Van disaster

[Kenfandango]

So I've been filling out forms for a week now, as the van I've been allocated has multiple issues. It makes peculiar noises when you put the accelerator down (on day one it was a whooshing, with a light clicking underneath. Each day it gets louder and today it was making full grinding, clanging noises.)

Was told it was fine and to take it out.

Won't go over 22mph, causing people to look as it goes past as it's so noisy. Do about half my round, van shudders to a halt in the middle of the road and in front of a police car.

Police tell me to follow them back to the depot once it's started again, as they want a word with whoever decreed the van fit for service.

Conks out a further 4 times on way back.

Now at the minute our line managers are headless-chickening about, in a panic over the amount of work coming back. Weirdly though, when the police pulled in there was not one in sight. Nowhere to be found. Once the police had gone, they re-emerged and had the unmitigated audacity to ask if I was going to take the rest out when a van came back. I pointed out I was to time, and left. The police told me to let them know they'd be back tomorrow.... I didn't!

[Jahpostie]

Good for you. Absolute cretins. Look Si, this is what you encourage. Disgusting

[Foxel]

Sounds like a Fiat?

[markarronsmith]

So I've been filling out forms for a week now, as the van I've been allocated has multiple issues. It makes peculiar noises when you put the accelerator down (on day one it was a whooshing, with a light clicking underneath. Each day it gets louder and today it was making full grinding, clanging noises.)

Was told it was fine and to take it out.

Won't go over 22mph, causing people to look as it goes past as it's so noisy. Do about half my round, van shudders to a halt in the middle of the road and in front of a police car.

Police tell me to follow them back to the depot once it's started again, as they want a word with whoever decreed the van fit for service.

Conks out a further 4 times on way back.

Now at the minute our line managers are headless-chickening about, in a panic over the amount of work coming back. Weirdly though, when the police pulled in there was not one in sight. Nowhere to be found. Once the police had gone, they re-emerged and had the unmitigated audacity to ask if I was going to take the rest out when a van came back. I pointed out I was to time, and left. The police told me to let them know they'd be back tomorrow.... I didn't!

Absolutely disgraceful by Royal Mail. I don’t know how they’re getting away with it around the country tbh. Most of the vans will fail the MOT & Servicing.

[world class male]

without trying to put the frighteners on, make sure your rep knows what's gone on,
knowing the screws they will try to put the blame on you for still taking it out should the police start asking questions,
were the faults also logged on the pda?

[Jb1969]

If you don’t think the van is roadworthy, you DO NOT take it out.
Fill the fault sheet out & put it off the road.
Take no bull s**t from ANY manager, it’s your license, NOT there’s.Hold your ground.
Might just be my office, but it’s never questioned by Managers at mine.

[grchpo]

If the faults were logged on PDA then surely that would come up as unroadworthy, if so why did you take it out, should have refused.*

[Kenfandango]

Faults logged on pda, general attitude was "it's just noisy"

[priority102]

How many times does this issue get raised?

For pitys sake, YOU, as the driver taking a defective van out on the public highway, are wholly responsible for that van and therefore it is your license and driving record at risk if said van is not legally roadworthy and you are caught.

Managers are not bothered about your driving license, because if you are caught then their take will simply be "you are allocated time each day to do vehicle checks before you leave the office, if there was a problem you should have raised it and logged the vehicle off". All they are worried about is getting the mail out, and even that is questionable now reading the many comments on this forum!

You stating that managers are saying before you leave that it's OK to use, this is only verbal and will be denied if an issue arises. Either way, it is still the driver who will take the can as it is the driver and the defective vehicle out on the road, not the manager!

Don't forget, any points/convictions obtained in an RM vehicle have to be disclosed to your own insurance company, which will mean increased premiums for you that RM will not pay!

On a final point, in the case above, the police are involved. They may target the vans if they think there are issues - motorists are always easy picking for their tick boxes!

[Kenfandango]

Update:
The police have come in this morning, went through some paperwork and accepted the "it seemed okay when it went out" excuse.
As soon as they left I heard DOM say "if it runs we can get someone to take it out locally in case it packs up"!

[WASD]

Thanks for the update.

Sad really.

You could follow up with reporting back to police or disconnecting the battery, but not really worth it.

At the end of the day RM is an awful company to work for, and you either just gotta muck on through, or leave.

[wacko74]

Very decent of the Police to handle it the way they did, technically as the driver you're responsible for the van being in a roadworthy condition, they could have just thrown the book at you as the driver and charged you with driving an unroadworthy vehicle (or whatever the specific charge is)

[Wolf91]

Like someone else said. It’s on YOU.
Make it the managers problem.
No more vans? Not your problem.
They will have to find another way you can fill your hours and have to accommodate you somewhere whether it be on a share or whatever.
Make them squirm, it’s the least you can do.

[bustedflush]

Faults logged on pda, general attitude was "it's just noisy"

Like Royal Mail, it must have been in 'limp home' mode.

[nobLe97]

Never ever drive a unroadworthy vehicle. It’s you that gets the punishments