First Rural Duty

[WornOutPosty]

Hi everyone,
I've only ever done walking rounds in all the time I've been working here. Anyway, on Thursday I'm moving onto a rural duty - I'm a bit daunted as it's 99% farm / house names and hardly any house numbers on the fitting I was wonderin if you all had any tips for making the transition as it looks like a completely different way of working.

I'm also wondering how best to actually arrange the mail in the van? Do you use boxes and mix the packets in with them or have the two types separate etc?
Any help would be appreciated

[deggyg]

my tip is normal mail in one box,packets in another,and don't worry,it's 1000% easier than a town delivery :-)

[krussel]

I used to use large plastic trays (Tesco and most supermarkets use them). Band up the delivery points and place them in order in the tray. You can get small packets in as well, large packets flip a letter and keep in the back.

[Fishyfingers]

Last rural round i got shown i got the Dom to print off the round and when i got shown the round by the duty holder i wrote down the names of the residents next to the house/farm name,it helped for the first week.It is a bit daunting at first but you will soon get used to it.

[BingBong]

Hi everyone,
I've only ever done walking rounds in all the time I've been working here. Anyway, on Thursday I'm moving onto a rural duty - I'm a bit daunted as it's 99% farm / house names and hardly any house numbers on the fitting I was wonderin if you all had any tips for making the transition as it looks like a completely different way of working.

I'm also wondering how best to actually arrange the mail in the van? Do you use boxes and mix the packets in with them or have the two types separate etc?
Any help would be appreciated

I love the rural duties in our office. Nice and quiet. Nice polite people. And its nice in the summer down the country lanes and stuff. Don't worry about it. Id def ask someone to take you round the duty though if possible.

[wacko74]

I'd say a rural duty is almost impossible to do without a couple of days training first?

Although as others have said, once you have learnt them you realise they're a complete doddle compared to regular duties.

[ballee]

Remember to have no mail in the front of your van, that includes door to door. Always work from the back of your van. We have had numerous postmen lose their jobs in Northern for this. Also do not leave your van unlocked or the keys in the ignition. The IB are always out and about. Other than that a rural duty is by far a better job.

[WornOutPosty]

Thanks for all the help everyone - very useful! Do the vans have cigarette lighters inside? I was thinking I could always stick a sat-nav in if I get really stuck.
It does seem a huge contrast to the walking rounds because you can't "follow the mail" as such to get from start to end of a loop.

[bigcol]

I was thinking I could always stick a sat-nav in if I get really stuck.

Just use your PDA.

The hardest thing will be working out how it takes the usual duty holder so long.

[WornOutPosty]

Thanks Col, oh yeah that's the other thing, I've never even used a PDA as all the walkers here have the book / stick stickers in it. Has a PDA got a sat nav?

[bigcol]

Thanks Col, oh yeah that's the other thing, I've never even used a PDA as all the walkers here have the book / stick stickers in it. Has a PDA got a sat nav?

Yes it does. It's not exactly obvious how to use it though.

[bingo bango]

I use a bread tray for most of my mail or some old royal mail bike trays.

As said before don't leave anything other than the bundle/packets your delivering next in the front of the van. Oh and watch out for the "friendly" collie dog that "only wants to play" !!!!!!

the only other tip might be to band up each call individually and then into sectional bundles, after a couple of weeks it'll become second nature to you and you'll realise just how enjoyable a rural is compared to being stuck on a town shift

[Lincox]

Tips at Christmas, 20 brace of pheasants, 10 brace of partridges, and a bunk up with the milk maid.

[monkeymutha]

Wouldn't even attempt a rural I didn't know without sufficient training. Had a weeks training on the one I'm currently on. Be prepared to overrun a lot longer than you would ever do on a town round, as you have to deliver all the large packets that town walks don't have to deal with (and we all know packets take the time up, not the letters).

[krussel]

Google earth street view can be a help.