Delivering in the dark.

Post by **woopesh** » 30 Oct 2016, 18:49

Have any of you ever done this? Is it even possible with the right gear? As a 25h part timer, I'm pretty reliant on overtime. Now its getting darker sooner, I wont be able to take out an extra walk or half walk without it getting dark outside. I'm wondering if I should even bother, or try to get some evening work elsewhere instead. The thing being, casual evening jobs generally seem to be minimum wage and don't pay as well as the Royal Mail.

Bernardson · Post by **Bernardson** » 30 Oct 2016, 19:21

When I were a lad we delivered in the dark but that was early in the morning when we had two deliveries a day!
Oh what joy on peoples faces when we knocked at the door at 7.am for them to sign in our little recorded items book!
We did go out with lights on the bike and a good sturdy breast torch like those used by the fire fighters.
It was quite spooky at times especially as I did a rural on a bike and cycled down an unlit lane.

I certainly would not like to be delivering in the dark in the late afternoons or early evening as its busy with traffic and your body clock would be telling you its time to slow down and rest. If you do deliver in the dark Royal Mail should supply you with the 'tools of the job'. A torch and hi vis wear should be a minimum.

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 30 Oct 2016, 19:33

Get a torch from your dom they're quite decent.
And delivering in the dark is horrible if you're on a town duty.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 30 Oct 2016, 19:48

Creditshampoo wrote:Get a torch from your dom they're quite decent.
And delivering in the dark is horrible if you're on a town duty.

No, town duties have street lights

but rural duties don't

.

hans solo · Post by **hans solo** » 30 Oct 2016, 21:03

rural duties dont have junkies in tenemant buildings or flats shooting up in complete darkness

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 30 Oct 2016, 21:35

hans solo wrote:rural duties dont have junkies in tenemant buildings or flats shooting up in complete darkness

Exactly. No one around.
Both suck when you are out blind but then why are you out blind in the first place let alone in the dark

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 31 Oct 2016, 16:51

i bought a torch from the pound shop.......It was a pound

Post by **wacko74** » 31 Oct 2016, 17:00

It's just not worth the hassle in my experience... it takes at least twice as long to deliver in the dark.

GT85 · Post by **GT85** » 31 Oct 2016, 17:01

Have you noticed the 2 little lights in the new pdas, so you can scan in the dark

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 31 Oct 2016, 17:30

Buy a head torch,you look like a gimp, but no one will see you anyway ,as you will blind them when they open the door.

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 31 Oct 2016, 17:32

daveyeff wrote:i bought a torch from the pound shop.......It was a pound

Your logic astounds.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 31 Oct 2016, 17:36

As well as asking for a Royal Mail torch (which I always lend my Grandson for camping...quite good) get yourself a head torch. They're fairly cheap nowadays. If your DOM says there's no Torches available anymore, just ask around the office. We've got loads stuck in cupboards and thrown on top of frames. Should be able to get some AA batteries from the storeman if he's still got a hoard!

If you want to deliver later on go for it. Your Office must start later as TBH if you took out another half a duty in mine you'd probably be finished by 1630.

UnhappyGremlin · Post by **UnhappyGremlin** » 31 Oct 2016, 20:06

daveyeff wrote:i bought a torch from the pound shop.......It was a pound

Why spend your money when RM provide them as equipment?

brentford · Post by **brentford** » 31 Oct 2016, 21:42

How times have changed you were always out of the office by 7-00 in the 80's up too the early part of 2000's now we have come too the stage when we are finishing in the dark

nothing better than banging on someones door at seven

Post by **woopesh** » 31 Oct 2016, 22:15

Dorset Plodder wrote:As well as asking for a Royal Mail torch (which I always lend my Grandson for camping...quite good) get yourself a head torch. They're fairly cheap nowadays. If your DOM says there's no Torches available anymore, just ask around the office. We've got loads stuck in cupboards and thrown on top of frames. Should be able to get some AA batteries from the storeman if he's still got a hoard!

If you want to deliver later on go for it. Your Office must start later as TBH if you took out another half a duty in mine you'd probably be finished by 1630.

My contract is 10 to 3. By the time I get in, everyone is out delivering. By the time I have finished bundling and get out with one and a half walks and start delivering proper (after all the specials etc.) its usually around 12. Finish the 1st walk by 3:30 or 4:00 the next half walk by 5:30 to 6:00. No chance of ever finishing ontime unless its a light day. Its a crazy system.