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Delivery driver job, and what it's really like

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In addition to NOT being psychic or clairvoyant (we don't know what's inside the parcel YOU'VE ordered!), we're also NOT phone installation experts, Corgi registered technicians or flat-pack furniture assemblers.  SO DON'T BOTHER ASKING!

We are DELIVERY DRIVERS, which means we drive around and deliver things!  By the way, we don't drive Reliant Robin's with just YOUR parcel on board!  Ford Transit vans can't always fit through your tiny narrow gateways, not even when in your infinite wisdom you decide to decrease the space between the posts!

As for catalogues - if you don't want them anymore then ring the company up and get them to remove your name from their mailing lists.  It's very hard to raise a smile when you've just driven 3 or 4 miles along narrow, twisty lanes dodging inane tourists, horse riders and typical bumpkins (farmers who think they also own the roads which connect their land!), finally reaching your hovel just to be told that you no longer want anything to do with catalogue companies!  You then decide to hurl a load of abuse at us because it's something else that you've got to recycle...

Delivery drivers, the real job description Those large cumbersome parcels which look awkward to carry ARE in fact heavy!  If you can just tear yourself away from watching Jeremy Kyle for a few seconds, yes we WOULD appreciate some assistance over here.  Open a gate or door perhaps. Better still, lock your bloody dogs away instead of picking them up whilst trying to sign for your items (Only applies to those of you that can actually write your name and sadly so many of you are unable to perform even that simple task!).  Strangely enough,we don't all see the funny side of getting our ankles and fingers bitten by cuddly little pooches!

One last point; If you would like us to leave your parcels in your shed, greenhouse, garage, stable, swimming pool or other extravagant outbuilding that you've wasted your 'hard earned' money on, then have the the courtesy to leave the door to that building open.  Unfortunately we're not allowed to kick your doors in or smash your windows.  Yes it is a shame isn't it?

By: Delbert D.Rivers


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DRWHO

DRWHO

hello I wanted to say a few things I have worked for the likes of asda,interlink citylink amazon and a few others so have some experience. I agree some customers are twats why you might ask well I have delivered to many houses and can say some people are so ungrateful. I remember going to a house where I just saw the guy go in his house I went to the door the stupid git made me wait 10 minutes to open his door what a prick. Another thing is you have a front door stop expecting us to go round the back I don't have the time for that. Also we have over 75 parcels to deliver so if your in answer your door i can understand if your in and we leave a card well its because your not getting up to open your door. The other side of it is the office gives us times and targets to hit we are not supermen and if we wall behind we have to tell the device we have that we attempted to deliver. Us delivery drivers are expected to deliver too much and many times I have ended up leaving the yard uptil 11am getting out very late and still expected to delivery every thing amazon expected this I would come in at 8am have to wait because the run parcels had not been sorted out and had to wait till 11am I was still delivering at 9pm they dont let you come back to depo until all is delivered. So I started at 8am at depo till 9 or 10pm thats 14 hours with no breaks like to see you do that. And that is areas I dont know like halifax some would argue they are breaking the law. This is typical of all delivery companys I have worked for. Dont get me wrong if I can go back I will but the companys we are talking about will not pay you for the hours you work they only pay you for the hours they think you should be paid for for example I worked for interlink for an agency I worked for 35 hours the company in their nasty madness decided I should only get paid for 22 hours even though their had been a car crash in Bradford stopping me go any where. Also the pay is crap we drivers want less delivery s and more time to do the job. The customer gets the service and the driver has breaks no wonder their are so many near miss's on the roads because we are so tired . When I was at amazon I was falling asleep as soon as I put my head on my bed. I was working 14 hour days 6 days a week and they wanted us to do 7 days a week soon. it was too much one day I came back to depo with 6 parcels and I said to them its not fair this and I let them get rid off me on purpose. I even got pulled over by the police and got off with a warning this was down to being to tired having no breaks. After that I decided I would not risk my licence for any one.
04/06/14 DRWHO
1
D

D

I'd agree with everything you said except I think it's a bit hypocritical complaining about folk asking you to do tasks that aren't in your job description, when most delivery drivers don't even do what is in their job description, like deliver a bloody parcel, hence the job title "DELIVERY DRIVER", not just "DRIVER". I have never asked a delivery person to help me in the house with a parcel, or help me build furniture, and I don't have a dog or a gate. Yet for the last year every delivery driver has avoided ringing or knocking at my door to tell me there is a parcel. instead they stroll up my path empty handed and shove a notice through my door saying "sorry we missed you". They didn't bloody miss me, I often catch them trying to escape down the street, without my parcel in their hands, and when I catch them, they sigh and reluctantly fetch my parcel from their vans. I actually pay for bloody delivery and pay twice when it comes to royal mail, just to have the luxury of them post a notice, basically saying "collect it yourself" obviously because van drivers don't like to over exceed themselves and I guess that's what your really saying here too.
15/05/12 D
-2
The Alpine Singer

The Alpine Singer

A while back I was employed by a well known delivery company.

When overstretched they would employ temp drivers. These temps wouldn't have the same insurance as the regulars, so would not be given any package listed as worth more than a certain amount. Instead they would be told to leave a note without knocking.

It was also not uncommon for drivers to just leave notes if the parcels were heavy or a hassle to carry, or if it was for a high number in a block of flats. Contrary to what has been said here, we got paid salary, with no penalty for failed delivery. I even know drivers who considered it a perk to 'acquire' a parcel once a month or so.

The big problem is that drivers are paid poorly, and not incentivised to do a good job, especially when the company itself is cutting so many corners anyway.

Sadly Delbert here seems to epitomise the worst side of the driving community. Some of us were more courteous despite everything. It certainly isn't a great job, but its better than some.
15/12/11 The Alpine Singer
9
Anom

Anom

I have to agree with the poster, I work for a courier although not a driver and they are in our depot at 5am in the morning take out 100 parcels + per day, and collections dont get back at depot till earliest 5:30pm if their lucky, only get paid if they actually deliver numerous times do we get people who have ordered items to b delivered yet are not in to accept delivery or try to pull the wool of ringing an hour after driver has been and say driver didnt knock/ring door bell etc and can see no problem with him having to come back. Its quite simple - dont order things to b delivered if you are not going to be home to accept the delivery and dont check that it has to be signed for and please bear in mind that if a driver has to leave you a card he hasnt got paid so will have rung the bell etc so stop lying and a delivery driver doesnt spend an entire day just driving on your street so dont b amazed that when you ring an hour later that the driver is now too far away to come back to deliver your item that he wouldnt even get paid enough to cover his diesel never mind his time! Its a tough job been a courier please cut them some slack I couldnt do their job and know theres many who cant weve had enough ex plumbers, joiners etc who have a van giving it a try!
16/06/11 Anom
-7
azjim

azjim

All I can say is RIGHT ON!! I was a delivery driver for 2 years and it was the hardest job I have ever had in my 30 year career. I totally agree with everything you have said. Everyone should walk a mile in these shoes and then let's talk!!
21/02/11 azjim
-5
yvan

yvan

They have stopped home delivery in my area a month ago . I am an invalid and enjoyed reading the flyers weekly . Our Postal area is E5N6B9
19/11/10 yvan
-3
Perle de lait

Perle de lait

Stop launching parcels in my back garden when you know for a fact I am at home. When you do bother to knock please don't bang the door as loud as you can. If you hate delivering parcels then don't do it, find a new one .... Simple.
04/11/10 Perle de lait
-13
Generalist

Generalist

Mr. Angry, I thgink you would have made a better case if you'd sat on this for a while. I normally regret sending anything written when I'm angry, it would always be better when written while in a calm frame of mind.

I have a vague idea of the delivery driver's lot and it isn't pleasant. I am led to understand that some courier firms allocate only sufficient time for the driver to drive at the speed limit between drops: with no allowance for traffic lights; finding addresses the sat nav can't find; congestion etc. Which of course means that couriers are under time pressure all day.
04/09/10 Generalist
0
Flex of Hereford

Flex of Hereford

I certainly know what this bloody ungreatful job untails I've had the bloody experience of dealing with ungreatful customers but you should know as a delivery driver you just get on well with it. For all my experience and bloody very hard work i've put in the past I now struggle to get the work doing the job that I feel I really deserve on a regular bases. So some of you drivers should be greatful fo having the opertunety to do it and should just shut up and put up,
02/07/10 Flex of Hereford
-5
Agatha

Agatha

While I can empathise with your plight, Delbert D.Rivers, you need to also empathise with OURS! Someone has paid to have the parcel shipped, and the funds also go to pay for your salary - which you are given to DO YOUR JOB. Your job does NOT entail driving up to a location and staring at it, sticking a sign on the door without even ringing the bell and then delivering said package to post office. That is NOT doing YOUR JOB. When your fellow employee says something is our for delivery - it doesn't mean for you to stick a worthless sticky on a door you have not even knocked upon and just driving off! That is the kind of thing that makes the community (rightfully) despise you!
09/06/10 Agatha
2
BoredNow

BoredNow

Whine, Whine, Whine, are you French Dilbert?

How hard can your job be? Drive a bit, deliver a bit, drive a bit more...it can't be that hard.

Why can't people just get on with their jobs instead of complaining about it incessantly - how boring!

Clearly Dilbert needs a job that uses his brain rather than his brawn - come on people let's find him one - suggestions anyone?
10/03/10 BoredNow
-7
slim mick

slim mick

Delivery drivers have a knack of delivering items that I have ordered.of course I wouldnt know how many deliveries they have to make that day.but when my parcel arrives I go to the door and make sure that the delivery person is able to get to the door safely.i once left a note to ask for my parcel to be left in my shed.when I got home there was a parcel in my shed as I had left the door unlocked.just some simple ideas that I think everyone should try.delivery drivers are paid to make deliveries.they are not paid to take abuse.so thank you to all delivery drivers.this is one person that greatly appreciates the service that you provide.
02/11/09 slim mick
1
shauna baby

shauna baby

What the f**k are yous on about...?
yas are all little freaks haaaaa haaaa
09/10/09 shauna baby
-11
Blartman

Blartman

So, you saw the job advert, got the application form, filled it in, went to the interview (which is probably just "Can you drive?" "Yes" "Okay, you start Monday") and accepted the job. Whose problem is that then?
29/07/09 Blartman
-9
Manx Hound

Manx Hound

I must admit when the OP puts the situation so clearly and reasonably.

Perhaps the miserable, scruffy, charmless oaf who hammered on my door this morning, wordlessly shoved a parcel under my nose followed by an electronic writing gadget and the grunted comment "Sign, print yer name and the time", snatched it away before I have finished and stalked back to his van deserved a hearty "Thank you, thank you so much for delivering my torn and wet parcel two days late, and may I say what a warm and delightful person you are"?
13/05/09 Manx Hound
-6

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