Rural duty no training

[Clarky3232]

So I’ve been put on the same rural duty a few times with no training and I can’t seem to find half of it let alone finish it. What’s the best way to go about this or will I get the hang of it eventually?

Cheers.

[bowie]

You should get a few days training before you go on the job,revision just started in Peterborough and rural rounds with new postman on them have had training,if you have been put on the job blind it’s wrong

[Cedar_Room]

Just more sloppiness from RM. It’s sad to say but you will have to use it to your advantage. Have a nice drive round for a few hours…you can’t be expected to complete

[97gaz]

This is what's wrong with Royal Mail. When i first started 25 years ago I wrote down the route of the first four rural duties I learned in a notebook. I put loads of tips and tricks in it to save me hassle. That book went to every person who were shown those duties over the next twenty years and all said it helped immensely when they were put on their own. I suggested to our manager years ago that I could do a spreadsheet for every duty but apparently they couldn't afford it. These days with GPS Royal mail could easily come up with a route app.

[Haditup]

You need at least ask someone to draw you a map of the obscure delivery points .

[Kenfandango]

If they were a smart company they would set the RO+N to have the route you scan set up, with parking spaces as the drops....

[Rael, the IAK]

Over the last couple of years, I've done 3 rural duties blind. Each time there was no one in the office that knew the one I was doing.
My way of doing it, until you know better, is to tie it up as per the frame, breaking into bundles at what seem to be sensible points, by change of road name, or bundle size.
Once I'm out on delivery I concentrate on finding everything that I have mail for. Look ahead in the bundle a few addesses, as quite often they aren't in the right order, or if you miss one, you should spot the next and can then sort it out. I only give up on a place once I've spent a few minutes looking for it.
If I have a packet for someone, I often ask them where the next address is, unless it's obvious. I have been known to knock on a door just to ask where somewhere is. So don't be afraid to do that if needbe. Most people are happy to help.
Make copious notes as you find places, so you can use them the following day.
Once you've had enough, give up for the day. On day 2, you should be able to get the part you now know a bit done a lot quicker. If you've still not completed by then, it may be sensible to start day 3 where you finished day 2. Then go back to the start once the last bit's been done.
Google maps can find some "standalone" rural addresses, but I'm told that apple maps does it better.
Obviously if there is someone in the DO that can give you some guidance on how to tie it up and deliver it, all the better

[TopperGas]

For parcels use RON, if you have the latest version it now even finds individual named properties. As the other poster says there must surely be somebody who knows the route who can give you a few tips or at least inform where any properties are you can't find yourself.

[rambo1]

There really should be a national law that your house has to have a number. Ok, use the name as well if you want but legally it should have a number and be used if you want to get your mail. I do Sunday pkts sometimes and rurals are a nightmare. Contrary to what was said, RON doesn't pinpoint the house it just gets you to the postcode and (annoyingly) says ' you have reached your destination' .
If (and if some of ours are anything to go by, that's a big if) , the frame is in order and you have door to doors, number them and put them all in the frame Monday morning. I know, this takes ages and is a right pain, but then you'll have a route map with every call.
Best solution is to get training on it (somebody must have been doing it or at least covering days off?) That's the only way you're going to find out all the little things like where's the letter box , or bucket round the back or in the barn , people have their mail left in strange places in the sticks lol.

[WalkerX]

If they were a smart company they would set the RO+N to have the route you scan set up, with parking spaces as the drops....

[TopperGas]

There really should be a national law that your house has to have a number. Ok, use the name as well if you want but legally it should have a number and be used if you want to get your mail. I do Sunday pkts sometimes and rurals are a nightmare. Contrary to what was said, RON doesn't pinpoint the house it just gets you to the postcode and (annoyingly) says ' you have reached your destination' .
If (and if some of ours are anything to go by, that's a big if) , the frame is in order and you have door to doors, number them and put them all in the frame Monday morning. I know, this takes ages and is a right pain, but then you'll have a route map with every call.
Best solution is to get training on it (somebody must have been doing it or at least covering days off?) That's the only way you're going to find out all the little things like where's the letter box , or bucket round the back or in the barn , people have their mail left in strange places in the sticks lol.

If it's anything like our rurals then it would take hours to write down all the property names on all the D2D's! An easier option is take photos of the frame as that gives you a similar route map. Another tip is to put the parcels in the same order as the frame, which I appreciate isn't the easiest thing to do if you don''t know the round!

[Adison]

Can you ask someone to print out the walk log for you?
Genuinely found that this helped get my head around it all. Also, at least then you’ve got this with you in the van if you’ve got a parcel & your phone is less than helpful finding the property! My phone is useless on my rural!

[yellowbelly]

There really should be a national law that your house has to have a number. Ok, use the name as well if you want but legally it should have a number and be used if you want to get your mail.

.............

It is - Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847,Sect 64

But obviously it's such an old, obscure piece of legislation, local authorities don't enforce it.

[Rael, the IAK]

I forgot to mention the walk log earlier. Take that with you and use it for your notes for the first few days, or until you run out of space on it

[Route1]

For parcels use RON, if you have the latest version it now even finds individual named properties.

RON maps have improved on the new PDAs and it may know some property names. Its generally good but it has major issues especially in the sticks. Even on a main road in a city it sometimes takes you to a lane.