pigeon courier services

[19pigeonracer88]

hi im richard from the uk i live in the southwest and am thinking about running my own pigeon courier service just wondering if any one had any tips and if they think its a good idea

[toilco]

hire me i can take care all birds in the philippines :-)

[rackerman]

How's that going to work?

[19pigeonracer88]

lol cant hire you i want to do it in the south west of the uk where i live, delivering racing pigeons that need returning home if lost also pigeons from breeders to breeders just your typical pigeon courier but just on my own

[toilco]

Originally Posted by 19pigeonracer88

lol cant hire you i want to do it in the south west of the uk where i live, delivering racing pigeons that need returning home if lost also pigeons from breeders to breeders just your typical pigeon courier but just on my own

ok dont forget me when your business grow

[Crazy Pete]

Just as a way to test the market you should contact the people with the import export business. It may help them getting the birds from the seller to the port.
Dave

[19pigeonracer88]

cheers dave was thinking of something like that ifnot provide a quarentine service

[Quazar]

If there is a market for it in your area, then it sounds a good idea however....
I work in the general courier industry in the uk, and nearly all the major companies will not transport live animals.
The reason for this is insurance.
Nearly all the commercial insurance policies related to courier work cover both the vehicle and also extra goods in transit insurance, however, they also have specific clauses that prohibit the transportation of certain goods, namely - bullion, hazardous materials & live animals are specifically mentioned.
Its not impossible to get this extra coverage, but it is normally very expensive, also as regards the transport, it must be suitable for the purpose.
I know youre probably only thinking of pigeons, but policies are in general non specific in the types of livestock.
It is possible to do, but you definately need the work to make it worthwhile.

Just to give you an idea of how hard insurance companies come down on this,
A colleague of mine in the business had an accident where someone ran into the back of his van causing extensive damage. He had full normal courier insurance, including goods in transit etc.
His claim on the other driver was thrown out because he had his pet dog with him in the cab area of his van, and he was "working".
The insurance company he was claiming cited that he was carrying "livestock" which the policy specifically excluded, and his own insurance company also refused to cover his repairs because of this.
They also stated, that if anyone had been injured & the police had been involved, there is every likelyhood that he would have been charged with "driving without adeqate insurance".
Crazy thing was, he was also covered for social domestic & pleasure, meaning he could use the van out with work, so had the accident occured when he wasnt actually working, there would have been no problem.

[rpalmer]

Originally Posted by Quazar

If there is a market for it in your area, then it sounds a good idea however....
I work in the general courier industry in the uk, and nearly all the major companies will not transport live animals.
The reason for this is insurance.
Nearly all the commercial insurance policies related to courier work cover both the vehicle and also extra goods in transit insurance, however, they also have specific clauses that prohibit the transportation of certain goods, namely - bullion, hazardous materials & live animals are specifically mentioned.
Its not impossible to get this extra coverage, but it is normally very expensive, also as regards the transport, it must be suitable for the purpose.
I know youre probably only thinking of pigeons, but policies are in general non specific in the types of livestock.
It is possible to do, but you definately need the work to make it worthwhile.

Just to give you an idea of how hard insurance companies come down on this,
A colleague of mine in the business had an accident where someone ran into the back of his van causing extensive damage. He had full normal courier insurance, including goods in transit etc.
His claim on the other driver was thrown out because he had his pet dog with him in the cab area of his van, and he was "working".
The insurance company he was claiming cited that he was carrying "livestock" which the policy specifically excluded, and his own insurance company also refused to cover his repairs because of this.
They also stated, that if anyone had been injured & the police had been involved, there is every likelyhood that he would have been charged with "driving without adeqate insurance".
Crazy thing was, he was also covered for social domestic & pleasure, meaning he could use the van out with work, so had the accident occured when he wasnt actually working, there would have been no problem.

This sounds a little more than ridiculous. Don't dogs require a dog license? Do the keepers of livestock, cattle, sheep pigs ect. have to get a dog license for each beef, pig, sheep, goat ect?

Just silly stuff.

[19pigeonracer88]

well all i can say is my dads mate used to do it for louella pigeon world and pondarosa and hes given him the details of who he was insured with ect, also ponderosa is only down the road from me so hope to get some work from them to i can understand the dog thing if he was delivering the dog but as it was his own pet i think that policy is bollox because i had a crash with an uninsured driver with no licence or tax or mot yet he could stil claim because it was on a public high way wich is also a bollox policy because a month after i was hit by some one with no insurance ect and i could not claim work that one out

[19pigeonracer88]

Originally Posted by rpalmer

This sounds a little more than ridiculous. Don't dogs require a dog license? Do the keepers of livestock, cattle, sheep pigs ect. have to get a dog license for each beef, pig, sheep, goat ect?

Just silly stuff.

why would a dg need a dog licence???

[Quazar]

Originally Posted by rpalmer

This sounds a little more than ridiculous. Don't dogs require a dog license? Do the keepers of livestock, cattle, sheep pigs ect. have to get a dog license for each beef, pig, sheep, goat ect?

Just silly stuff.

Dog licences were abolished in the UK many years ago. You only need a licence now for certain "dangerous breeds" like pitbulls etc.
But the incident had nothing to do with licences, it is the insurance companies use of wording & phrasing of the policy that has to be read carefully.
Insurance for working covers carriage & delivery of goods but states very clearly that it doesnt cover carriage of "livestock" (Livestock definition is any living creature which incidently includes a human if a passenger is carried who is not employed by the policy holder.)
The dog, although not related to the work or delivery, was "livestock" was carried by the vehicle while it was being used in a work situation.

Riddiculous, yes, but thats insurance companies for you.
Here in the UK lots of insurance companies now even differentiate between SDP (social domestic & pleasure) and using your car to travel to & from work.
Travel to & from a place of work is often a different option or extra to be added to a standard SDP policy.

[bbcdon]

Let's face it, here in the US, dog license fees like many other fees are just about the money!!!

[19pigeonracer88]

i own a pitbull terrier and she isnt licenced the police came and checked her and said i have to walk her on a lead no longer than 18 inches