Latest news with #deliverydrivers
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Migrants ‘illegally working as delivery drivers' nicked in ANOTHER Home Office raid
MIGRANTS suspected of illegally working as delivery drivers were nicked in another Home Office raid yesterday — after the Government gave out the locations of asylum hotels. We revealed how platforms like Just Eat and Deliveroo would be able to block users from taking orders at known asylum accommodation sites. 1 Yesterday Immigration Enforcement officers questioned a number of delivery riders in Wood Green, North London, where at least one man was detained. A photo shows officers talking to the men, including some wearing Just Eat uniforms. One rider suspected of working illegally, who was wearing a beige t-shirt, was searched and placed in the back of a van. It comes two weeks after another Immigration Enforcement raid on the Thistle City Hotel in Islington, Central London, which had been used as a hub for illicit gig economy jobs. When The Sun returned to the hotel on Tuesday we found delivery rider bags and e-bikes were still parked in a fenced-off enclosure outside the three-star hotel. And we saw a steady stream of riders coming and going despite pledges by the Home Office to crack down. Delivery firms that fail to properly vet their workers could face £60,000 fines each time an illegal worker is picked up. But two migrants charged with illegally working – the first since our undercover investigation – as riders failed to appear in court last week.
Globe and Mail
22-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Buy, Hold or Sell UPS Stock? Key Tips Ahead of Q2 Earnings
United Parcel Service UPS is scheduled to report its second-quarter 2025 results on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the June-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.56 per share, implying a 12.9% decrease from the year-ago quarter's reported number. The estimate has been revised downward by a cent over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $20.85 billion, indicating a decline of 4.4% from the year-ago quarter's actuals. UPS has an impressive earnings surprise history, as reflected in the chart below. Given this backdrop, let's examine the factors likely to influence UPS' Q2 results Shipping volumes at UPS are likely to have been hurt by geopolitical uncertainties and high inflation. Uncertainty over tariffs, supply chain instability, and other broader macroeconomic headwinds are likely to hurt results. We believe that more than the financial numbers, it is the guidance that investors will more closely watch. Labor costs are likely to have been high, hurting United Parcel Service's bottom-line performance in the June quarter. Faced with these headwinds, the company is focusing on cutting costs. As part of this exercise, UPS is offering buyouts to delivery drivers for the first time in its 117-year history. UPS' full-time drivers are eligible for this offer. We expect an update on the same on the conference call. The company reportedly aims to trim its workforce by 20,000 this year, representing approximately 4% of the global workforce and shut 73 facilities to streamline operations and lower labor costs. Apart from the tariff-induced economic uncertainties, UPS' decision to reduce business with its largest customer, Amazon AMZN, contributed to the decision to trim the workforce. UPS management has reached an agreement in principle with Amazon to lower the latter's volume by more than 50% by June 2026. According to Carol Tome, UPS' chief executive officer, Amazon was not its most profitable customer. Low fuel costs are expected to have aided UPS' bottom-line performance in the June-end quarter. We expect expenses on fuel to decrease 10.3% from second-quarter 2024 actuals. Crude oil has been struggling in 2025, with prices sliding to multi-month lows. Tariff concerns, weakening consumer confidence and production increase by OPEC+ have all contributed to this downward pressure. Q2 Earnings Whispers for UPS Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for UPS this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat, which is not the case here. The company's Earnings ESP is -1.00%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate is currently pegged at $1.55 per share, a cent below the Zacks Consensus Estimate. UPS currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see . You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Unimpressive Price Performance of UPS Stock Shares of UPS have plunged 26% over the past six months compared with its Zacks Transportation—Air Freight and Cargo industry's 21.3% decline. Rival FedEx 's FDX price performance is better than that of UPS. 6- Month Price Comparison Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Valuation Picture On the basis of the forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S), UPS shares are trading in line with the industry average. Rival FedEx is cheaper. FedEx currently has a Value Score of A, while UPS has a value score of B. UPS' P/S F12M Vs. Industry & FDX Investment Thesis for UPS Stock Due to the decline in shipping demand, volumes at UPS have suffered. A slowdown in online sales in the United States, apart from a softness in global manufacturing activity, has been hurting the demand scenario. Moreover, inflation continues to be on the higher side. Of late, U.S. markets have been characterized by a high degree of volatility amid uncertainty surrounding its trade policy and growing anxiety about a slowing economy. Concerns over the sustainability of UPS' dividends in this era of demand weakness represent a further challenge for this parcel delivery company. However, UPS' expansion efforts look good. What Should Investors Do With UPS Stock? It is worth noting that the company has the brand and the network to continue generating steady cash flows in the long run. This makes UPS a compelling long-term player in the transportation space. However, the near-term headwinds, including the tariff-induced uncertainties, are hard to ignore. The combination of its weak current performance and an uncertain future casts a shadow over UPS' prospects. Though the company has a solid track record of beating earnings estimates, it will be prudent for investors to stay away from investing in the stock for now and wait for the upcoming quarterly results to get more clarity on the company's near-term prospects. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Inc. (AMZN): Free Stock Analysis Report United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS): Free Stock Analysis Report FedEx Corporation (FDX): Free Stock Analysis Report
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What is commercial auto insurance, and do you need it?
If you use a car or truck to run a business — not just for commuting to work — you need commercial auto insurance to cover you and the vehicle. Here's how commercial auto insurance works, who should buy it, and where you can find coverage. This embedded content is not available in your region. What is commercial auto insurance? Commercial auto insurance covers business vehicles, like contractor pickups, food trucks, taxis, company cars, semi trucks, and delivery vans. A commercial policy covers you and the vehicle in the event of an accident or other issue, such as vandalism or storm damage, and has higher coverage limits than what personal auto insurance provides. Business auto insurance policies can also include special options, like coverage for rented or borrowed vehicles and employees' vehicles when they're used for work. Who needs business car insurance? You need commercial auto insurance coverage if the vehicle is titled under your business's name or your employees use your company vehicle to do their jobs. A commercial policy might also be necessary for a personal vehicle that you rely on for your business, even if it's just for a side gig like delivering pizzas on the weekends. Here are some examples of who might need commercial auto insurance: Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, and other contractors who use trucks or trailers to carry equipment to job sites Caterers and food truck vendors Flower, pizza, and other delivery drivers Mobile pet groomers Real estate agents who regularly drive clients to show homes Snow plow operators Taxi and limousine service owners Truckers Up Next Up Next Insurance for rideshare drivers If you drive for Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash to earn some extra cash, you might need rideshare insurance. Generally, rideshare and online food delivery companies provide some car insurance coverage while you're working for them. But there might be some gaps in that coverage, since some rideshare companies will only cover you when you have accepted a ride (not when you're driving around waiting for one). In many states, you can cover this gap or any others by adding rideshare insurance to your own auto insurance policy. But another option is to buy a commercial policy. Check with your insurance agent and company to determine the best choice for your situation. Types of vehicles that can be covered by business auto insurance As long as it's used for business, just about any vehicle type can be covered by commercial auto insurance, including: Box trucks Cars and SUVs Dump trucks Food trucks Mobile pet grooming vans Passenger vans Pickup trucks Semi trucks Service utility trucks Snow plows Trailers What does commercial car insurance cover? From collision coverage to comprehensive coverage, here are the basic types of coverage a commercial auto insurance policy provides. Liability insurance. Covers injuries and property damage that others suffer if you cause an accident. Bodily injury liability covers their medical bills, and property damage liability covers repairing or replacing damaged property. Both typically provide legal defense if you're sued. Personal injury protection insurance. Covers the medical bills of your vehicle's driver and passengers, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance. Covers your medical bills and, in some cases, vehicle repairs when a driver without any or enough insurance causes an accident. Collision insurance. Covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle if it's damaged in a collision with another vehicle, object, or animal. Comprehensive insurance. Covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle if it's damaged by a natural disaster, vandalism, theft, or other situations listed in the policy. Many insurers recommend that small business owners purchase at least $500,000 to $1 million in liability coverage to protect the business in the event of an accident, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). Commercial car insurance add-ons There are some additional insurance coverage options you might want to consider, depending on your work situation: 'Drive other car' insurance. Extends coverage to executives and their spouses when driving a rented or borrowed vehicle, but it is typically only available for partnerships or corporations. Emergency roadside service. Covers jump-starts, towing, and other assistance you might need when driving a vehicle for work. Hired auto insurance. Covers vehicles you borrow, lease, or rent for business purposes. Non-owned auto insurance. Covers employees' personal vehicles when used occasionally for business. Employee hired auto insurance. Covers cars that employees rent or borrow and use for work. Rental car coverage. Covers the cost of a rental while your business vehicle is getting repaired after an accident. Commercial insurance options for truckers In addition to a general commercial policy, trucking companies might want to consider these options: Cargo insurance. For truckers that haul other people's property, this covers damage to the freight during loading, unloading, or transport, and may cover cleanup if the property spills on the road in an accident. Non-trucking liability insurance. If you're a truck driver who sometimes uses your truck for personal trips rather than work, this covers you even when you aren't on the clock. What isn't covered on a commercial auto policy Except for equipment permanently attached to a commercial vehicle, a commercial auto policy does not cover materials you carry in a truck. To cover the items you take to job sites, you need inland marine insurance, which can be added to your general liability insurance or business owners policy. The coverage name may sound a little odd — you're driving a truck, not captaining a boat, after all — but inland marine insurance is simply a modified name from 'ocean marine insurance,' which covers international shipping on water. Risks of skipping commercial car insurance Without commercial insurance, you might not be covered at all when using your vehicle for business. For example, your personal auto insurance policy doesn't cover company cars or certain types of business uses, like delivering food or towing vehicles. If you lack sufficient insurance coverage and cause an accident, you could be on the hook for all damages, including medical expenses, property damage, and even legal fees if you get sued. At minimum, it could cost you thousands of dollars, so make sure you understand your coverage when it comes to driving for work. How much does commercial auto insurance cost? The cost of commercial auto insurance varies depending on the type of vehicle and business, but can range from $200 to over a thousand dollars each month. For example, Progressive Insurance says the average monthly cost of its new commercial auto policies for drivers with clean driving records in 2023 was: $270 /month for businesses like cleaning services, restaurants, and shops $257/month for contractors like carpenters, electricians, and landscapers $600/month for tow trucks $767/month for for-hire truckers with a specialty, such as garbage, septic waste, or logging $1,041/month for for-hire transport truckers who haul goods such as freight and cars The Hartford Insurance, meanwhile, says its commercial auto insurance customers pay an average of $574/month. Factors that impact business auto insurance rates Here are some of the things that influence the cost of commercial auto insurance: Type of vehicle. Big, expensive trucks cost more to insure than passenger sedans. Number of vehicles. You'll pay more to insure a fleet than to cover a single vehicle. Driving records. Insurers usually take into consideration everyone who might drive the vehicle, and any recent accidents or traffic violations would increase your monthly cost. Type of business. Cost depends on how the vehicle is used — if you're just driving to and from work, that's cheaper than if your usage consists of, say, hauling or delivering products. Insurance company. Different insurance companies will have different rates. You should always shop around and compare policies and costs to find the right fit for you. Amount of coverage. The more coverage and/or additional options you need, the more expensive your policy will be. How to get cheap commercial car insurance The best way to save on commercial auto insurance is to compare quotes for the same amount of coverage from several different insurance companies. You can get quotes yourself or work with an independent insurance agent. Independent agents sell coverage from a variety of companies and can do much of the legwork for you. To save money, you can raise the deductibles as high as you can afford. The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in. The higher the deductible, the lower the cost of coverage. But don't go overboard; keep the deductible low enough that you'll be able to pay it in the event of a claim. Meanwhile, drive safely to maintain a clean driving record. Your rates will go up with traffic violations and accidents. Read more: 6 steps for finding cheap car insurance Who sells commercial car insurance? Most major car insurance companies sell commercial auto insurance. Here are the 10 biggest commercial auto insurers, according to 2024 market share data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners: Progressive Travelers Old Republic Liberty Mutual GEICO Zurich Insurance Auto Owners State Farm W.R. Berkley Corp. Hartford Fire and Casualty Commercial car insurance FAQs If I use my personal vehicle for business, can I buy commercial auto insurance for it? Yes, you may need a commercial policy for a personal vehicle if you use it for certain business purposes, such as making deliveries or towing vehicles. However, you may be able to cover limited business chores, such as travel and running errands, on your personal auto policy with a business-use endorsement or policy add-on. Check with your auto insurance company or agent to make sure you get the right coverage for your vehicle. Is car insurance a business expense? Car insurance can be a tax-deductible expense if you rely on the vehicle to run your business. But always talk with a tax professional before making a decision you're unsure about. Can I write off my car expenses for business use? You may be able to write off some car expenses if you use the vehicle to run your business. Commuting to the office, though, doesn't count. Consult a tax professional for advice. Jamie Young and Tim Manni edited this article.
Geek Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
DoorDash slams Seattle over driver deactivation law, adds new service fees
Drive Forward, a nonprofit trade industry association representing gig workers in Seattle, held a media event at Seattle City Hall last year to voice opposition against a minimum wage law for delivery drivers. (GeekWire File Photo / Taylor Soper) DoorDash is increasing delivery fees for customers in Seattle, citing what it calls 'extreme regulations' passed by the city — including a new law that gives app-based workers more transparency when they're removed from platforms. Consumers in Seattle will see higher service fees on all orders, starting this month. 'To be clear, we are increasing some fees in an effort to continue delivering in the city — a market in which DoorDash operated at a loss in 2024,' DoorDash wrote in a blog post. The delivery giant, which reported $3 billion in revenue during the first quarter, calls Seattle 'the most expensive market to facilitate delivery' in the U.S., by a wide margin. DoorDash didn't say how much fees will increase. The move comes as a new driver deactivation law is implemented. The law, originally passed by the Seattle City Council in August 2023, was designed to provide more job security to app-based couriers, delivery drivers, and other service providers. Under the law, companies must give workers a 14-day notice of deactivation, base deactivations on 'reasonable' policies, and provide workers with records behind their decision. The ordinance was supported by gig worker advocacy groups who said that it would help to protect workers from being unfairly deactivated. They said companies had too much power to deactivate workers, leading to workers being unfairly punished for things like rejecting too many orders or being unavailable during certain times. The legislation was the first of its kind and goes further than efforts by other municipalities to regulate deactivations. It's part of a growing effort by Seattle lawmakers to regulate the gig economy. The deactivation law applies to gig workers who deliver food, shop for groceries, and complete other tasks via on-demand apps. It does not apply to drivers who transport passengers, who are covered under Washington state law. Uber and Instacart filed a lawsuit late last year to stop the enforcement of the law over constitutional concerns, among other allegations. A federal judge denied that effort in January. The law was effective starting in January and its 'Administrative Rules,' or detailed implementation guidelines, were effective June 24. The city's Office of Labor Standards says it has received more than 150 worker inquiries since January. It shared multiple messages from workers thanking the city for help with reactivation. 'Through ongoing outreach and education, OLS staff have reached thousands of gig workers and ensured they are aware of their rights under Seattle's Deactivation ordinance,' OLS Director Steven Marchese said in a statement. 'These efforts have proven to be effective as we continue to receive positive feedback from app-based workers in response to our support of workers' transparency and due process rights under this law.' Companies are required to report certain records on a quarterly basis. Starting in June 2027, the city will be able to investigate whether companies deactivated workers for a permissible reason. Instacart, Uber, and DoorDash were embroiled in a battle last year with Seattle lawmakers over a new minimum wage law. In its blog post Tuesday, DoorDash said the new laws have reduced driver earnings and increased delivery delays. It said average monthly revenue per store fell 2% a year after the minimum wage law went into effect. It also cited an 'increase in fraud,' citing a small number of drivers who allegedly prolong deliveries to increase pay.
Forbes
04-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Robots, Glasses And Packages: 6 Really Cool Ways Amazon Is Leveraging AI And Why A Business Owner Should Care
EASTVALE, CA - AUGUST 31: A robot sorts and stacks bins at Amazon fulfillment center in Eastvale on ... More Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda/MediaNews Group/The Press-Enterprise via Getty Images) Amazon is rolling out internal technology that's leveraging AI so that the company's employees and merchants not only sell more products, but get more work done faster and more accurately. If you're running a small business you should care. Why? Because what Amazon is doing with AI to run their warehouses, help their merchants, improve their logistics and enhance their back office is what you'll also be doing sooner rather than later. Are you paying attention? Here are six examples. 1. Using Glasses to help their delivery drivers According to this report from Reuters in November, Amazon is creating its own smart glasses specifically for delivery drivers so that they can get turn by turn directions as they deliver packages. The directions would even expand into the stop itself, telling drivers what gates or elevators to use and maybe even avoiding overly excited dogs. The hope is that these glasses will reduce the time needed for delivering packages, even by a few seconds. Because the seconds add up. The company is still trying to overcome some hardware limitations (i.e. limited battery capability) before publicly launching. Why should a business owner care? Google may have failed with its Google Glass years ago, but now these devices are becoming more user friendly and leveraging AI to provide real world value. As big companies like Amazon embrace these technologies, more will proliferate that can benefit your company too. 2. Automatically identifying the right packages for picking It's called Vision-Assisted Package Retrieval and is expected to be fully active in more than 1,000 delivery vans this year. The goal is to make delivery faster and more accurate so that delivery drivers don't have to sort through what's in their vans. Instead there will be a little green light displayed on the packages to be chosen based on the van's location. According to Amazon: "Once the van arrives at a delivery location, VAPR will automatically project a green 'O' on all packages that will be delivered at that stop and a red 'X' on all other packages. Through an audio and visual cue, VAPR will prompt the driver, confirming it has found the right packages, before the driver needs to enter the cargo area. The technology also removes the need for drivers to use a mobile device throughout the process." Why should a business owner care? While Amazon has now exceeded the shipping volumes of both Fedex and UPS, their competitors are still huge and we can expect them to be using similar AI technologies to improve their logistics. And soon businesses that do their own deliveries will ultimately be available to sign on to similar platforms. Expect this to be core tech for anyone delivering a package in the next few years. 3. Helping merchants sell their products Last September, the company announced Project Amelia, a "generative AI-based selling expert" targeted towards their third party merchants to help them design their sites, choose which products to offer and offer overall "answers, advice, and tools they need to succeed.' The chatbot's aim, over the long term, is to get familiar with the reseller's business and products so that it can offer very personalized responses to questions like "how do I prepare for the holiday season," or "give me an analysis of my T-shirt sales." For now, Amelia's best uses are a natural language reporting interface for retrieving information but going forward the company says it will be able to troubleshoot and fix problems with a merchant's site and offer other support capabilities. Why should a business owner care? If you're an Amazon merchant you should take advantage of these tools, both in their current and future states, to help you sell more products on their platform. But of course, you don't have to be an Amazon merchant to benefit. You can bet that many of their e-commerce competitors will be watching, duplicating and implementing similar features as they roll out. 4. Elevating voice commands Wired recently reported on a 'complete rebuild' underway of Amazon's Alexa and Echo devices, using AI in two ways. The first is a heavy reliance on AI for code-building so that new features can be written faster and changes introduced timelier. Secondly, and as changes rollout this summer, users of these devices (and I'm one of them) will find themselves enjoying a more human-like, personalized experience to get news, information and do their shopping. Why should a business owner care? Because Alexa and Echo devices will ultimately be used to perform voice-activated tasks like ordering products, researching information and – assuming the development tools are made available – be integrated with our business applications to eliminate typing and allow our employees to talk to our accounting, CRM and other information systems. 5. Powering robots in their warehouse Amazon has made it no secret that robotics are the core technology behind their warehouse management practices. And just this past week the company announced the deployment of its one millionth robot, using a 'new generative AI foundation model that will improve robot fleet travel efficiency by 10 percent.' The company promises that their investment in robotics will lead to faster delivery times and lower costs for customers and – to be politically correct – has re-emphasized their commitment to training their existing employees to prepare for the AI future. Why should a business owner care? The cost of robotics has been dramatically increasing while their capabilities have been dramatically increasing, thanks to AI. Amazon, with its deep pockets, has been investing in this technology for years, so they have a head start. But thanks to the investments made by larger companies, many robotics companies have developed machines that will use AI to perform functions in warehouses, restaurants, retail stores, manufacturing plants and construction sites in a safer, more effective way than most humans. For business owners that can't find enough people to do this stuff, this will soon be a must have. 6. Reducing accounting errors Optical character recognition, where information on a document can be read and then brought into a database has been around for a while. But now with advances in AI, these systems can not only extract data but better understand what to do with it. Amazon is leaning into this stuff heavily to help pay sales taxes and other accounting functions. According to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal the company's finance teams 'are turning to generative AI in areas such as fraud detection, contract review, financial forecasting, personal productivity, interpretation of rules and regulations, and tax-related work, moves in part aimed at reducing costs, boosting efficiencies and increasing accuracy, company executives said. These use cases are in a mix of experimentation and implementation stages.' Why should a business owner care? Amazon's not the only one in this game. Similar capabilities are being rolled out by numerous accounting and business software companies for use by smaller companies too. As with Amazon, buyer beware, because their technologies are also in a 'mix of experimentation and implementation' so don't be relying on them too quickly. But as they get trained they'll get better and as a result the back offices of many small businesses will perform more efficiently and accurately. So yes, Amazon's doing lots with AI. And yes, business owners should care.
