Network revision

[SpacePhoenix]

Isn'tgoing well at our place on weekends - weekdays going ok.

Weekends are a complete shambles - bulking out for YDC every week. Now sending mail to NDC / anybody who will take it.
They will have to sort this asap.

Mail volume dropped last two weekends prior to that we were bulking out by 150 ish yorks across 3 distribution centres :(

It's a shame that when all the RDCs were built that RM didn't make sure that they all had direct rail access

[ConeHater]

It's a shame that when all the RDCs were built that RM didn't make sure that they all had direct rail access
[/quote]

You’d think so, swings ‘n’ roundabouts I s’pose. It makes sense to see work travelling between PRDC, NDC (soon), WRT and Wishaw on the rails but I believe it’s relatively expensive to do so. Having said that maybe the LGV driver difficulties that are being experienced at the moment may narrow the gap. The road based network is also more flexible.

It would have been a bold decision to locate the soon-to-be-open NW Parcel Hub at WRT, requiring the purchase of a lot of surrounding buildings, but at least it would have shown some forward thinking from those at the top, rather than buying the building they did which I think they’re coming to realise is not suitable even in the short term.

I think Network Rail are itching to get the PRDC and WRT sites back anyway. Maybe when the location of the Southern Parcel Hub is decided it will have rail access . . .

[SpacePhoenix]

I think Network Rail are itching to get the PRDC and WRT sites back anyway. Maybe when the location of the Southern Parcel Hub is decided it will have rail access . . .

Do Network Rail actually own the WRT and PRDC sites? I thought the PRDC site at least was owned by RM

[paulus103]

I hear that NDC are regularly 40 - 50 drivers short at the weekends. Bet they love it when your extra work turns up !

Even local collections / Distribution is getting problematic

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

The last time I spoke to NDC on Sat - they were 40 drivers down. Bloke on the phone sounded like he was at the end of his tether.

[SpacePhoenix]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

[aiden01]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

Bollocks they can an are doing what they like. just bring in more agency.

[Deadly]

I've noticed quite a few agency drivers doing collections, never seen that before.

[SpacePhoenix]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

Bollocks they can an are doing what they like. just bring in more agency.

Probably about 75-80% of non casual/agency staff are SD locker or mech staff you it'd mean sacrificing one of them two areas. If you were to take away any agency/casuals, mech, SD locker staff and any DDA then you'd have less than a dozen staff left

[aiden01]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

Bollocks they can an are doing what they like. just bring in more agency.

Probably about 75-80% of non casual/agency staff are SD locker or mech staff you it'd mean sacrificing one of them two areas. If you were to take away any agency/casuals, mech, SD locker staff and any DDA then you'd have less than a dozen staff left

Just saying how it is not my problem whatever area fails.

[SpacePhoenix]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

Bollocks they can an are doing what they like. just bring in more agency.

Probably about 75-80% of non casual/agency staff are SD locker or mech staff you it'd mean sacrificing one of them two areas. If you were to take away any agency/casuals, mech, SD locker staff and any DDA then you'd have less than a dozen staff left

Just saying how it is not my problem whatever area fails.

I think there's only 2 or 3 who could in theory drive a lorry but their CPC will have certainly lapsed. As to whether they still have the relevant categories on their driving licenses, I've no idea.

[ConeHater]

I hear that NDC are regularly 40 - 50 drivers short at the weekends. Bet they love it when your extra work turns up !

Even local collections / Distribution is getting problematic

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

The last time I spoke to NDC on Sat - they were 40 drivers down. Bloke on the phone sounded like he was at the end of his tether.

Some RM drivers work for other distribution companies, supermarkets etc, if they fancy a bit of weekend docket. The pay is better, hours not maxed out like RM, and as long as it’s declared all’s fine ‘n’ dandy !
RM will need to think about bringing back enhancement for weekend working. (the grapevine suggests they may be . . .)

[paulus103]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

I'm seeing people from the early shift doing it after their shift, people cancelling processing SA to work for collections and my manager has been asked to drive rather than manage in processing. I questioned it and he said the distribution manager can take whoever he wants as SDL has said ok due to driver shortage.

[paulus103]

I've noticed quite a few agency drivers doing collections, never seen that before.

Been happening at our place for about a year.

[SpacePhoenix]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

I'm seeing people from the early shift doing it after their shift, people cancelling processing SA to work for collections and my manager has been asked to drive rather than manage in processing. I questioned it and he said the distribution manager can take whoever he wants as SDL has said ok due to driver shortage.

Our mech section can struggle for staff some days as it is. If distribution start nicking staff from the mech then we'll end up having to downgrade to walk sort instead of sequencing, maybe even having to just send some batches as manual. You can count on one hand the number of non SD locker staff who are SD locker trained on shift.

I don't think it's going to be too long before you start getting MCs failing shifts due to distribution nicking staff from processing

[paulus103]

The distribution / Collections team can now take any staff from the entire mail centre - anybody that can drive a lorry.

They wouldn't be able to do that locally, processing doesn't have enough staff as it is

I'm seeing people from the early shift doing it after their shift, people cancelling processing SA to work for collections and my manager has been asked to drive rather than manage in processing. I questioned it and he said the distribution manager can take whoever he wants as SDL has said ok due to driver shortage.

Our mech section can struggle for staff some days as it is. If distribution start nicking staff from the mech then we'll end up having to downgrade to walk sort instead of sequencing, maybe even having to just send some batches as manual. You can count on one hand the number of non SD locker staff who are SD locker trained on shift.

I don't think it's going to be too long before you start getting MCs failing shifts due to distribution nicking staff from processing

Yep can see weekends failing - walked into the office tonight to see two managers running two CSS machines today. So won't take much.