Driving or Walking - which would you do?

[WornOutPosty]

Given the choice, regardless of hours, would you / do you prefer to do rural driving rounds or walking rounds? Could you tell me your reasons why as well please? I have only ever done walking rounds so have nothing to compare it to yet.

[north london driver]

to keep your job go driving.
this will give royal mail two options for you,also royal mail are desperate for drivers.
the future is driving not walking + you get a few quid with the driving allowance.

[DGP1]

to keep your job go driving.
this will give royal mail two options for you,also royal mail are desperate for drivers.
the future is driving not walking + you get a few quid with the driving allowance.

No driving allowance anymore.

Plus, these days its driving, then walking, then driving again, followed by some more walking which is the way it will be in the future.

[north london driver]

to keep your job go driving.
this will give royal mail two options for you,also royal mail are desperate for drivers.
the future is driving not walking + you get a few quid with the driving allowance.

No driving allowance anymore.

Plus, these days its driving, then walking, then driving again, followed by some more walking which is the way it will be in the future.

what our union have agreed to get rid of driving allowance for new drivers whos side are they on.
to be honest managers are giving parcel pressure to drivers just to keep them happy even they know it
was a s**t deal.now you can see our union losing members most weeks in most regions will they wake up in time.

[DGP1]

to keep your job go driving.
this will give royal mail two options for you,also royal mail are desperate for drivers.
the future is driving not walking + you get a few quid with the driving allowance.

No driving allowance anymore.

Plus, these days its driving, then walking, then driving again, followed by some more walking which is the way it will be in the future.

what our union have agreed to get rid of driving allowance for new drivers whos side are they on.
to be honest managers are giving parcel pressure to drivers just to keep them happy even they know it
was a s**t deal.now you can see our union losing members most weeks in most regions will they wake up in time.

Not to sure where you have been but I've been in 10 years and the driving allowance was gone before I started.

[clashcityrocker]

Way Forward Agreement.

[glenfiddich]

i still get the allowance

[fishtank]

i still get the allowance

[north london driver]

been driving over 25 years and get driving allowence sometimes wonder if you all work for royal mail so many
staff are on different contracts and dont seem to be in the same job as me.as for driving allowence i dont know
anyone not to get something. all our drivers on distribution/processing/or delivery get driving allowence also even
the baby vans on walks get something it all depends what size you drive.
i have always voted against any agreement in the last 15 years that our union let us vote on,this could be the reason
why many new ways of working are just signed off and brought in, sad times indeed.

[fishtank]

It's only the small van allowance that went nld.
£6 but you still keep it as long as you stay on a driving duty.
New entrants haven't got it since 2000 i think and that's everywhere...even North London.

[NWpostie]

Only 600s and above now get driving allowances as you need specialist training for it, if there is no allowances for it then nobody will be prepared to take the extra responsibility for no extra pay, as for lower capacity vans there is no allowances anymore , it all got consolidated into the pay due to the Way Forward Agreement which also abolished the PHG grades amongst a lot of things, only those with grandfathers rights have done well out of it.

[Nikellie]

Given the choice, regardless of hours, would you / do you prefer to do rural driving rounds or walking rounds? Could you tell me your reasons why as well please? I have only ever done walking rounds so have nothing to compare it to yet.

I'm day off cover and do rurals and park and loop (mostly walking) rounds. The major factor's for me are;

1. Keeping fit - you get a lot more exercise on P&L rounds which I prefer (see 2 for caveat)
2. Weather - rural deliveries during bad weather (wet/cold - not icy!) are a real bonus, you can take your time and keep warm and dry whilst driving between calls. Equally I hate rural driving in a hot van during the summer, give me P&L anyday during the summer.
3. IF you are a speed merchant it's much quicker to P&L on light days (in my experience!)
4. In my experience rural customers are, on the whole, much friendlier than "townies", however if you prefer to get the job done town delivery is better so you don't keep stopping talking to people as tends to happen out in the sticks!
5. Prep - Normally it's much easier to prep a rural (once you've learned all the house names!) - less mail, D2D's, packets, specials etc.
6. No partner to worry about on rurals, some people enjoy being in a team, others don't.
7. On town P&L deliveries you only fill up the van with diesel every six months!