Over sized parcels appropriate to van driver

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » 06 Nov 2018, 13:18

Hi-can any one help please? Will some one please clarify what size a parcel becomes oversized and appropriate to be a van delivery ?
We have a van driver who is judging size based on a shoe box-and has picked a size 8 boot box as his template, Any other parcel which is not square or rectangular in excess of this ie- massive pair of pillows covered in plastic are deemed by him to be delivered by postmen on foot.
This is causing much ill feeling. If any one could give accurate sizing I would be much appreciative since the whole thing is getting out of hand as he puts packets back on benches when we have gone out & then come back to see that they have been left by him.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 06 Nov 2018, 16:02

There used to be a template.
It was about shoe box size but the world has moved on a lot since then.
The HCT isn't a tardis.

Put the packets in a drop bag and ask him to drop them out at a time and place convenient to you.
So if you have 2 pillows for number 30, get him to bring them out to you at number 30.
Problem solved.

The Postman · Post by **The Postman** » 06 Nov 2018, 16:49

If it fits in your bag/hct it goes in the bag/hct, if it doesn’t the driver takes it.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 06 Nov 2018, 16:55

The Postman wrote:If it fits in your bag/hct it goes in the bag/hct, if it doesn’t the driver takes it.

and if it fills the bag or HCT, what then.

NewPostieUK · Post by **NewPostieUK** » 06 Nov 2018, 17:44

Wilf wrote: massive pair of pillows

He's taking the piss.

I used to go by half a shoe box but flexible either way. If there's room in that bag, take a shoebox, if there is no room, leave a couple that are 1/4 size shoebox.

There used to be a template that fitted over the drop bag frame with a cross cut out, There's no way a shoebox would go through it.

I'm glad I don't have that problem now (apart from at christmas).

Bottom line is, the manager should be sorting this out. Show him you don't have room and how can he argue?

Also, leaving stuff on your frame after you have gone has nothing to do with you, not your problem, don't worry about that.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 06 Nov 2018, 17:53

I believe shoe box size is the cut off point but this sort of stuff goes back to when we had bicycles and firms deliveries to carry the excess parcels and to drop off about eight pouches of mail. To my mind the HCT, like bicycles, are no longer suitable for what we have to deliver now. We have a town walk on which a HCT used to be deployed on but no more. The town walk has its own van to use but I think most of it is delivered on foot with a mail pouch or using a LWT.

Charliecat · Post by **Charliecat** » 06 Nov 2018, 18:36

There's parcels that are smaller than shoe boxes but square and bulky and if you have a few for the same loop it's hard to fit them in your bag. The delivery van mans argument is that it's small enough to put in trolley but when you don't walk the loop with the trolley then that argument fails. I just think they are trying to get away with as little work as they can. Especially when you see them sailing past on the way back to depo while you are balancing parcels under your arm and struggling to repackage into bag when people aren't in to recieve them. It's a bloody joke and yes maybe when their was less parcels the trolleys were ok but there's just too much to fit in . Another argument is we have bag drops. Yeh well whatever! I want to drive the vans instead of pushing a bloody trolley ! I would be more accommodating and take the parcels for people .

south London postie · Post by **south London postie** » 06 Nov 2018, 19:03

in my experience van drivers are the same as managers; they get away with what they can and it's up to you to push back, or not. They more they get away with, the shorter their working day.

Post by **Judgee** » 06 Nov 2018, 21:54

Ask your lino to decide!

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 06 Nov 2018, 22:26

We always say a shoe box, but common sense is applied. Clearly pillow cases are not gonna fit into a hct! He's taking the p*ss.

TheTrolleyMan · Post by **TheTrolleyMan** » 07 Nov 2018, 05:32

If it goes in a delivery pouch it'll fit on a LWT , that's what we do

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 07 Nov 2018, 06:20

you have a trolley and a loop to do correct ?
So you have 2 bags to take any mail and packets for that loop.
Whatever fills these 2 bags is your limit, whether thats "oversized" or not, if it fits in your bag comfortably and the bag can be closed properly and within weight limits then its acceptable.
Anything over this needs to either be delivered by a driver, or the loop needs to be restructured to where you can fit all items.

Post by **eastie** » 07 Nov 2018, 09:44

Judgee wrote:Ask your lino to decide!

not all delivery offices have lino~s. Ours was got rid of by cutbacks

Wilf · Post by **Wilf** » 07 Nov 2018, 16:18

Thanks for your comments.
I am in a small rural office & we have no manager as such-they are stationed 5 miles away & have us & two other rural offices to deal with. The usual answer when any issue is raised is leave it with me and nothing happens!
We have had no revision, do not van share or have loops etc and certainly no bag drops. On of our posties still delivers on a bike! Like a previous couple of comments our driver sails past on his way home when we are still out -he is full time & regularly finishes by 11.00 & is paid until 13.40.Similarly like management he is a law unto himself- totally selfish with no regard to his fellow workers.
I will take the advice given-if parcels are left then its his problem not mine.
By the way the type of individual concerned locks his van so we cannot link up other parcels where he is already going. I have lost count of the times when customers have moaned saying what are you doing here when the van driver has already been. Embarrassing or not?
You will perhaps now see why I wondered if there was a definitive size at which a parcel becomes oversized so he could be shown it in print & then wouldn't have a chance to squirm out of his job!
Cheers-can't wait for xmas.

cpsteve · Post by **cpsteve** » 07 Nov 2018, 18:18

As long as you can complete your duty then it makes no odds what size packets you take, if you are going over your time then ask the manager to use the pda data to even the workload up. If the manager does nothing then go above him/her to the area manager but tell him/her first so you are not being underhand in any way, I would also tell the driver as well for the same reason.