Your late today wrote:There was a time Royal Mail fleet was far better than the white van man who drove around in rust buckets now it’s Royal Mail who are the ones with an ageing fleet, it must cost them a lot more in maintaining them as they are out of warranty so have to pay for all parts and the resell value is just scrap value.
My thinking is that the manager who proposed and pushed through the change to keeping the vans longer probably got a bonus and a promotion for "saving" the RM a lot of money on buying new vans. If they had any brains at all though, they probably left within 3 years of the policy coming into force as the obvious effect was going to be that the fleet looked knackered, and the amount that was spent on maintenance and MOTs would've eventually shot up! However there would've been a short term period where they would've been able to point to all the money that they'd saved and say "Aren't I a wonderful manager?".
Those of us that read Courier might remember a brief article about a year ago about the "Trek" version of the Peugeot Partner that the RM had bought a bunch of? For those that either didn't read it, or don't remember, they're a Partner with raised suspension and traction control and according to the article they where specifically bought to go on "deep rurals". Well we have one in our office, however we're not allowed to use it for any kind of rural delivery in case it gets damaged!
Your late today wrote:There was a time Royal Mail fleet was far better than the white van man who drove around in rust buckets now it’s Royal Mail who are the ones with an ageing fleet, it must cost them a lot more in maintaining them as they are out of warranty so have to pay for all parts and the resell value is just scrap value.
My thinking is that the manager who proposed and pushed through the change to keeping the vans longer probably got a bonus and a promotion for "saving" the RM a lot of money on buying new vans. If they had any brains at all though, they probably left within 3 years of the policy coming into force as the obvious effect was going to be that the fleet looked knackered, and the amount that was spent on maintenance and MOTs would've eventually shot up! However there would've been a short term period where they would've been able to point to all the money that they'd saved and say "Aren't I a wonderful manager?".
Those of us that read Courier might remember a brief article about a year ago about the "Trek" version of the Peugeot Partner that the RM had bought a bunch of? For those that either didn't read it, or don't remember, they're a Partner with raised suspension and traction control and according to the article they where specifically bought to go on "deep rurals". Well we have one in our office, however we're not allowed to use it for any kind of rural delivery in case it gets damaged!
Or farmed out for the royal postman who used one for the trek to Sandringham the drive must have some maintenance issues or it is the sleeping policemen they must go over as the mail must get through!
I drive about 550 miles a week in the highlands Scotland and we have no vans with winter tyres on or 4x4 capabilities! We are expected to drive through snow and ice in the same van a city centre postie would use! H&S issue?
abuch1980 wrote:I drive about 550 miles a week in the highlands Scotland and we have no vans with winter tyres on or 4x4 capabilities! We are expected to drive through snow and ice in the same van a city centre postie would use! H&S issue?
I feel for you and don't know how you do it. Our DOM says re snow that if it isn't safe in your opinion bring the mail back but we don't get as much snow as Scotland. Tough one though especially ATM with the amount of snow falling in your part of the country.
The views I express here are mine alone and do not represent the views of Royal Mail Group.
abuch1980 wrote:I drive about 550 miles a week in the highlands Scotland and we have no vans with winter tyres on or 4x4 capabilities! We are expected to drive through snow and ice in the same van a city centre postie would use! H&S issue?
Respect, . Us southern softies get half an inch of snow and it all falls apart. Try the road to Altanarra in the winter people, not me.
Last edited by Nigel1505 on 18 Jan 2018, 16:50, edited 1 time in total.
redneck wrote:The old Vauxhall Combos are the most hateful vehicles ever to have been invented. You need a hoist to get you up and outside from the drivers seat, the screen is massive with a tiny (in comparison) sunshield to avoid being completely blinded, the back door hinges always bend meaning it acts like a twa**ing machine when positioned at the back in a reasonable wind, and the front doors blow off in a storm. Crap. Mind you, if you fancy not using the clutch if you're a bit tired you can change gear smoothlyn without it, the box is that worn.
You should try getting out of the passenger seat when the driver has parked next to a high kerb,they really are s**t vans
redneck wrote:The old Vauxhall Combos are the most hateful vehicles ever to have been invented. You need a hoist to get you up and outside from the drivers seat, the screen is massive with a tiny (in comparison) sunshield to avoid being completely blinded, the back door hinges always bend meaning it acts like a twa**ing machine when positioned at the back in a reasonable wind, and the front doors blow off in a storm. Crap. Mind you, if you fancy not using the clutch if you're a bit tired you can change gear smoothlyn without it, the box is that worn.
You should try getting out of the passenger seat when the driver has parked next to a high kerb,they really are s**t vans
Here here. "Health and Safety is our main concern"; you heard it here second.
abuch1980 wrote:I drive about 550 miles a week in the highlands Scotland and we have no vans with winter tyres on or 4x4 capabilities! We are expected to drive through snow and ice in the same van a city centre postie would use! H&S issue?
I feel for you and don't know how you do it. Our DOM says re snow that if it isn't safe in your opinion bring the mail back but we don't get as much snow as Scotland. Tough one though especially ATM with the amount of snow falling in your part of the country.
Our Dom says if you can’t come from there don’t go there, but you don’t know if you can’t come from there until you’re there tw#t.
A lot of our vans are 10 years old and are more pink than red.
Rows of houses all bearing down on me........I can feel their blue hands touching me.......All these things in all positions.........All these things will one day take control..........
maisymoo04 wrote:bring back the Sherpa with the jelly suspension with the sliding door was awful tho driving it in the snow
Why not see if they can find a couple of Morris Marinas as well. On second thoughts don't give them any more silly ideas.
My first van was the Ital/Marina thing.
It was a shed.
So were the Sherpa/Pilots
So were/are the Combos...and the Bippers, Partners and Fiats.
I had a Transit Connect that I loved but I merged it with a tree.
