I meant how many parcels routes in total, or if it's easier to answer how many different routes were you expected to learn/deliver?
I was doing about 2 or 3 different routes a week.
So on a Monday for instance, I would do a route which covered 2-3 walks (80+ parcels).
On Tuesday, I would do a route which covered 2-3 different walks.
On Wednesday, I might do a route which covered part of Monday's walks and Tuesday's walks.#
On Thursday, I might be given a new route which covered 2-3 different walks.
This is what I'm saying - I was given different routes to do pretty much every day so never really had the opportunity to learn these.
It sounds like my DO but eventually you get back to the same walks as there's not an indefinite number of walks to do. You soon learn if there's an open porch door, a safe place or next to no chance of a quick delivery.
No where else will pay better than nearly £100(?) for delivering 80 parcels a day, particularly with no vehicle costs etc to fund our of your pay.
I'd agree with most of what the OP says. I got told to work 2pm till 8pm because theres no vans until about 2. Then by the time I scanned, numbered and loaded the parcels I would drive to another town several miles through rush hour traffic to get to the first delivery point sometimes 5pm. Then try and squeeze a 5 hour route into three hours before coming back about 8:30 with stuff undelivered. Managers say 3 minutes per drop is allowed and this is how RON works out how long your route should take. If you do your job properly i e. No doorstepping, allow customers more than ten seconds to answer the door, knock on neighbours if no answer, go round the back and look for a shed or other safe place and write out cards, oh and obey speed limits then there is absolutely no way you can meet the Ron timings on the pda. The software doesn't take into account terraced streets where the only access is a narrow double parked back lanes or other tricky places that slow you down. If everywhere was a modern estate with unlocked porches the job would be a doddle. I suspect the managers know its unrealistic but prefer to set the bar high. They'd rather we took too many out than too few. It seems their main priority is to make sure nobody gets a minute of free time. Even stopping to drink some water means one more parcel will be brought back undelivered. And God forbid you pull over at a supermarket to take a dump, thats got to be three more undelivered parcels coming back. Same if you use the loo before leaving the DO. Its a constant stressful experience knowing your up against the clock. Royal Mail want robots not humans to meet these targets. I'm a hard worker. I don't take a break. But this company needs to start easing off a bit before everyone just leaves
If your working in the dark there's no point in looking for safe places or neighbours unless one is clearly at home, just knock the customers door twice and then write out a 739 of there's no answer and move on to the next drop.
this, could also be a few bob in it for you.