TRIALLING HCT’s DM26 UPDATE

[monkeybuisness]

Well after another week of trialling the HCTs and trying to find a way that these will work it has been absolutely disastrous, to put it plain and simple the ground you cover is simply too much. We have tried a variation of methods and none have worked we ( other HCT duties ) trialling the different methods are averaging 11/12 miles a day ( and that’s not completing everything we should be doing ) and this is the quiet period I don’t even want to think about the coming months when the schools go back. There is no work / balance whatsoever because when you get home you’re absolutely shattered and reaching for the ibuprofen. This new delivery method is not made for HCT’s end of, I’ve been walking miles ( literally ) to deliver a handful of first class and 10 tracked items it just isn’t efficient at all. The problem is at the moment when the work load is way too much we are being allowed to stream / have help to complete the delivery ( this is only done when it’s obvious the workload isn’t manageable and the postman doesn’t want to stay out 2+ hours after his duty has finished )
Overall my conclusion sadly HCT’s are fit for special routes ie town centre duties but under this new delivery method there is absolutely no chance whatsoever of completing your duty daily and we all know what comes with that ( B&H )

[tramssirhc]

Even with the 50/50 split?

[monkeybuisness]

Even with the 50/50 split?

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

[roadrunner bill]

The company are crucifying its delivery staff....

[hazzeem025]

I thought HCT's where only supposed to be used on Town Centre deliveries? Like literally leave your D.O and your first drop is 2 minutes away?

[Emohawk]

Well after another week of trialling the HCTs and trying to find a way that these will work it has been absolutely disastrous, to put it plain and simple the ground you cover is simply too much. We have tried a variation of methods and none have worked we ( other HCT duties ) trialling the different methods are averaging 11/12 miles a day ( and that’s not completing everything we should be doing ) and this is the quiet period I don’t even want to think about the coming months when the schools go back. There is no work / balance whatsoever because when you get home you’re absolutely shattered and reaching for the ibuprofen. This new delivery method is not made for HCT’s end of, I’ve been walking miles ( literally ) to deliver a handful of first class and 10 tracked items it just isn’t efficient at all. The problem is at the moment when the work load is way too much we are being allowed to stream / have help to complete the delivery ( this is only done when it’s obvious the workload isn’t manageable and the postman doesn’t want to stay out 2+ hours after his duty has finished )
Overall my conclusion sadly HCT’s are fit for special routes ie town centre duties but under this new delivery method there is absolutely no chance whatsoever of completing your duty daily and we all know what comes with that ( B&H )

As I understood it, DM26 is designed to get rid of HCT routes. It was obvious from the start that 50/50 was never going to work with them.

[tramssirhc]

Even with the 50/50 split?

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

No chance of the duties being converted to CDV?

[monkeybuisness]

Even with the 50/50 split?

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

No chance of the duties being converted to CDV?

Even with the 50/50 split?

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

No chance of the duties being converted to CDV?

Never heard that abbreviation before in 29 years service
If you mean van duties there’s not enough vans available now at our office. DPR drivers literally waiting for vans to come back and also waiting for PDA’s

[reddevils]

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

All the HCT's within the wider region of my office are clearing. The problems tend to be van shares not HCT's, Rurals or Firms that I will remind you are doing 50/50!

HCT's tend to be in local proximity to the office and are duties that were traditionally seen as some of the easiest in the office. On repicks they tend to be the duties that go first!

People on HCT duties are doing 50/50 so only half their duty they are delivering mail and the rest only 1st and parcels. Added to this, parcels too big for the HCT or parcels beyond the capacity of the HCT they will have to be left at the depot which van shares do not get the luxury off!

So in terms of the 50/50 aspect of the new delivery model you are doing significantly less walking!

The only way it can fail is the demands management are asking of you after doing the 50/50 aspect of your duty. You say you had 10 tracked and a handful of 1st which seems like a ridiculously easy day to me!

The best proposal I have seen is that every HCT doing 50/50 takes a third each from another HCT duty. This is working in other offices.

[reddevils]

The problem is at the moment when the work load is way too much we are being allowed to stream / have help to complete the delivery

You are meant to be the relief for another duty , not the other way round.

[monkeybuisness]

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

All the HCT's within the wider region of my office are clearing. The problems tend to be van shares not HCT's, Rurals or Firms that I will remind you are doing 50/50!

HCT's tend to be in local proximity to the office and are duties that were traditionally seen as some of the easiest in the office. On repicks they tend to be the duties that go first!

People on HCT duties are doing 50/50 so only half their duty they are delivering mail and the rest only 1st and parcels. Added to this, parcels too big for the HCT or parcels beyond the capacity of the HCT they will have to be left at the depot which van shares do not get the luxury off!

So in terms of the 50/50 aspect of the new delivery model you are doing significantly less walking!

The only way it can fail is the demands management are asking of you after doing the 50/50 aspect of your duty. You say you had 10 tracked and a handful of 1st which seems like a ridiculously easy day to me!

The best proposal I have seen is that every HCT doing 50/50 takes a third each from another HCT duty. This is working in other offices.

I think you misunderstood what I meant with 10 tracked and a handful of first class I used that to point out an example of say a couple of roads not the entirety of the extra, if all I was taking on the extra bit was 10 tracked and a handful of first class I wouldn’t be on hear making a point about it would I ?
I reckon on average I’ve been doing 70 tracked and at least 30 tracked on the covered duty, as I stated walking round a half a delivery with a total of 860 delivery points delivering 25/30 first class letters and minimum 30 tracked you still walking half that delivery.
As for HCT duties you seem to make out there the golden egg and everybody wants them, hmmmm.., not the case.
Most people want a HCT because they don’t want a van share and not because there so called easier ??

[reddevils]

All I am saying is in terms of your workload nobody else has got it any easier, particularly in van shares. This includes both volume of tracked and walking distances. Perhaps your workload after you have done your 50/50 needs to be looked at.

People who want/get HCT's tend to be older, have high senority and are non-drivers?

Is this you?

[monkeybuisness]

All I am saying is in terms of your workload nobody else has got it any easier, particularly in van shares. This includes both volume of tracked and walking distances. Perhaps your workload after you have done your 50/50 needs to be looked at.

People who want/get HCT's tend to be older, have high senority and are non-drivers?

Is this you?

I had a HCT duty a few years ago, the reason I’m on one now is because I’ve been displaced until the resign happens ( in the new year ) I absolutely hate it and I’m looking to get of it ASAP

[ted_e_bear]

Even with the 50/50 split?

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

No chance of the duties being converted to CDV?

Even with the 50/50 split?

Yes, between 7/8 miles doing my own duty, we’ve tried doing 50/50 and 1/3 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery and we’ve also tried 50/50 1/2 ( everything goes ) dissolved delivery.., the later was a complete car crash, over 13 miles walking non stop, a absolute killer.

No chance of the duties being converted to CDV?

Never heard that abbreviation before in 29 years service
If you mean van duties there’s not enough vans available now at our office. DPR drivers literally waiting for vans to come back and also waiting for PDA’s

CDV sands for car derived van, most recent example the vauxhall combis that were based on a Corsa, prior to that we had astra vans, escort vans, Morris marina vans, and really far back the van version of a mini and morris minor, obviously that's outdated now with the current fleet of Peugeots etc that are standalone vans and the different e-vans we've got, presumably that acronym will disappear eventually.

[reddevils]

I had a HCT duty a few years ago, the reason I’m on one now is because I’ve been displaced until the resign happens ( in the new year ) I absolutely hate it and I’m looking to get of it ASAP

I don't believe this. The problem I have with your posts is that they are contradictory and seem fabricated which means I doubt the sincerity of what you are writing.

I am no fan of DM26 but I want posts to be genuine and so we get a good understanding of how the DM26 is working. In my opinion you are exaggerating your workload and not being honest in the details of your circumstances.

Your very 1st post on this website: 14th March 2021
You stated

'Ive been a postie at ######### DO for nearly 10 years'

then you write in February 2026:
Currently I’m on a HCT duty and I have nearly 30 years on the job, reading into the current ODM method RM want to bring in it looks very bleak for us non-drivers. I’ve asked about HCT duties available in the incoming ODM revision ( which will happen ) to the COM he told me they will be HCT duties available then changed his tune a few days later when asked again, the local union rep said straight away no HCT duties will be available. I totally understand that the job is a driving job now but I do hope when the time comes RM will recognise the service some have put in instead of trying to fob us off to another office and say we offered him a alternative. Give me a half decent “ see you “ package because all voluntary redundancy is £14k that works out £500 for every year worked.I hope they do the right thing but sadly current events I cannot see this.


So you have now done 30 years at Royal Mail, not 10. You were on an HCT duty before DM26 came in and you havent been displaced.

I just can't trust anything you say on this forum.

Your workload only weeks ago. You write:

I’m doing approximately 60 % of the work load I’m expected to do under this new delivery method and I’m averaging between 9-11 miles a day.

You are only doing 60 percent of your workload. That means you are not even clearing your 50/50 duty. Like I have said your posts are inconsistent and seem fabricated.