No more "use your own cars"!

jemima · Post by **jemima** » 13 Dec 2007, 13:48

From fleetnews.co.uk
http://www.fleetnewsnet.co.uk/news/view ... ew_article
Royal Mail stops grey fleet usage
12 December 2007

The Royal Mail has confirmed that it is to stop its employees from using their own vehicles for work.
More than 8,000 of the Royal Mailâ€™s 120,000 staff currently use their own transport while at work.

They will be required to end the practice within the next two to three years and use alternatives provided by Royal Mail as part of a wider Â£1.2 billion upgrade investment.

According to a Royal Mail spokesman, delivery staff should never have to use their own vehicles, although it has become accepted practice in some areas.

â€œThe use of cars is never assumed when walks are designed or revised,â€

Keano · Post by **Keano** » 13 Dec 2007, 16:26

banner · Post by **banner** » 13 Dec 2007, 17:47

Same argument as always. Will not apply in some places becauses the new devices will not function there, for instance in the more hilly and rural areas. Alternative, RM issue everyone in those offices with a van???

No chance.........

Captain Scarlet · Post by **Captain Scarlet** » 13 Dec 2007, 18:25

Not a van as you may think, but up here in Dunfermline they have been asking (again) about the geography of walks so, wait for it, they can issue us with scooters!!!
No way will I travel about 4 miles to my starting point on a feckin death trap!!!!

tpost · Post by **tpost** » 13 Dec 2007, 18:43

we used to have mopeds in our office but they were always breaking down. Some local thieves then stole them from the office yard by lifting them over a six foot wall and they were never replaced.I will believe it when I see it RM banning cars

robd · Post by **robd** » 13 Dec 2007, 19:01

Already been told a fleet of electric trikes have been ordered for our D/O
crucially they will have to be returned to the office thus ending job and
finish!

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 13 Dec 2007, 19:16

robd wrote:Already been told a fleet of electric trikes have been ordered for our D/O
crucially they will have to be returned to the office thus ending job and
finish!

Same in my office

Wild Cat · Post by **Wild Cat** » 13 Dec 2007, 19:28

We have to come back to the office with our packets so that will not make a lot of difference.

I use my car as to not do so will considerably increase weight on my back and it is a 2 mile mostly up hill bike ride to the first point of delivery,which is 4 hours long.

Using the car costs me a bit more but is minimising the risk of accident or injury to myself and exposure to the elements so I will continue to use it until a suitable alternative is provided as a bike is not good enough.

As my duty takes so long to prep I miss the bus so that is not an option.

I am working to time anyway so it makes little difference there.

When the electric trike comes in I will use it as long as it can go up hills.

smokerjim · Post by **smokerjim** » 13 Dec 2007, 20:46

Wild Cat wrote:We have to come back to the office with our packets so that will not make a lot of difference.

I use my car as to not do so will considerably increase weight on my back and it is a 2 mile mostly up hill bike ride to the first point of delivery,which is 4 hours long.

Using the car costs me a bit more but is minimising the risk of accident or injury to myself and exposure to the elements so I will continue to use it until a suitable alternative is provided as a bike is not good enough.

As my duty takes so long to prep I miss the bus so that is not an option.

I am working to time anyway so it makes little difference there.

When the electric trike comes in I will use it as long as it can go up hills.

Please Wild cat, stop using the car, dig your heels in and refuse to use the bike, due to distance and hills, and insist on being taken out in a RM vehicle, by an authorised driver. And if it takes so long to prep, then wait for the driver to get back, or another driver and vehicle to be organised, and at the first tut, tell the screws if your walk didn't take so long to prep, you'd be out on time, obviously unbalanced number of drops, etc, etc.

Whatever you do, if a screw offers to run you out there in his car, demand to see his insurance - if he is not covered for business, refuse on the basis that he would be committing an offence & if you were injured in an RTA, he ( and your losses ) would not be covered....if they start bandying phrases like conduct code around, then suggest he calls his insurence company and gets their opinion!