Will it ever become mandatory to drive for Royal Mail?

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 22 Nov 2018, 15:04

I'm talking about those who are in the job 15 plus years etc but it was never a contractual obligation. I read a thing about duty/round ownership in the past, but surely that could only ever happen if the USO was relaxed.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 22 Nov 2018, 15:18

well it already is for anyone whos started in the job the past few years. The people who dont drive who`ve been in the company longer will probably be catered for whilst its feasible to do so. If it came to the point where it was 1 van 1 postie then its possible RM would have to offer a VR type package to those who dont drive or find them non driving work like locker duty.

Post by **Navalron** » 22 Nov 2018, 18:27

That will not happen because through natural wastage the oldies with no driving licence are retiring and the few that would be left would be moved into the walks that start outside the office gate or RLO, ect. As they weren't required to drive when they started they can be asked to take lessons, paid by RM , but not forced. Driving used to be a prestigious duty. Usually you were on the walks for several years then you got MADE UP to postman driver which attracted the driving allowance and sleeping bags on nights as the first five hours of so was watching telly, pool, sleeping in can ect, hahaha.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 22 Nov 2018, 18:40

Postie45 wrote:well it already is for anyone whos started in the job the past few years. The people who dont drive who`ve been in the company longer will probably be catered for whilst its feasible to do so. If it came to the point where it was 1 van 1 postie then its possible RM would have to offer a VR type package to those who dont drive or find them non driving work like locker duty.

there's literally thousands of posties who don't/can't drive. so I can't see them offering VRs to that amount. fair enough there are a lot due to retire soon, but there's also a lot that aren't.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 22 Nov 2018, 18:43

then what do they do with the staff who are still within their contracts, yet have no use to the business ?

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 22 Nov 2018, 18:50

rethink their plans. they can't just sack them. and it would cost millions in VRs.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 22 Nov 2018, 18:52

There are those that can't drive and there are those that can but dont want to drive for Royal Mail. Considering the work involved as a driver in getting the specials and delivering the packets including their own loops whilst most of their partners only have to worry about delivering their loops, I can see why.

Smith1212 · Post by **Smith1212** » 22 Nov 2018, 19:37

postslippete wrote:There are those that can't drive and there are those that can but dont want to drive for Royal Mail. Considering the work involved as a driver in getting the specials and delivering the packets including their own loops whilst most of their partners only have to worry about delivering their loops, I can see why.

Exactly few of them in my DO have got a license but won’t drive for Royal mail just lazy if ask me .

high1ander · Post by **high1ander** » 22 Nov 2018, 20:31

I don't think its lazy at all why would you want to empty postboxes, take oversize parcels, get fuel, do van checks,take specials,scrape windscreens...theres probably more but that's just off the top of my head...im a driver but I started 6 years ago when driving became a must if you wanted the job...maybe some are lazy but its a lot of extra hassle for no gain its not like theres any extra incentive for doing it why would you.

anini · Post by **anini** » 22 Nov 2018, 21:28

Can a driver who started before driving became contractual come off driving?

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 23 Nov 2018, 16:05

I suspect if Back gets his way it'll be mandatory within 3-5 years.

The number of non-drivers will continue to fall and I don't see much likelihood of those who are contractually obliged to drive supporting those who are not and do not wish to drive if it came to a dispute.

Yes, making people redundant would cost, but RM would save a lot on the future pensions contributions of those it did make redundant (most of whom would be pretty senior).

If it takes much longer than 5 years then probably RM will be overtaken by technology and driverless electric vehicles will make the need for driving licenses redundant (and if you doubt that could happen within 10 years, consider how fast horse-drawn transport disappeared in cities (well under 10 years in the 20s) when the pace of change was far slower than now. However with RM's track record, you'd expect them to move to only employing drivers just before that become unnecessary . . .

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 23 Nov 2018, 19:49

Smith1212 wrote:
postslippete wrote:There are those that can't drive and there are those that can but dont want to drive for Royal Mail. Considering the work involved as a driver in getting the specials and delivering the packets including their own loops whilst most of their partners only have to worry about delivering their loops, I can see why.
Exactly few of them in my DO have got a license but won’t drive for Royal mail just lazy if ask me .

Why risk your license driving for Royal Mail when you don't have to? I guess your loops are set up wrong if you feel you are doing extra work

Post by **azza30** » 23 Nov 2018, 23:17

I was taken on as a postie with driving but never been put through test thing. Probably won't be either because they know I will take my breaks and cut off. Which will upset virtually every other postie in my office

number one · Post by **number one** » 24 Nov 2018, 04:11

A2B wrote:
Smith1212 wrote:
postslippete wrote:There are those that can't drive and there are those that can but dont want to drive for Royal Mail. Considering the work involved as a driver in getting the specials and delivering the packets including their own loops whilst most of their partners only have to worry about delivering their loops, I can see why.
Exactly few of them in my DO have got a license but won’t drive for Royal mail just lazy if ask me .
Why risk your license driving for Royal Mail when you don't have to? I guess your loops are set up wrong if you feel you are doing extra work

If you feel you’re “risking” your license then you need to evaluate how you are driving

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 24 Nov 2018, 11:39

number one wrote:
A2B wrote:
Smith1212 wrote:
postslippete wrote:There are those that can't drive and there are those that can but dont want to drive for Royal Mail. Considering the work involved as a driver in getting the specials and delivering the packets including their own loops whilst most of their partners only have to worry about delivering their loops, I can see why.
Exactly few of them in my DO have got a license but won’t drive for Royal mail just lazy if ask me .
Why risk your license driving for Royal Mail when you don't have to? I guess your loops are set up wrong if you feel you are doing extra work
If you feel you’re “risking” your license then you need to evaluate how you are driving

The more you drive the more likely you are to make a mistake, a brief lack of concentration is all it takes, not worth the riskI if it's not included in your contract

You only have to have a look at the state of the vans in the yard, very few without at least minor damage to them.

Do you have to inform your personal insurance if you have an accident in a RM van?