New postie need some help !!

[Sloanranger360]

I started and have completed the videos for mandatory training. I haven’t had I am about to start day 5 on LATs.

I feeling overwhelmed as I have been told I will be solo next shift. I did shadowing for 3 shifts but tbh the person wasn’t a work place coach …is this normal ? The person with was not very good at explaining things and I’m not really sure of how to operate the pda confidently. So I did do my first drive out under this person’s guidance but the vehicle check was skipped over. Also I’m unsure whether we are able to doorstep ?? And when we are able to leave stuff in a safe place. I haven’t been given access to the standard operating procedures and I don’t know what these are but I have seen threads on here about not doorstepping and only leaving stuff in safeplace if specified and are you prompted on the PDA ? I don’t know what the process is as it appears people are door stepping.

[clashcityrocker]

The official policy is not to doorstep.
Safeplace is as prompted on the PDA or on the parcel. If you don't think the safeplace is safe then don't use it.
Just because other people doorstep it doesn't mean you have to as well.

Any concerns you have about the PDA should be discussed with your manager or a proper Workplace coach.
Most of it is very basic and will be second nature after a couple of days. The technology isn't that scary.

[2yearpostie]

Never ever doorstep as it is instant dismissal if caught.

The pda is simple to use, you just need the outdoor application and scan the route your delivery office manger gives you.

If you need extra help using RON, then ask the dom or line manager to explain it with you will you have a pda in your hand.

We have some new products which require a photo when you deliver them. get the picture with the customers front door open ( be careful of dogs)
Safeplace items are TRACKED only never anything else and only if you are happy it is safe
If you not sure simply fill a p739 out as not delivered and scan the item as not delivered and take it back to the office with fl and the date written on it.

Last chill, take your time do the best you can and make sure you get the doms phone number so you can try and call them if you have any issues/look like you wont get everything delivered to ask for further instructions.

Also you have a finish time, if you dont want to go past it that is perfectly acceptable.

[Norfolk 'N' Chance]

Never ever doorstep as it is instant dismissal if caught.

The pda is simple to use, you just need the outdoor application and scan the route your delivery office manger gives you.

Some good advice there. When I started at the begining of November I did not have the luxury of any training videos, or onboarder. One afternoon shown the PDA out in the field, then left to do my own thing with the LAT's.

From having see the Workplace Learning video (some weeks later!) I learnt that the correct process is to select "Scan to Dedicated Parcels Route" on the INDOOR tab, and then scan your LAT route barcode. You then create "A Manifest in the Indoor tab and when complete you SUBMIT it so it uploads to the server. You then leave INDOOR and tab across to RON and then scan/enter the LAT route barcode and download the Manifest from the cloud. You can then optomise it and start.

If you do this you dont have to keep tabing between RON and OUTDOOR and can simply swipe the address when attended and confirm delivery all from the RON screen. It saves time and PDA crashing!

As 2yearpostie says, watch out for those dogs! I had one bite me on my leg a few weeks ago, only minor but drew blood and was painful for a while.

TIP: IF you get the "there is a redirection/keepsafe for this item" message come up, when your scanning the items in to create the manifest, then check the name on the parcel with the those shown on the redirection info on the PDA (click the envelope symbol next to the barcode for that item). It brings up a list of names for the address and if they dont match the parcel you can click IGNORE. Ive not had any parcel redirects as I guess most people would not be ordering something and sending it to their old address.

From personal experience I didnt feel that comfortable the first few days and made a couple of rookie mistakes. But 8 weeks on its second nature and personally I dont doorstep. If its flowers then I try my best to find a safeplace or neighbour but everything else gets carded (739) and goes back to the DO.

[Norfolk 'N' Chance]

I started and have completed the videos for mandatory training. I haven’t had I am about to start day 5 on LATs.

I feeling overwhelmed as I have been told I will be solo next shift. I did shadowing for 3 shifts but tbh the person wasn’t a work place coach …is this normal ? The person with was not very good at explaining things and I’m not really sure of how to operate the pda confidently. So I did do my first drive out under this person’s guidance but the vehicle check was skipped over. Also I’m unsure whether we are able to doorstep ?? And when we are able to leave stuff in a safe place. I haven’t been given access to the standard operating procedures and I don’t know what these are but I have seen threads on here about not doorstepping and only leaving stuff in safeplace if specified and are you prompted on the PDA ? I don’t know what the process is as it appears people are door stepping.

I think your experience is the norm. Im only agency and really had to learn what i could in a few hours one afternoon. All i can say is dont panic. You'll make a few errors, but learn from them. Make a few notes and just bring back what you cant do. Ive been out till 9/10pm some nights and sometimes still can get them all done.

As Ive mainly been on LAT's for two months if you have any questions just ask and I'll try and answer them if I can.

[Sloanranger360]

Just want to say thank you to all of you who replied. Some really good tips and sound advice. Was out today on my own for the first time, doing completely by the book as per advice. Was a good day, manager supportive and didn’t overload with masses of parcels and was cool about me bringing stuff back; he also went through me the PDA operation. Here’s to doing it all again tmrw! Thanks again guys

[Norfolk 'N' Chance]

Just want to say thank you to all of you who replied. Some really good tips and sound advice. Was out today on my own for the first time, doing completely by the book as per advice. Was a good day, manager supportive and didn’t overload with masses of parcels and was cool about me bringing stuff back; he also went through me the PDA operation. Here’s to doing it all again tmrw! Thanks again guys

It seems easy to say but it does get easier the more you do it and you'll feel a lot better when you have got a few days under your belt. Wish you all the best and sounds like you had a better day today!

One other thing that I found particularly useful was a breakdown of the the Postcodes. Once I knew how he first Number in the second block of three characters designated the particular villages and which ones were farthest away from the DO etc, i found it easier to group the LAT's as Im scanning. This makes the numbering of each item quicker after optomising the route.