First day at Royal Mail.

[camelelf]

Hey guys. I have searched and searched through this forum for advice and tips but wanted to ask about this one.

I started work as a postman today and thought it went well. The management were surprised that I, and 3 others later on turned up as usually your first day is the 'Welcome to Royal Mail' induction but the email said different. I went out at roughly 9am and back at the depot at 14:15.

I was sent out with someone on a rural route which was great. I did a couple of stop and loops but it was mostly drop off and drive to next mansion/farm. I have been told that I won't be on that route tomorrow which is a shame as the guy with me was great. I was absolutely fine with the deliveries but the sorting bit is worrying me a little.

I watched every move my partner made when sorting the parcels but not much made sense although I was told not to worry about that for the first week or two. On the, I think frames? there's labels with addresses and numbers yet some start at number 4 and some at number 20, and then 22,24,26,28 etc and then on another frame that street starts again but it starts from say number 40,42,44,46 etc? I swear I must be missing something. I was meant to ask my partner but forgot about it and will ask someone tomorrow but thought I'd ask here too. And then how to bundle letters, I was told on stop and loops to use door to doors as a reminder that another house's mail is next, so put a door to door facing backwards at the end of number 1s mail, so then you know number 2 is next and so on.

Other than that, it was great. Any other advice?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

They are right don't worry about it, but on some of your points.

The Frames run not in order by number, but by how you actually deliver it. For instance I have a section that goes 59 57 1 55 53 12a 12 10 10a.

Also some streets are split between deliveries for operational and efficiency reasons.

There are many different ways to remind you of parcels some are: A Blank form, turning letters, turning letters and marking a P, turning letters and marking a P and House Number, using route cards etc. Not heard of the D2D method and what happens when there are no D2Ds, but don't worry about it you'll pick the local method soon enough.

[camelelf]

They are right don't worry about it, but on some of your points.

The Frames run not in order by number, but by how you actually deliver it. For instance I have a section that goes 59 57 1 55 53 12a 12 10 10a.

Also some streets are split between deliveries for operational and efficiency reasons.

There are many different ways to remind you of parcels some are: A Blank form, turning letters, turning letters and marking a P, turning letters and marking a P and House Number, using route cards etc. Not heard of the D2D method and what happens when there are no D2Ds, but don't worry about it you'll pick the local method soon enough.

Thank you. The frames are starting to make more sense now.

Second day went well as I was put with someone on the area that I live. I am still a little shocked that management haven't even talked to me or the other new starters and even shown around the place, let alone how to sort and pack etc. I was told to come in at 8:30 and that was it. I had no idea who I was with at first.
The guy I was with wasn't even a coach/trainer but taught me the basics and seemed surprised at how I coped without being taught previously. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have even known how to scan your delivery route with the pda, that you need to sign the van in and out, how to use the pda for specials and collection, what to do in regards to dogs and plenty of other stuff. I hadn't even been told about redirections and what to do with packages you couldn't deliver. You would have thought training would be the first thing you do?

[delfranklin1969]

The thing that often freaks out most new posties is the sheer amount you have to remember but you do find it gets easier with each passing day! The job is not for everyone but if you get through the first couple of months relatively unscathed you should be ok! Seems odd you never got induction day mind. One bit of advice I'll give you is don't panic too much when you make a mistake or mess something up - we have all done it and some of us still do!!!

[camelelf]

The thing that often freaks out most new posties is the sheer amount you have to remember but you do find it gets easier with each passing day! The job is not for everyone but if you get through the first couple of months relatively unscathed you should be ok! Seems odd you never got induction day mind. One bit of advice I'll give you is don't panic too much when you make a mistake or mess something up - we have all done it and some of us still do!!!

Thank you. I can certainly see why there's such a high turnover of starters. I keep being told by some of the more pleasant posties that I'll be fine after a while.

This is going to sound very stupid and silly but it's something I want to ask as I haven't been trained on it.
When you get to a frame, do you bundle from the first slot on the left and then to the end of that street and then work your way to the right end and then go up and start again from the left? And is that the order you/your partner should drive to? Is there a route planner or something to see what streets you go to first? Last thing I want to do is bundle everything up and then put the first lot of streets at the bottom of a bag buried under all the other bags.

And are you suppose to deliver ALL door to doors every day? I see some people leave some and other take absolutely everything from their frame.

Maybe these are things I should have been taught or maybe I'm just being silly.

[wannabeek]

Unfortunately although it is all one company, you would not think so from the way that each office differs so much. Some have frames which run as you have described, others have ones which run backwards to that, some have very odd frames with sections of delivery in entirely the wrong order. You will need a local guy to give you guidance on how to bundle up your frame.

Also, some deliver all the day's D2Ds section each day, others leave the calls without actual mail that day until another time, then take it when the property does get mail.

There is no handbook on how to do the job nationwide as each office differs so massively. It does become so much easier after a few weeks...!

[GT85]

As you are finding out it is a steep learning curve,you should have some basic training with a field coach but many offices do not have such a thing and so it is down to the postie that you are working with to teach you what to do as well as getting the walk delivered without any allowance for the fact that you are a newbie. Don't expect much help from management as they are far too busy doing more important stuff.

As above all offices seem to have their own way of doing things and so there is often no correct way but frames generally run top left to bottom right.The loops are either marked on the frame or will be on a tie up sheet which is often a dog eared scrap of paper that tells you where the loop starts and finishes and the order of the houses in between. Be aware some walks will be tied up differently depending on who is doing it so if you get a new buddy one day just check how they do it before starting. Bundle size is a personal thing some posties like big ones whilst others prefer small. Smaller bundles will be easier for you when you are starting out and are preferable when working in the rain.

D2Ds, again varies from office to office but you normally put in a column or two every day and either deliver all of them for that day or you only take the ones for the houses that you are delivering mail to and as long as they are all cleared by the end of the week all is well.
If in doubt always check with your buddy and just remember you can't really be in trouble if you've not been trained in the correct way of doing it.

[franco1]

Hi mate, my advice to you would be to speak with your union rep, he should then speak with manager and arrange for you to learn how to use PDA, how to do re-directions etc.
If not, then ask a buddy, you will find that its a learn as you go job but important things like using pda etc should be taught to you asap.
As for bundling, as mentioned earlier each frame is different, and you can also arrange it how best suits you (once you get to know the walk).
Number the bundles and place highest number at back of van or first in trolley.
Turn over letters with parcels and if no letter for that parcel on frame go to next letter on frame, turn it and write house number on it.
If you use a van its best to put parcels into boxes according to loop or street, whatever suits you.
In this way you will be more organized and not have to search van or miss parcels.