Owner-Driver Guide: Get Paid Properly by Courier Companies
Most owner-drivers sign the first contract they are offered, then find out fuel, insurance and repairs eat the income. This 49-page guide shows you what to check, what to price and what to avoid before you commit your bakkie.
Written by Maxwell Grant, BCom (Accounting), UNISA
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- 11 chapters on contracts, insurance, rates, tax and real take-home pay
- Instant PDF download. Read it on your phone
Why Owner-Driver Work Goes Wrong for So Many People
Owner-driver work only pays when your rate covers fuel, insurance, tyres, servicing and tax. Many drivers never work out those numbers before they sign, so the headline rate hides a much smaller take-home amount.
If you came from our list of courier companies looking for owner drivers, you already know who is hiring. This guide covers what the list can't: whether the offer is actually worth taking.
Before you buy a bakkie or sign anything, you need clear answers on:
- Which contract clauses favour the company over you
- Which licence, PrDP and insurance rules you can't skip
- How to price your time and vehicle so costs don't creep up on you
- What SARS provisional tax means once you earn as an owner-driver
- Where your liability starts if a parcel is lost or damaged
One bad contract can cost far more than R99.
Buy the Owner-Driver GuideWhat's Inside the Owner-Driver Guide
The Landscape
What owner-driver work really involves.
Vehicle Requirements
What courier companies expect from your bakkie.
Dashcams and Trackers
Equipment that protects you from false claims.
Decoding the Contract
Clauses that cost you money, and how to spot them.
Negotiating Rates
Rates and driveaway terms that keep more in your pocket.
Insurance
The three policies you need, not just one.
Lost and Damaged Freight
Where your liability starts and ends.
The Real Numbers
A worked breakdown of income versus running costs.
Expense Tracking
A simple way to know if you are profitable.
Your First 90 Days
Early mistakes that push new drivers out.
Growing Beyond One Vehicle
Adding a second driver or vehicle.
Checklists and Contacts
A quick-reference appendix to keep using.
Not sure where to start? Read how to become a courier driver first, then come back for the contract and money detail.
Who This Guide Is For
This is for you if:
- You're considering owner-driver work and want to avoid a bad contract
- You drive for a courier company but aren't sure you're priced right
- You own or are buying a bakkie and want it to earn properly
- You want tax and insurance explained without jargon
This isn't for you if:
- You want a get-rich-quick promise
- You only want a list of vacancies
- You're not willing to register for tax as your income grows
How Paying Works, and Why It's Safe
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Questions about paying? Contact us before you buy and we'll help.
Our Refund Promise
The Owner-Driver Guide comes with a 7-day refund guarantee. Read the full Refund and Cancellation Policy.
Who Wrote This Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About the Owner-Driver Guide in South Africa
Yes. Ozow is registered with PASA as a System Operator and Third Party Payment Provider, and states that it does not store your banking login details. Your bank also asks you to approve the payment before any money moves.
Ozow logs in for you so it can fill in the payment details automatically. Your details are encrypted and passed to your bank. You then approve the payment in your banking app, by USSD or with a one-time PIN. Never type your login anywhere except the Ozow screen opened from our checkout.
No. The guide covers what to look for if you are still choosing a vehicle, and how to make an existing one pay properly.
No. It compares several major South African courier companies and shows you how to judge any contract you are offered. For current openings, see courier driver jobs in South Africa.
The free pages help you find companies and compare them at a glance. The guide goes deeper into pricing, insurance, contracts and the real numbers, with worked examples.
It is a 49-page PDF. Read it on your phone, tablet or computer. There is nothing to install.
Yes. The guide has a 7-day refund guarantee. The Refund and Cancellation Policy explains what is covered.
Get the Owner-Driver Guide
49 pages. 11 chapters. Instant PDF download. R99 once-off.
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