Tag: delivery company

There’s Another Battle: Now It’s Royal Mail Versus Amazon.

Posted on by News Desk

Perhaps not quite the battle of the century like motorists versus e-scooters. but this one’s still worth mentioning. 

Especially if you’re a delivery driver. Except, we guess it’s not really a war. To put it simply, Royal Mail is making an attempt to win customers over from Amazon by introducing a new scheme offering timed delivery slots.

You might be one of the customers who choose to shop with Amazon due to their brilliant delivery options. Same-day delivery? Yes, please! Perhaps you’re one of the van drivers who end up darting about all over the place, in an attempt to get the deliveries in on time.

Now, if you’re working for Royal Mail, you may find yourself racing against time, just like Amazon drivers.

Customers will be offered a choice from a 3-tier system:

  • You have your bottom tier: this is where Royal Mail get to decide when to deliver your parcel
  • There’s got to be a middle tier: the customer will pick a delivery day, along with where the parcel should be left
  • And of course, the equivalent to Tesco’s Finest. You have the top tier: the customer gets to pick the day PLUS a delivery time

Better slap your seatbelts on, because we anticipate this will be a popular scheme for Brits. Of course, we can’t know for certain what the pricing costs will be like just yet. This will also inevitably depend on the size of the parcel, and/or how many have been ordered. Just like Amazon, it’s safe to assume a top-tier delivery option will result in a higher cost. 

Will customers be willing to switch? 

A recent survey from a popular newspaper saw results that suggested that consumers had more trust in Amazon deliveries than that of Royal Mail. On-time deliveries are naturally important to customers, and it seems Royal Mail doesn’t seem to have a good track record. 

With the significant increase in e-commerce sales due to Covid-19, many delivery companies have found themselves hiring more and more van drivers. Were you one of them? How do you feel about these additional delivery options? Perhaps they make no difference to you at all, or maybe you’re sick of racing from house to house. 

Until the new tiers launch, we can’t be sure. What we are sure of is cheap van insurance. See just how cheap we’re talking by simply filling out the form right here.

DPD CEO Dismissed Amid Controversy: What It Means for Drivers

Posted on by News Desk

E-commerce has surged in the UK, and with it, DPD has grown rapidly.

Chief Executive Of DPD Waves Goodbye

But if you’re a van driver for DPD, you may be caught off guard by the latest news about the company.

This week, Dwain McDonald, the CEO of DPD, has reportedly been dismissed.

In his place, Yves Delmas is stepping in temporarily until a permanent replacement is found.

Why was McDonald let go?

An internal investigation claims his departure is due to “personal conduct reasons.”

Shocking News For DPD Staff

McDonald has held the chief executive role since 2008.

For many at DPD, the news came as a complete shock.

They were informed by an email from Yves Delmas.

The message stated McDonald’s departure was effective immediately but offered no further explanation.

McDonald’s Long Tenure With DPD

Though he’s leaving, McDonald’s career at DPD has been substantial.

He joined the company back when they still called it Parceline.

At just 22, he started as a sales executive and worked his way up.

Over the years, McDonald earned a £1 million annual salary, a sign of his loyalty to DPD.

Past Controversy Resurfaces

In 2018, McDonald faced scrutiny when a recording surfaced.

In the recording, he admitted to breaking the law.

He claimed he used his mobile phone to photograph a DPD van while driving on the motorway.

For a CEO of a delivery firm, this raised eyebrows.

The Covid-19 Surge In Demand

As the pandemic unfolded, demand for delivery services skyrocketed.

Many Brits, facing layoffs or redundancy, applied for delivery driver roles.

With a surge in online shopping, DPD promised to add 6,000 more delivery drivers to keep up.

DPD: A Delivery Giant In The UK

Did you know you’re part of one of Europe’s largest delivery firms if you’re a driver at DPD?

DPD has 68 locations across the UK.

Each year, it delivers over 250 million packages for some of the biggest retail brands.

The company’s scale is immense, and so are the expectations.

As DPD moves forward, the search for a new leader begins.

DPD uses over 8,000 delivery vehicles, so is your van one of the 8,000 needing cheaper van insurance?

Look no further.

You’re in the right place.

Crucial Tips Every Van Driver Needs To Stay Safe And Protected

Posted on by News Desk

The Last Year: A Test of Resilience

These last few months have been challenging.

In truth, this entire past year has been nothing short of a relentless test.

Moreover, for van drivers, the stakes have been even higher.

Working tirelessly, they’ve continued through the pandemic, facing risks head-on.

Essential Workers on the Move

With industries shutting down, van drivers kept going.

Battling brutal weather, they ensured goods and parcels still arrived.

Without their dedication, many, in fact, would have struggled.

Consider this:

As people grew reluctant to leave home, they increasingly relied on deliveries.

These packages brought not only joy and comfort but, at times, even a sense of sanity.

You’re Keeping the Nation Going

I’ll admit it:

I ordered my share of random items.

From candles to chessboards to chilli oil, they delivered.

You brought us everything.

Thank you.

And let’s be clear:

You deserve immense appreciation.

We see you. We salute you.

Stay Safe – Crime Is on the Rise

Here’s something to remember:

Stay vigilant.

Stay safe.

Crime targeting van drivers is on the rise.

The risk is real.

Just last weekend, a driver in Hereford had his van stolen mid-delivery.

Van Theft on the Rise: What You Need to Know

Luckily, he was unharmed.

But think about that:

In seconds, his vehicle vanished.

Later, it was found abandoned in a field, engine still running.

It’s happening more often.

Police Warnings for Delivery Drivers

Since lockdown began, police have issued warnings:

Delivery drivers face heightened risks.

Especially around the holidays, theft spiked.

Right before Christmas, a van loaded with Amazon packages was stolen.

Protect Yourself and Stay Alert

Drivers, couriers, postal workers—they’re on the front lines.

They’re vulnerable.

It’s essential they stay alert.

Members of the public must also help keep them safe.

Final Reminder: Check Your Insurance

So, to all van drivers:

First and foremost, protect yourself.

Additionally, stay cautious.

Most importantly, follow police advice.

One more crucial reminder:

Ensure your insurance is up-to-date.

If the worst should happen, having the right coverage is vital.

After all, we’re here to help with that.

It’s the least we can do, given everything you do to keep us moving forward.

Delivery Driver Caught on Video Throwing Packages

Posted on by News Desk

A delivery driver for a well known company was filmed by a member of the public throwing packages into the back of his van.

The video footage clearly shows the driver scanning the parcels individually, no doubt getting ready to take them on his route, only to then pick them up one by one and chuck them without any consideration to the damage that may have been done.

With more people spending a lot of money online these days you can be sure there was some expensive items among those packages, which means they should have been placed in the van, not thrown.

Once the footage was posted onto sites like YouTube where it got millions of views, then the delivery company who the driver worked for had to face the public and give out an apology.

You know what…I bet this company isn’t too pleased with their driver because not only does it bring bad publicity to their brand but it also means many of their customers got broken packages. I’m sure drivers get training on how to handle packages, so why this driver was just throwing things around is beyond me.

Not only that, but when a delivery company breaks something then it comes directly out of their pocket. I’m sure they have enough expenses already…take van insurance for example, which is more expensive than ever before.

Now, these delivery companies can always compare van insurance, which is what I advise everybody to do, but what can they do about drivers who throw packages around? When caught on video and with enough evidence they can get rid of them of course, but in most instances they probably don’t even realise it is going on.

That’s why I think it’s important that when ordinary members of the public witness this type of thing, they film it on their mobile phones and then upload to social media.

This is the only way we are going to get their attention, so they are then forced to do more about making sure their drivers don’t throw packages around.

What makes the video even more frustrating is that many of the packages were marked “fragile” and the driver just didn’t seem bothered.

However, looking at it from another point of view, it has also been reported that many delivery drivers are working for about £6.80 an hour, which is actually below minimum wage.

Also, there have been stories about delivery companies making unreasonable demands on their drivers, which then results in behaviour such as throwing parcels around and driving on the wrong side of the road (like an Argos van driver did recently).

As UK consumers become more comfortable shopping online and their expectation is to get items delivered quicker than ever before, I think more needs to be done by the delivery companies to make sure their drivers are properly trained.

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