Petrol Vehicle Evaluation Amended National TOR Trial Ext

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches






To: Branches with POSTAL Members

Dear Colleague

Petrol Vehicle Evaluation – Amended National TOR – Trial Extension

Branches will be aware of ongoing problems with some of the CDVs that are being used on delivery in city and urban areas. This is due to the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) failing because of the stop and start nature of those types of deliveries where the delivery routes cover small mileages and the DPF never reaches the operating temperature to instigate regeneration. This was reported in LTB 533/14 on the 21st August 2014.

Discussions between the CWU and Royal Mail have continued intermittently since then and we have now agreed to extend the trial to 3 more sites, London E14 (Docklands) for the East, Bridgend for the West and Oldham for the North.

These offices have been chosen due to high DPF failures in their localities. The extension of the trial will also include an increase of 20 more vehicles.

The trial of these vehicles will run for a period of 18 months to establish, prove and quantify any operational and financial benefits from running petrol vehicles in units where high DPF failures are prevalent.

There has been no adverse feedback from the original site Paisley and we have no problem with the extension of the trial on the previously agreed terms.

The original TOR has been amended to include the new sites and vehicles, and the difference between the revised TOR and the original is highlighted for ease of reference.

Any enquiries to Bob Gibson’s Office, quoting reference 300
Email address: hnutley@cwu.org or mstewart@cwu.org

Yours sincerely

Bob Gibson
CWU Assistant Secretary

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Terms of Reference between Royal Mail and the CWU
For the expansion of the Petrol Vehicle Evaluation Trial.

The Agenda for Growth agreement reaffirmed Royal Mail and the CWU commitment to developing mutual interest solutions to operational issues while improving the safety of our drivers and the public. Both parties also reaffirm the commitment to deliver improved safety, operational efficiencies and support for our drivers by working together to identify appropriate data driven initiatives, tracking of deployment and benefits realised from agreed joint initiatives with a view to delivering sustained improvements.

Background

Royal Mail operations have been and are experiencing Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) failures in certain locations where the delivery/collection routes cover low mileages, whereby the DPF never reaches the operating temperature to instigate regeneration, this causes the DPF to clog and eventually results in a vehicle breakdown.

Royal Mail & Peugeot have invested in the development and construction of a petrol vehicle. The specification has been designed to evaluate a petrol engine vehicle operating specifically on city centre/urban delivery/collection routes where low mileages are affecting the reliability of the standard RM diesel engine vans. From the initial trial of this vehicle in the Paisley DO, It has been agreed to introduce a further 20 of the same type / specification petrol vehicles, and to expand the trial to a further three geographies throughout the country (North, East and West). These will be: E14 Docklands for the East, Bridgend for the West and Oldham for the North. These offices have been chosen due to high DPF failures in their localities. These vehicles will run for a period of 18 Months to establish, prove and quantify any operational and financial benefits from running petrol vehicles in units where high DPF failures are prevalent.

Aims / Objectives

The objective of the evaluation is to enable the vehicle to be used by our driving population in the day to day operation, with a view to seeking feedback both from the drivers, managers and through the data driven performance of the vehicles. The feedback will be used to inform future vehicle specifications.

The operation of the vehicles is key to ensuring we maximise the potential benefits. During the period of evaluation the focus will be on the technology and capabilities of the vehicle, not the drivers.

The objective is to determine if the petrol vehicles operate reliably in a city/urban environment and breakdown incidents are reduced where high levels of DPF failures attributed to the Diesel engine occur.

Approach

RM Fleet will collect breakdown, maintenance and fuel data to enable an informed decision to be made regarding future vehicle specifications. Peugeot will undertake the scheduled vehicle maintenance due at 20,000 miles or 12 months (whichever is first); RM Fleet workshop will perform routine repairs as required.

A feedback form has been created, and the trail results will be collected 12 weeks from the formal start of the evaluation which is anticipated to commence around the first week in March 2015, and continued analysis will take place on a quarterly basis throughout the duration of the trial through the Acquisition and Disposal Steering Group (ADSG).



CWU Involvement

It is agreed that the full involvement of the CWU at all levels is essential if the full benefits are to be realised. CWU will be involved in all aspects of the initiative including implementation, monitoring and assessment, and that national CWU representatives will be invited to the ADSG for the purpose of analysis and any future actions or initiatives.

Training

Familiarisation training will be delivered to technicians by Peugeot, and handover training for drivers will also be delivered.

Evaluation / Review

The outputs from the evaluation will be used to develop any future initiatives or vehicle specification; there is no intention to use any of the outputs for anything other than identifying opportunities to improve safety and reliability.

Progress of the evaluation will be reviewed quarterly by representatives of the ADSG and the CWU.

Any concerns regarding Technical aspects of the vehicle should be directed to the RM Fleet, or the appropriate senior fleet business partner within the location.

These Terms of Reference will be the subject of joint reviews on a quarterly basis after deployment, and periodically thereafter. Any questions of interpretation, implementation or application of this agreement shall be referred to the respective Headquarters for resolution as a matter of urgency.









Lawrence Burn

Bob Gibson
RM Head of Commercial


Date 20 January 2015

Communications Workers Union

[Mr_Pink]

Anyone with half a brain knows that modern diesels are no good for short, stop-start journey's. Yet more incompetence at the top, cut staff numbers to save a few quid, then waste millions on a fleet not fit for purpose

[rubberbond]

Anyone with half a brain knows that modern diesels are no good for short, stop-start journey's. Yet more incompetence at the top, cut staff numbers to save a few quid, then waste millions on a fleet not fit for purpose

18 months? Why not 6 months. Six weeks would tell them. Dear oh bloody dear