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Private Car ... am I in deep ?

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fishtank
Posts: 19732
Joined: 28 Sep 2007, 17:22
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by fishtank »

focus89uk wrote:
fishtank wrote:It doesn't matter whether there has been a revision or not if you or your manager haven't followed the private cars on delivery procedure...you are both in trouble.
He will be looking for a lifeboat but you can guarantee he won't make room for you in it.
What exactly should they be doing to follow procedure ?
just to be clear
You should be providing....

A)Their car registration document
B)Their current valid driving licence.
C)Their current valid certificate of insurance covering the car.
D)A completed letter notifying their own insurers that they intend to use Royal Mail’s business policy whilst driving on delivery
E)If they are not the registered keeper then clear evidence that the owner is either their domestic partner or another close family member
F)A completed signed declaration of intent relating to the car to be used on delivery
G)A current valid MOT certficate for the car to be used on delivery where the car to be used requires one by law
H)The car for an initial visual inspection

Then...

2. Line Managers Actions
Following initial application and before authorising the use of a private car for use on delivery, line managers must undertake the following:
I)Work Equipment Standard Risk Assessment (form WE STD5) section 3 and ensure the applicant completes section 4. This form is available on the Private Cars On Delivery Intranet site..

J)Ensure Manual Handling in Delivery Work document MH12 has been completed and/or updated as applicable to specifically cover the transfer and lifting of a delivery pouch in and out of the car boot where authorisation for the use of the car on delivery work is being sought. This form is available from the private cars on Delivery Intranet site.

Then you again....
3. Employee Obligations once Permission has been Granted
Once permission has been granted it is the employee’s obligation to ensure at all times that:
K)He/she only uses the car when in possession of a valid driving licence
L)He/she has a valid certificate of insurance to meet their liability to third party insurance claims
M)Where he/she does not own the vehicle that it remains the property of his/her domestic partner or another close family member
N)He/she ensures (and can produce evidence if required) that his/her insurer has been notified that the car is being used for business use and is covered by Royal Mail’s Business Policy. It is the employees responsibility to ensure this is acceptable to their insurers.
O)He/she has a current MOT test certificate for the car, if required by law.
P)
The car is maintained in a roadworthy condition and is available for inspection.
Q)He/she must show all the above documents for inspection as required
R)Where any of the above documentation expires between inspections he/she produces new documenation for inspection by his / her line manager within a week of expiry
S)All delivery work is performed in accordance with duty content (ie in respect of route, timings etc).
T)When the car is used in connection with delivery work, the only passengers permitted to be carried are other delivery employees on authorised delivery duties who are being dropped off at a delivery route adjacent to the driver’s delivery route.
U)Normal security of mail applies (i.e. any “supplementary pouches” mail left in a car whilst the employee is making the delivery, must be out of sight in the boot or if a hatchback/estate, under the parcel shelf of the car. If a hatchback/estate has no parcel shelf, then the car must be deemed unsuitable. The car must be fully locked and alarmed – where an alarm is fitted).
Exceptionally, as part of a contingency plan addressing any high crime risk, you may be advised of limits on the number of pouches you can convey in your car. This contingency is mandatory for the duration specified by your Manager.

Then...
Line Manager Actions once permission has been granted
Once permission has been granted the manager must undertake the following:

W)Each year, Work Equipment Standard Risk Assessment (form WE STD5) section 3
X)Each quarter, ensure the authorised user of the Private Car on Delivery completes section 4.
Y)Each year, ensure Manual Handling in Delivery Work document MH12 has been completed and/or updated as applicable to specifically cover the transfer and lifting of a delivery pouch in and out of the car boot where authorisation for the use of the car on delivery work has been granted.
Z)All completed documentation is retained locally of a period of one year unless it is superseded by another completed document.
The Manager should carry out an annual check on each and every private car used on delivery to ensure that all mail is loaded to the boot and is not visible (covered by a functioning parcel shelf/cover). Check that all locks to doors and boot work and that all windows can be closed.
good times, bad times you know I've had my share
brothermagrew
Posts: 3015
Joined: 06 Aug 2007, 16:38
Gender: Male
Location: Shares a border with England to the south.

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by brothermagrew »

focus89uk wrote:
fishtank wrote:It doesn't matter whether there has been a revision or not if you or your manager haven't followed the private cars on delivery procedure...you are both in trouble.
He will be looking for a lifeboat but you can guarantee he won't make room for you in it.
What exactly should they be doing to follow procedure ?
just to be clear
In it's simplistic form and to coin a phrase just to be clear - Private cars are not official transport.
"Today’s workplace has become heartless and soulless. Employees are seen as units of labour, automatons, functionaries, objects for achieving designated tasks, and as costs to be minimised."
countyboy
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 121
Joined: 03 Dec 2009, 17:48
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by countyboy »

A new guy i was working with got sent to another office and ended up going out on a delivery with a lino who backed into a wall or something in his own personal car,,,, :Very Happy Laugh ??,,,I nearly wet myself,,,,Serves the knob end right,, :Very Happy ..Of course on the plus side for the lino he wont face any action for using his own car no doubt,,!!
hantsman
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 876
Joined: 14 Jul 2009, 09:33
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by hantsman »

countyboy wrote:A new guy i was working with got sent to another office and ended up going out on a delivery with a lino who backed into a wall or something in his own personal car,,,, :Very Happy Laugh ??,,,I nearly wet myself,,,,Serves the knob end right,, :Very Happy ..Of course on the plus side for the lino he wont face any action for using his own car no doubt,,!!

I wonder what happens if the member of staff gets hurt? Is the manager insured under RM if using his private car?
foodforthought
Posts: 48
Joined: 29 Jun 2011, 20:37
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by foodforthought »

did other posties in the office not give you the heads uo? nobody see you filling your car up and give you some advice?
mazza111
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 877
Joined: 09 Mar 2010, 16:30
Gender: Female

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by mazza111 »

foodforthought wrote:did other posties in the office not give you the heads uo? nobody see you filling your car up and give you some advice?

I found in my old office no one cared as long as they were getting the benefit from it. I done it for about 2 years and didn't think anything of it, until someone mentioned it, with proper business insurance I may add. Unfortunately it was a gobsh*te who told me about it and I didn't really believe him, found this site and lo and behold the gob sh*te was right.

The older experienced postie said nothing to me imo because he was getting either dropped off with his part duty or getting dropped off near home. doing, but sometimes they do take the piss.
Needless to say, after this I made sure I got paid mileage for anything I done for management in my own car, I know it's still mileage etc, but this was prerevision and he already knew I had business insurance. Because I was indoors most of the time working, it was a case of Van A's broken down, can u drop so and so off. Which I really didn't mind.
Cheetah
Posts: 428
Joined: 13 Oct 2009, 13:17
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by Cheetah »

Sorry, but I find it great news that RM are disciplining people who are using their own transport. IT'S WHAT IS KILLING THE JOB :mad ....... We have lost 3 FT positions in our office so no sympathy here :cuppa :cuppa .......
chelseachris
Posts: 164
Joined: 26 Mar 2010, 14:28
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by chelseachris »

A fellow postie in our office said he is still allowed to use his car because he is a part-time fire man and needs it to get to the fire station in the event of a 999 call any thoughts on that one. :no no
Cheetah
Posts: 428
Joined: 13 Oct 2009, 13:17
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by Cheetah »

chelseachris wrote:A fellow postie in our office said he is still allowed to use his car because he is a part-time fire man and needs it to get to the fire station in the event of a 999 call any thoughts on that one. :no no
Personally I think that is a very good reason, providing it is not being abused i.e running round and finishing early......
Lincox
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 3485
Joined: 09 Jan 2008, 18:07
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by Lincox »

What happens to the mail when he gets a call out? He obviously cant hang around for it to be picked up by a manager.
mazza111
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 877
Joined: 09 Mar 2010, 16:30
Gender: Female

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by mazza111 »

TBH Cheetah. People aren't told they shouldn't use their own cars. Do you think management are open about this? Even the area Rep seen me loading my car and didn't say anything to me, along with the local rep. So I think if management have been encouraging it to happen, the only "punishment" they should be seen to be doing is stop people from doing it. After all it would hardly be fair of them to say, oh can u drop Jimmy off at the start of his round while you're on the way to yours? And then sack you for using your own car the next day/week.
dvbuk55
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 16650
Joined: 02 Jun 2007, 19:17
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by dvbuk55 »

If the unit has not had a revision and according to current figures there are some 1100 of them then the use of private cars, if it has been the norm, would still be the current practice for that office. Without the DM revision the equipment would not be available and the relevant standard for each delivery could not have been set.
arnold cheshire
Posts: 5309
Joined: 14 Oct 2010, 21:28
Gender: Male
Location: england

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by arnold cheshire »

well what happened????????
Cheetah
Posts: 428
Joined: 13 Oct 2009, 13:17
Gender: Male

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by Cheetah »

mazza111 wrote:TBH Cheetah. People aren't told they shouldn't use their own cars. Do you think management are open about this? Even the area Rep seen me loading my car and didn't say anything to me, along with the local rep. So I think if management have been encouraging it to happen, the only "punishment" they should be seen to be doing is stop people from doing it. After all it would hardly be fair of them to say, oh can u drop Jimmy off at the start of his round while you're on the way to yours? And then sack you for using your own car the next day/week.
Don't need anyone to tell me not to use my own car, I just use my loaf....... Why would I like the 99.99% use my fuel and not get paid for the privelage, take risks with my insurance or pay to insure my car, knock my own car about and have to repair it myself, not get compensated for wear and tear on my own car, put extra miles on my own car, give management reason to increase my duty as obviously one would be quicker in a car than on a cycle (the principle of P&L) or go home early and give management a case to dismiss me, cost my office and colleagues jobs as they need less drivers to convey, prevent P/T colleagues to get made up to full time,make my own car a target for theft by storing mail in it...... Nahh I don't need telling I just use my loaf :cuppa .....
mazza111
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 877
Joined: 09 Mar 2010, 16:30
Gender: Female

Re: Private Car ... am I in deep ?

Post by mazza111 »

Not really.

The way I used my car when i was there, was i parked my car at beginning of duty, ended roughly a 5 minute walk from it. My bags still got dropped off, apart from my first one. That's why I done it. Because I could start when I should and not have to wait for a van, which in turn would have made me late for my children. Also came in bloody handy when one of my kids had a massive allergic reaction and had to be taken to hospital. JFTR I had business insurance for my last job, just carried it on for the pricely sum of £10/year. So if you look at it that way, all I saved RM was my conveyancing out to the start of my duty, nothing else.Which was done for MY benefit, not theirs. That way is no faster apart from the time to get to start of duty, which is better than standing around for an hour waiting for someone to take you out, or worrying that you wouldn't be finished in time for the kids coming out of school. Extra mileage? Nah, was local to home. Extra wear and tear? Again, nah. Would be different if we were talking a good distance, but we're not, in my case it was about 2 miles and would have spent those 2 miles going to/from work anyhoo. When my lad took ill, it meant I could jump in the car and go, meet the ambulance at the hospital, when it happened a 2nd time, again my trusty wee car got me there in a jiffy and didn't need emergency services. Couldn't have done that without my car. I know not all people do that, but some people do have circumstances where they need their car local to them too. If I had the bags in my car I would obviously have looked at this more seriously but using the boxes and getting bags dropped off for me worked.

I will say they needed less drivers to convey (me) because they couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery. When I wasn't using my car I was a good hour later starting. That's absolutely no good to someone who has commitments the way I have. Purely selfish I know, but my kids and disabled mother were more important to me than RM.