Grey areas regarding vans on P/L

[eastie]

Our office has P/L and has the shared vans .
Someone brought up in a thread about only having one key issued per pairing but at our office 2 keys are issued.
This is done at our office because of walkers taking their next bags out of the van whilst the driver may be doing his loop.
Do most people on P/L have 2 keys issued??
Another thing is that both people are allowed to drive. If say the walker has a light loop and the driver a heavy loop the walker then delivers a few packets in the van .
This begs the question what happens if the walker uses the van and gets flashed for speeding or crashes the van.
Another one is we have 2 people who are banned for drink driving and are issued keys but only to get their bags out of the van during the round.

[fishtank]

Shared vans: vehicle accountability

Principles of Shared Van working

• Typically one of the shared van pair is nominated as the driver each day to minimize inefficiency as a result of driver changes during the duty
• A set of keys may be held by both OPGs within the pair

Driver Responsibility
While using shared vans, drivers must follow instructions (contained in the Overnight Retention of Vehicles policy, located on the 6 phase intranet site) by completing the logbook as described. Under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 Royal Mail has a legal obligation to provide, when required, details on the identity of any driver using a vehicle at a particular time. In order to fulfil this obligation, the Vehicle Condition & Mileage Logbook (the logbook) will be used as the primary day-to-day control record.

For the purposes of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the driver whose name is last recorded in the logbook will be considered responsible for the roadworthiness and security of the vehicle until responsibility is transferred to the next driver by signature in the logbook. Only the driver whose name is recorded in the logbook may drive the vehicle until responsibility is transferred. Subsequent drivers must carry out at least a “duty” level (roadworthiness) vehicle check before driving and the vehicle logbook must be completed in line with the example used in the Overnight Retention of Vehicles Policy, located in the 6 phase intranet site).

Drivers must be able to provide a detailed and accurate record of vehicle transfer between themselves and another driver/s via the logbook.

It is a very serious offence to drive a vehicle without the appropriate driving licence and necessary permission. Any breach of this condition will be treated under the Royal Mail Conduct Code.

Key Holders
Shared van working will work best if both employees sharing the vehicle have key access to the mail compartment so as to minimize waiting time at the van.

Key control processes therefore need to be communicated to employees, and managed, more effectively than ever before.

All sets of vehicle keys must be signed for, i.e.: where two sets of keys are used on a shared van duty then both OPGs must sign separately for each set. The person signing for keys will be considered responsible for their security until responsibility is transferred and details have been recorded on the local office key control record.

Managers must periodically confirm availability of all sets of keys issued for any shared vehicle under their control. Checks should be carried out at the same time as licence checks are conducted (whether the subsequent key holder has a driving licence or not).

When not in use, all vehicle keys must be kept on the person at all times - they must never be left in the vehicle or in any delivery trolley or delivery pouch.

Responsibility for the security of any mail left on board a vehicle which is unattended will be shared jointly between any key holders working from the vehicle. Mail left in unattended vehicles must always be secured within the load area.

Failure to adhere to these principles may lead to disciplinary action being taken under the Conduct Code and could result in dismissal.

[eastie]

thanks for that Fishtank

[TheCobra]

On my van, the only key that works to drive the van is the driver's key. The other key unlocks the van but doesn't work in the ignition.

[somerset]

On my van, the only key that works to drive the van is the driver's key. The other key unlocks the van but doesn't work in the ignition.

That is because the spare key does not have a blue chip in it ?

[DGP1]

On my van, the only key that works to drive the van is the driver's key. The other key unlocks the van but doesn't work in the ignition.

That is because the spare key does not have a blue chip in it ?

Both sets of keys work for all our vans, open and drive

[MentalVortex]

Hey fishtank,

Just wondering, is that stuff you posted about the principles of shared van working actually what Royal Mail stipulate or is it your wording on how it's meant to go. Just curious

[fishtank]

Hey fishtank,

Just wondering, is that stuff you posted about the principles of shared van working actually what Royal Mail stipulate or is it your wording on how it's meant to go. Just curious

It's part of the agreed guidelines for a delivery methods revision.
It's Royal Mail's words...with input from the union.

[MentalVortex]

Thanking you, kind sir