one of our posties delivers packets on docket in his car

[Indy]

but the ID has a number to check!

Err sorry did I forget to say I was dealing with the Plod!

I offered the "If you don't believe me ring the office!"

[chrisj]

Its all well and good for some established members of staff to criticise those that use cars to deliver. As a relatively new postie, it was clear from day 1 that my bosses will rather have me use my car - I was trained using a private and there were no bikes around.

On the days when I have had to use a bike because of car problems... I had to scrounge round for a bike because most of them are with full time/established staff either at the homes, locked/chained up or they are using them.

Its not that easy and straightforward when you work for an establishment that allows seniority to be used an advantage regardless of merit or how good the seniors staff are.

I used my car because I dont like cycling in traffic to start with and as a new staff my rounds (am a floater) are miles away from the depot (some are up the hill and all that) and the drivers are arsy about bad drops and there is so much pressure to get the bags ready because the drivers often depart before the postmen.

Some established staff also use the cars and they have set the precedence and its hard to go against the grain.

However, I recent using my car because of petrol cost and wear and tear but I'll rather than putting up with arsy drivers and sweating even before I start my round.

Bikes were good in the days when DO were closer and there were lighter loads but with packets and possible disciplinary re: door stepping, if you do the job properly, you will end up with loads of bags (I use 8/9 bags) on your bike on the way back and loads of packets as well.

[Biker Mouse]

Its all well and good for some established members of staff to criticise those that use cars to deliver. As a relatively new postie, it was clear from day 1 that my bosses will rather have me use my car - I was trained using a private and there were no bikes around.

On the days when I have had to use a bike because of car problems... I had to scrounge round for a bike because most of them are with full time/established staff either at the homes, locked/chained up or they are using them.

Its not that easy and straightforward when you work for an establishment that allows seniority to be used an advantage regardless of merit or how good the seniors staff are.

I used my car because I dont like cycling in traffic to start with and as a new staff my rounds (am a floater) are miles away from the depot (some are up the hill and all that) and the drivers are arsy about bad drops and there is so much pressure to get the bags ready because the drivers often depart before the postmen.

Some established staff also use the cars and they have set the precedence and its hard to go against the grain.

However, I recent using my car because of petrol cost and wear and tear but I'll rather than putting up with arsy drivers and sweating even before I start my round.

Bikes were good in the days when DO were closer and there were lighter loads but with packets and possible disciplinary re: door stepping, if you do the job properly, you will end up with loads of bags (I use 8/9 bags) on your bike on the way back and loads of packets as well.

[POSTMAN]

Some rep/coaches are such w*****s!

[andy2007]

Its all well and good for some established members of staff to criticise those that use cars to deliver. As a relatively new postie, it was clear from day 1 that my bosses will rather have me use my car - I was trained using a private and there were no bikes around.

On the days when I have had to use a bike because of car problems... I had to scrounge round for a bike because most of them are with full time/established staff either at the homes, locked/chained up or they are using them.

Its not that easy and straightforward when you work for an establishment that allows seniority to be used an advantage regardless of merit or how good the seniors staff are.

I used my car because I dont like cycling in traffic to start with and as a new staff my rounds (am a floater) are miles away from the depot (some are up the hill and all that) and the drivers are arsy about bad drops and there is so much pressure to get the bags ready because the drivers often depart before the postmen.

Some established staff also use the cars and they have set the precedence and its hard to go against the grain.

However, I recent using my car because of petrol cost and wear and tear but I'll rather than putting up with arsy drivers and sweating even before I start my round.

Bikes were good in the days when DO were closer and there were lighter loads but with packets and possible disciplinary re: door stepping, if you do the job properly, you will end up with loads of bags (I use 8/9 bags) on your bike on the way back and loads of packets as well.

Have you filled in all the paperwork, and followed procedure, to be covered by the RM Bond (3rd Party cover only). Or are you paying for your own Business Insurance?
If you have neither, and your pulled for anything. Or worse still have an accident, you'll get 6 Points (minimum), and could end up Bankrupt, if it's because of an accident that's your fault. Make sure you're covered!

Having said that: It's not wise to use your own car anyway. RM are OBLIGED to provide you with the correct equipment, and transport, to complete your Duty in the time allowed. It's not worth all the hassle, and cost (tyres, petrol/diesel, insurance (if you want more than 3rd Party only cover), general wear and tear).

[PhilthyPhil]

but the ID has a number to check!

If someone suspects the authenticity of your ID they are hardly going to try and verify it by calling a number printed on it are they!

[andy2007]

Good point. Particularly as they're so easy to forge! There's no Hologram, like you see on most other forms of ID.
I've complained about this in WTLLs several times. And I'm always told, that I'm worrying over nothing.

[chrisj]

[sidewinder]

The point stills stands ...why pay out of you're own pocket for fuel, and wear/ tear. ?? Don't matter how long or short time you are in the job or you have the correct paperwork, rm has to give you the right equipment to do the job. I don't see employees of tescos, sainsburys , argos,or whoever using their own vehicles to do their companies work. Self employed couriers do use their own vans and cars but it's the self employed bit there......

[smokerjim]

What would you prefer to do? Pressurise yourself into taking your car, paying for juice, wear & tear, insurance ( cos DSP&C won't cut it ), crapping over plod stopping you, some scrote breaking in to nick the contents ( even if no mail is in there ) AND all for your basic wages.....or, tell your gaffer "Not using me car no more, boss!", waiting for him to MANAGE, and get a driver to pick you up, to drop you off, to drop your bags ( safely or if h2h, on time ), and then to get the driver to return you to the office, and if the time means you have to break off, then also inform him you are BREAKING OFF, or BOOKING DOCKET.

One way you pay and pay and pay ( and stress yourself silly ) the other way, someone else ( on a higher pay grade ) stresses out ( let's see 'em earn their money ), and you have the option of either earning more pay or taking out less work.

This does sound easy, but what you want to do is discuss this with others that use their cars, especially other temps, and get them to agree to it - strength in numbers & that, but it seems the managers there can't or won't do any work & all the postmen carry their workload as well as their own, so you need to decide if you want this bullshit to continue....

Well, do you??

[mma83]

Been at R.M for just over 2 months. For first 3 weeks didn't use my car, I would be lucky if my frame was prepped more than 25%....drivers saying they cannot take this/that, drop off points non existent anymore or they do not have keys/so and so has the keys(I'm a floater). Thus, making it hard, impossible to do my walk, especially as most walks were new to me....having 1 bag drop therefore dead-walking for 20-30 mins. Having bags dropped off by my LM, obviously dragged through the wet and mud, making some letters undeliverable(Making me look the the one who's inflicted the damage/neglect on the letters)

Then whether cutting off or finishing on time(Most times cutting-off) trying to get a lift back from a driver via the LM....standing around waiting for 30mins, or being told to make my own way back-Like I know where the F I am and what bus goes where??? All this with the fact I need to finish at my, erm......finish time to collect mrs/son from nursery etc.

These 25/30 hour contracts do not help, most walks are impossible to complete given the amount prepped in the frame, time left to complete walk(Most times 2-3 hours) and R.M just expect those to do o/t necessary to complete their walk, which I wrongly thought wasn't compulsory. Tbh, I have probably kicked up enough fuss, so unless they are desperate, I prob will not get my contract extended...so in 2 minds whether to use car or not when return Weds. But, I understand where some people who do use the car are coming from, It does make life a hell of a lot easier if you have Lm/DoMs that constantly harrass/try to bully you And before the 'Union ' word gets mentioned, it is non-existent at our place......got threatened to be marched off site after arguing with LM/DoM re work load, harassing to do o/t etc and when called union, no help, no call back.

I have my own Bus. insurance but most do not and was one of those moaning when first started the job saying........"why would u want to use ur own car when you do not even get petrol money....wear n tear.....insurance/potential break ins etc" But the use of ur own car seems the 'norm' at my D.O even with experience posties.....so do not blame the new guys, it is the guys who started off using their own cars and continued to do so, that made R.M think "lets make more of these stupid posties use their own cars for our work"

[mma83]

Also, I've stood my ground against management etc and look where it has got me, the other new starters have had their own walk now for the last 3 weeks, i'm still floating picking up the cr*p leftover from the previous day, getting moaned at by the regular the following day for doing my hours and not doing o/t to finish the walk, therefore leaving extra work for them(Yes, agreed not nice, but it is up to management to make it possible 4 me to finish within MY hours)

Being sat down by the LM to 'discuss' why I didn't complete the previous day....hmmm, let me think........8 bags, 2.5 hours to complete without my 20min break(which I always add on as o/t at the end of the week) 30-40 min/bag....u work the maths

Ok, I feel a lot better now for that!!

[holmsey]

if the cops catch him/her..its going to be a fine as he wont be insured for it.

why do posties use thier cars?

I have used my car only a handful of occasions where i wanted to finish early (& could do so if the mail was light).

A bloke in our office was followed by the police after he was seen with packets etc in his car... from memory he got arrested on suspicion of what ever... taken back to the DO where his story could be checked. I think the bloke was quite new so didn't have an RM uniform.

I was putting some "No Access" mail in a post box down a side road when I heard a car screech next to me and doors being flung open. Just as I was turning around to see what was going on I was grabbed by the shoulder. It was the Police wondering what I was doing in a mail box. I had put a jumper over my uniform and was wearing trainers. I obviously said I was a postman but they wouldn't believe me even after showing them my uniform under my jumper. They EVEN spied my official RM ID card with suspicion. They got on the radio and asked for the number of my DO and called the DOM took about 5 minutes to clear it all up. They said they were suspicious coz I had a jumper (non RM) on... I said it was because it was cold, copper said "its 20 degrees MATE!" I said "not at 4am it wasn't!"

They then buggered off without saying anything! The Bast'rds go and catch some real criminals!

what were you doing "IN" a post box. Anybody can post mail legally thats what they are for

[jack]

Also, I've stood my ground against management etc and look where it has got me, the other new starters have had their own walk now for the last 3 weeks, i'm still floating picking up the cr*p leftover from the previous day, getting moaned at by the regular the following day for doing my hours and not doing o/t to finish the walk, therefore leaving extra work for them(Yes, agreed not nice, but it is up to management to make it possible 4 me to finish within MY hours)

Being sat down by the LM to 'discuss' why I didn't complete the previous day....hmmm, let me think........8 bags, 2.5 hours to complete without my 20min break(which I always add on as o/t at the end of the week) 30-40 min/bag....u work the maths

Ok, I feel a lot better now for that!!

Thats sounds pretty much true, p/timers in our office who don't want to work over don't, they too become targets from management for not wanting to do overtime.

Going back on topic, i know some posties who have deliberatley purchased red cars to give themselves that authentic feel whilst using their cars on delivery

[tetley smooth]

[

Tbh, I have probably kicked up enough fuss, so unless they are desperate, I prob will not get my contract extended...

Keep your chin up. You are doin nothing wrong. If you are not kept on ask for reasons why, in writing.
In my considerable time in RM i have only known the business to get rid of post/men/women at the end of their trial if they have been off sick or had a few lates.
Oh and unless you have been walking around with your eyes closed, they are desperate.