Refusal to Use Van?

mrfixituk · Post by **mrfixituk** » 21 May 2016, 09:09

Ever since we started town using vans I seemed to be the one who gets vans of poor quality. Just recently a van which was supposedly condemned on another round was given to me because the van I was using was given to someone else. That van had a slipping clutch and more dangerously was blowing a lot of smoke out of the back and with lots of fumes - so much so that someone else used it and felt ill. So I refused to use it. So now I have been given the workshop van at the moment, so you can imagine the condition it's in. The seat is collapsed and in poor condition. So can I refuse to use it if it's not changed? They harp on about health and safety, but when it comes to it they don't really want to know!!!!

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 21 May 2016, 10:06

Do your daily checks on the van and if it fails them and is unfit to use, then let your dom and h+s rep know it's failed them and that you need a van that passes them, this sounds exactly what the person on the duty who had the van previously had done

CAMPINGBLUNDERER · Post by **CAMPINGBLUNDERER** » 21 May 2016, 11:25

I've refused to take vans on all sorts , the current favourite is the ABS warning light on the Peugeots , it's a Mot failure so I'm not taking it till its repaired.

One of the best bits of advise was from a Fleet auditor and that was to do your check list at the start ( vast majority of posties I know fill the book out at the end ) , basically said that if VOSA / Police stop do a spot check on the van and the book isn't filled in then it's you they can prosecute .

borgpicard · Post by **borgpicard** » 21 May 2016, 14:33

Tell them you'll drive it to the nearest cop shop, and see what traffic cops will say ?.

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 21 May 2016, 16:38

borgpicard wrote:Tell them you'll drive it to the nearest cop shop, and see what traffic cops will say ?.

It's a good threat but doing that when you know there is an issue could end not only rm in trouble but the postie themselves, better to get cops in to check it in the yard if you are going to go down that sort of route

centenaryman · Post by **centenaryman** » 21 May 2016, 17:19

not so long ago I had an accident in a van,,,,nothing big.....but was put on the driving course with an instructor

he points out thing you should already know but just refreshes driving ideas.......now he was quizzing me on taking out vans in a morning
things like light bulb out,,,flasher bulb out,,,,tread on tyre.....obviously I said you don't take them,,,,report them,,,,correct.

But I stressed to him that telling a d.o.m you wont take the van when vans are limited is a totally different ball game....and your under pressure to drive it.

he said its a culture he sees all the time and is something that needs to change.....if a vans unroadworthy then its unroadworthy.....its our license at the end of the day
yeah hes right....

Justanotherstar · Post by **Justanotherstar** » 21 May 2016, 18:42

If you refuse to take a van won't they just force you to take the work out in a HCT (Highly crap trolly)?

CAMPINGBLUNDERER · Post by **CAMPINGBLUNDERER** » 21 May 2016, 19:07

Justanotherstar wrote:If you refuse to take a van won't they just force you to take the work out in a HCT (Highly crap trolly)?

I would struggle in that case as one of my duties I cover is 55 miles , deep rural don't you just love it :)

Sonny15 · Post by **Sonny15** » 21 May 2016, 22:24

Drivers should be paid more than non drivers. More responsibility should mean more pay. Oh yea I work for Royal Mail with a union that agreed to the more overtime you work the less you get paid, took away our d2d payment and replaced it with a delivery supplement, and say "you should be great full you have a job", nice one comrades!

ewancurze · Post by **ewancurze** » 22 May 2016, 21:11

I am not a Driver but I agree,Drivers should get paid more.

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 22 May 2016, 21:18

ewancurze wrote:I am not a Driver but I agree,Drivers should get paid more.

Why? more responsibility? depends on what you consider responsibility, a walker on a town round delivering lots of specials containing cash or jewellery (within the security limits) could be considered to have more responsibility that someone in a rural van that get one or 2 specials a week, should they get more money? how about someone working alone in the do, that's a different level or responsibility again, There is lots of different levels of responsibility in our job, it's unfair to just give drivers extra pay

b&wcat · Post by **b&wcat** » 23 May 2016, 08:49

Yes and when fatigue hits and your job is gone because you own a licence (which you paid for your self) and make a mistake.....

Surreypostie · Post by **Surreypostie** » 24 May 2016, 09:28

The majority of OPG's are now drivers, I don't drive on a daily basis, I do get sent out on my own now and then if they don't have cover so I have to drive. I do my checks, if I wouldn't drive my car, I wouldn't drive their van, if a manager told me you have to take it, we have nothing else, I would report him all the way up to Moya. If they don't have van for me to drive that really is their problem. I remember the days when we had spare vans sitting there doing nothing so if you had a problem it wasn't a problem.