Park and Loop

[qwerty2]

Why not just use the phone functionality built into the PDAs?

It only allows you to call numbers that are pre-set into it - RAC, manager, office etc. You cannot just dial any number.

Bloody idiotic you cant phone the person you work with

[SMS1969]

The Green agenda apparently Never forget, thats the reason flights are being ended also.

Ha ha yeah, I’ll think about that one when I’m in my really ‘green ‘ 13 plate dolmio, with all the lovely fumes belching out of it.

13 plate. The luxury! Next you'll be telling us you've got four wheels and doors that aren't held on with hazard tape. Lol

The side door doesn’t work and one of the back doors locks but it ‘ moves around ‘ when I open it. And it’s really fun getting 16 loops and a York and a half of oversized in the back along with the Specials on a bad day.

[Mr Rush]

I hate P&L. That said, when it was introduced it had the advantage of being a mobile Tardis-esque pouch box that would be able to accomodate the parcel boom (+1 to the company) and take the weight of multiple bundles of mail off your shoulder (assuming trolleys, assuming smaller loops, etc... +1 to us).

Well now a decade later that 20 billion letters is only seven (literally only seven you'd think from the way the company goes on) and if DPR had transpired nationally, you have to wonder just how many more bags each filled with a handful of letters they could fit in the back of the van to justify continuing with P&L's inefficient delivery method.

As larger three-seater vans are rolled out, the possibly mythical company strategists surely recognise the potential for filling that empty seat. Which leads us back to something closer to a mini crewbus setup. Fill your bag with as many letters as you can sans any packets and the driver will replenish you in... an hour? Hour and a half? As it is, most new starts think you pack your satchel to the brim and off you go like it's 1985.

[Beanyjazz]

It wouldn’t be so bad if the PDA had a function showing where your van partner is so you can go and help. My record is 42 minutes stood on the side of the street wondering where he was, whether I was meant to walk to a different rendezvous (this was first time on this round working with someone I’d only just met so we hadn’t exchanged phone numbers).

Not using MY own phone to do their job for them

100%! I won't use my mobile for Google Maps either when I have a new collection, if I can't find it (or as usual they haven't put the GPS point in the PDA) it's not getting found. I don't even answer my mobile at work to managers, they can ring me on the PDA (which they don't know how to do).

[toonshola]

If you and your partner are knowledgeable of the duty, don’t take the piss and work at a decent pace(not running and cutting corners) then it can work sometimes. In my experience this is rare though. Most the time you end up wasting time.
Couple of years back the office had spare vans and out of curiosity me and van partner took van each and did what we do on a normal day. I took drivers loops and large parcels and he took passenger loops and no large parcels. Both us finished about 50 mins quicker. It’s just better and more efficient when you prep and load the van how you want and then just crack on by yourself.
I would genuinely have my delivery extended by 30-45 mins if it meant van share could be binned.

[Kenfandango]

We have at least 7 P&L duties that now go out as 2 separates as one of the duty holders is notoriously slow (and I don't mean slow walking, I mean they take the van on a driving bit that takes 20 minutes and don't come back for over an hour, or they "pop in" to friends house, go to the cafe without telling you they are having their break, sit on a wall smoking where you can't see them etc...) rather than listen to the many reports from different partners the managers opt to let them go out alone and do half a duty or "just packets" because, and I quote "that's just what they're like"... the other side is always expected to clear. Been on one of these for 2 weeks and I see the guy I'm meant to be partnered with start his first loop at 11.00am. I see him because his first loop starts where my 6th ends yet he always gets out of the DO before me.
Weirdly the "slower" partner on all these loops are posties with 20+ years service, and the people expected to clear while they faff about are all under 10 years service.

I can accept waiting for someone who walks slower than me. I accept management allowing older workers to take a bit less work or a bit more time, but when someone is cutting off so they can get to the bakery, or rushing off to get a McDonald's breakfast before they stop serving while I stand in the rain for 35 minutes wondering where the van has gone only to return having not started the loop they were supposedly doing while I did mine (this has happened twice,) then I find it farcical.

[clashcityrocker]

I would genuinely have my delivery extended by 30-45 mins if it meant van share could be binned.

How much would it cost for everyone to have their own van?
What would the increase in fuel costs be?
How many vans would be sitting idle for most of the day?

[60091]

If you done 40 years why don't do a rural at least you can make your own destiny!! I've done 23 years and have never done park and loop!

[kazardaimenu]

Worked alright during the Covid with one per van or bags out the back of a car.

[qwerty2]

I hate P&L. That said, when it was introduced it had the advantage of being a mobile Tardis-esque pouch box that would be able to accomodate the parcel boom (+1 to the company) and take the weight of multiple bundles of mail off your shoulder (assuming trolleys, assuming smaller loops, etc... +1 to us).

Well now a decade later that 20 billion letters is only seven (literally only seven you'd think from the way the company goes on) and if DPR had transpired nationally, you have to wonder just how many more bags each filled with a handful of letters they could fit in the back of the van to justify continuing with P&L's inefficient delivery method.

As larger three-seater vans are rolled out, the possibly mythical company strategists surely recognise the potential for filling that empty seat. Which leads us back to something closer to a mini crewbus setup. Fill your bag with as many letters as you can sans any packets and the driver will replenish you in... an hour? Hour and a half? As it is, most new starts think you pack your satchel to the brim and off you go like it's 1985.

Thought this as well - 2 on PL doing 2 rounds change to bigger vans - 3 in a van doing 4 rounds together get rid of 1 person!

[postslippete]

Always used to amuse me when I wanted to cut off if I was working with someone who was new to the duty and the manager would say "don't worry, he/she's fast". Then you get out there and find that they aren't as fast as they think for obvious reasons.

[qwerty2]

Worked alright during the Covid with one per van or bags out the back of a car.

In our office the partner was meeting them on delivery getting their bag then meeting at next stop off and so on

[Mike G]

The only solution is to completely seperate the letters deliveries from the parcel deliveries.

It simply doesn't work having to deliver letters, pkts and parcels all at the same time.

Separating the two aspects means the USO could be substantially reduced and letter delivery would be much more efficient and cost effective and RM could offer a more accurate and convenient parcel delivery service.

[kazardaimenu]

It’s not all bad just a bit of a cumbersome working method especially when the pairing go at a different pace or one wants to cut off the other wants to go over etc. You’d have to go back to the office then back out on delivery and get less done.

[Acca Dacca]

Its great when you have a regular partner who you get on great with and have similar work ethic

It is absolutely horrendous when thats not the case