner drivers when they're busy. It can be regular work, but payment terms vary, so agree the rate and when you'll be paid before you start.
Your own customers
Direct customers pay you the full rate and often come back. Ask about the next job while you're on site.
Freight exchanges
Exchanges let you pick up loads from businesses you haven't met yet. On Laydn every load shows the rate, there's no bidding and no commission, and Laydr, Backloads and Planr come in the one membership.
Plan the week, not just the day
Empty miles are where owner drivers lose money. Line up the load back before you take the load out, and link jobs so each drop sets up the next collection.
More: return loads, winning haulage contracts and how finding loads works.
Questions
Owner driver questions
How do owner drivers find work?
Through their own customers, subcontract work for bigger hauliers and courier firms, and freight exchanges. On Laydn you can browse priced loads, set alerts for your area and plan whole days with Planr.
Do I need an operator's licence as an owner driver?
If you carry goods for hire or reward in a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, yes: you need a standard operator's licence. Vans at or under 3.5 tonnes don't need one for work within the UK.
Can I use Laydn as an owner driver with a van?
Yes. Laydn covers vans and Lutons as well as rigids and artics. Set your vehicle in your alerts and filters to see the work that fits.
How does Laydn help me plan work?
Planr chains live loads into a day that heads back towards home, Backloads suggests loads near each drop, and Laydr alerts tell you when matching work is posted. For trips of several days, Roamr is a planning guide.
Does Laydn take commission from owner drivers?
No. Laydn never takes a cut of the rate. You deal with the shipper directly, and payment is between you.
How much does Laydn cost?
Nothing during launch. After that it's one flat membership of £44.99 a month for everyone, and you'll get a month's notice before anything is charged.
Keep reading
More on finding work
Your truck, your terms. Your full rate.
Join free while we grow the board. See the rate on every load and plan full days from your cab.