Tag: delivery driver

Why Get Fined? Just Pay Up And Avoid The Hassle

Posted on by News Desk

It really isn’t worth the effort some people will go to, trying to avoid paying fines.

One recent example follows.

A van driver had been speeding in a 60mph zone (doing between 72-74mph).

He received a rather grainy image of the white transit van, since he was the registered owner.

This was accompanied by a request for details of the driver at the time,

along with a notice of intended prosecution.

Honesty Is The Best Policy

The easiest (and most honest) option of course would have been to own up and pay the fine.

Not forgetting the three points on his licence.

Sadly, this van driver decided he would try quite hard to avoid paying anything at all.

Even though he knew he was behind the wheel at the time.

He decided to go to some extreme measures to avoid prosecution.

He bought black and red stripes to stick on the vehicle, a GB number plate, and a 60mph limit sticker to go with it.

300 Hours Of Investigations!

After some 300 hours of following and investigating, officers actively compared earlier photographs of the van to those taken after they issued the fine.

They determined definitively that the registered owner had been speeding

Of course, this was a costly exercise for the local constabulary.

Things Were Not About To Get Any Better

The 62-year-old had to finally appear in court.

He was told that he was in a much worse position than had he just owned up and paid the fine.

The extent he went to in order to avoid the fine had used up a considerable amount of taxpayer’s money and time spent investigating.

Ouch!

The driver had six previous convictions and points on his licence.

The judge sentenced him to four months in prison (suspended for 12 months) and banned him from driving for six months.

Finally, he had to pay a £500 fine towards costs.

Hopefully, he has learned a lesson in honesty!

Delivery Driver Woes

A couple of teenage boys surprised a female delivery driver in Coventry by opening the van door and threatening her with a machete.

The pair, aged 14 and 15 at the time, demanded the van keys.

Thankfully, the delivery driver didn’t hand over the keys but instead bravely managed to take the machete away from them.

Not before they had stolen her mobile phone though.

Once she grabbed the machete, the pair ran off, which is hardly surprising. However, police with sniffer dogs later caught them.

Police arrested them on suspicion of robbery and possession of a large knife, and they continued questioning them while in custody.

The police have issued a warning to delivery drivers to be aware of potential robberies, especially with the run-up to Christmas and the usual increase in parcels in their vans.

 

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Delivery Driver Camaraderie Saves the Day

Posted on by News Desk

Don’t worry, guys and gals. This week’s post doesn’t feature something silly like an oopsie daisy, that a van driver has done, or even any dirty motives. In a refreshing take of delivery driver news, this time we have some superhero-worthy stuff to report. 

Here is a story that is bound to make you feel proud to be a van driver or a delivery driver.

Scottish delivery driver goes above and beyond for his colleague

Derek Stoddart, a commendable Scotsman from Clovenfords, did something that perhaps not all delivery drivers would do. 

Despite the fact that he was supposed to finish his shift at Asda at 2 pm, he ended up staying out and working until 9.30 pm when he was able to return to the superstore. This was because he was helping out a fellow delivery driver whose van had broken down.

Knowing full well that there could be many disappointed customers, the kind Mr Stoddart offered to remain with the faulty van until services arrived, so his colleague could continue making deliveries. 

He was out there with the van for so long, that his family even came to say hi and deliver him his dinner and plenty of coffee. 7 hours later, he was able to get back to Asda, but during his time in the van, it grew dark. Thankfully, the van’s heating was able to keep him warm. We imagine he had a lot of time to think, stuck out there in the van. 

If that wasn’t enough, Mr Stoddart reported for his 6.30 am shift the following morning without any complaints. We’re not sure how many people would be so generous with their time, and we sincerely hope Mr Stoddart was rewarded handsomely. Perhaps some decent overtime pay, or some freebies from Asda? What do you think? 

Do you know of anyone, or can recommend a colleague who has gone above and beyond for their van driver or delivery driver duties? Let us know as we’d love to give them a shout-out. 
Until then, we can offer cheap van insurance deals as a reward for all you van driver superheroes. Simply begin by completing this quick 3-minute form.

Delivery Driver Writes a Book

Posted on by News Desk

So, what did you get up to during the pandemic lockdowns?

Oh, nothing much, delivered groceries and wrote a book, you?

…is what we would be saying if our name was Paul Lang. 

So, who is Paul Lang anyway?

Ever heard of a book called From Hollywood to Cricklewood? It’s been out since last year and you can purchase it through Apple Books for a few quid.

It follows Paul Lang on his adventures of being a delivery driver during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst this is an interesting fact anyway, what makes it even better is that Paul Lang used to be a documentary filmmaker. 

When his usual documentary work came to a halt due to lockdowns and restrictions, Paul decided to become a delivery driver to Tesco. He quickly discovered the job was far more eventful than most people realised. As his day-to-day progressed, his occasionally challenging journeys led him to meet an array of people. 

Paul’s documented experiences are sometimes wholesome, and sometimes difficult. Not what most people would expect happens in the day of a delivery driver.

Certainly a stark difference to what he used to do; filming in locations like Angola, Iraq and Dunkirk. Don’t let anyone say life as a delivery driver doesn’t come with its risks and joys – especially during a worldwide pandemic!

Share your experiences with us

So, who here has read Paul Lang’s book then? Whilst we maybe didn’t have as exciting jobs as Paul prior to becoming delivery drivers, perhaps you may have read about his experiences.

If so, what did you think? Are you able to relate to any of the events in his book? Did you experience similar situations during lockdowns? Meet anyone in a hazmat suit, or share a teacake with a lovely, old lady?

We’d love to hear all about it and perhaps share your stories. So please leave a comment and let us know.
In return, we can offer something valuable, too. How about some cheap insurance for that ol’ van of yours? With some of the cheapest van insurance deals around, you can get started by completing this form. It takes just 3 minutes!

Robberies of Parcels and Delivery Vans on the Rise

Posted on by News Desk

We’re in a sombre mood this week as we report on two stories from the UK involving the theft of vans and several packages. Both drivers suffered shock and will surely take some time to recover from the horrid events.

With these two stories coming to light this week, we are reminded even more of the efforts our delivery drivers put in everyday to do their jobs. Stay vigilant, friends.

Awful News from Oxfordshire

The first story is from Oxfordshire, although the robbery took place early last year. The delivery driver was working for Amazon when he was robbed in broad daylight. The thief managed to nab over 100 packages worth more than £2,500, and also drove off with the Amazon van. 

Robson Tereza, the victim, tried to stop the van from leaving but suffered an injury to his hands and knees in attempting to do so. The thieves claimed that Mr Tereza had left his keys in the ignition, but this was refuted. 

The case has been adjourned until the end of this month, so we really hope Robson Tereza gets his justice. For more information, read here. 

Robbery Hell in Hull

The second robbery is far more recent and happened earlier this month in Hull, but involves a Hermes delivery driver. 

This time, it is clear the keys had been left in the van when it was taken. It is estimated that 20 or more parcels were taken, but thankfully the van was discovered by police the next day.

They are, however, appealing for any information as there are currently no suspects. For more information, see here.

How Can Delivery Drivers Stay Safe?

We are hearing more and more about instances like this happening, especially if keys have been left in the ignition.

So, we’d love to hear from our delivery drivers. What do you do to keep safe? Let us know in the comments below. Perhaps we will have enough good advice to create a post about it.

Until then, we’ll leave you with a gift of cheap van insurance deals. Simply click here, add a few details, and we’ll take care of the rest! 

From Delivery Driver to Superhero

Posted on by News Desk

Now, you delivery lot are always receiving praise from us.

We think you go above and beyond in your jobs, every day.

Day after day, you go above and beyond in your work.

Especially in the past couple of years in the midst of a pandemic.

But today, we see how some of you take that extra step, moving closer to becoming superheroes.

Today, we’re excited to salute a true superhero from Edinburgh.

A dedicated ASDA delivery driver, specifically from the Dunbar branch.

Mr Mark Beggs has been cheered as a hero as he used his former soldier training to help save a Transit Van driver after a horrendous crash.

Mr Beggs had only been working with the ASDA branch for some weeks before this happened.

He used quick thinking, remained calm, and did all he could to help save the van driver. 

Basically, he was the type of superhero everyone would want around in times like this.

What Happened?

Mr Beggs was in the delivery van behind the unfortunate van driver, who swerved into a barrier.

While waiting for the ambulances, Mr. Beggs assessed the situation.

With the timely help of a nurse who happened to be passing by, he quickly went into superhero mode.
 
First, he grabbed a tool from his van, typically used to cut cardboard.
 
Using it with precision, he managed to cut through the seatbelt that had been restricting the driver’s breathing.
 
Fortunately, the driver regained consciousness as soon as they cut the belt.
 
Fueled by a surge of adrenaline, he quickly escaped the car.

However, this led to the poor driver collapsing.

Mr. Marks Gebbs and the off-duty nurse stayed with the van driver until the ambulance arrived.

Amongst all this, Mr Gebbs somehow managed to find time to keep his waiting customers updated!

Yep, it completely flabbergasted us too…

Truly a display of pure excellence from this brave man—and, of course, the nurse! As for Mark Grebbs…

We salute you! 

Naturally, we’d love to hear about other superhero delivery drivers out there…

Do you have anyone in mind?

Or have you experienced something similar?

Let us shower you with praise…

Until then, the one thing we can gift you is cheap van insurance quotes.

A quick 3-minute form is all it takes.

No faff or headache required, thank you very much!

…And Then He Woke Up, And It Was All A Dream!

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A refreshing break from the “fuel crisis” and “driver shortages” is called for, we think. So instead, we have a bit of a weird one for you this week. We want to know; what is the weirdest dream you have ever had?

Or, in the case of Paul Luttrell from Somerset, what is the weirdest dream you’ve had whilst in a coma?

Nightmares of delivering for Tesco

Now, we would never wish weird dreams on anyone, least of all a coma. But it is interesting to discuss what is experienced for those that do. 

For Paul Luttrell, who was hospitalised for cancer and Covid-19, it was being forced to work as a delivery driver. Not your average nightmare for most folk, eh? He dreamed of an ordeal where he drove a bedraggled-looking van about a town, making grocery deliveries for Tesco.

However, there was a vital twist that resulted in the dreams becoming nightmares. All the money that poor Paul earned from his deliveries ended up being taken from him and given to a London gang. The best (or worst) part? The leader was a dwarf who would torture him the old-fashioned way — with a defibrillator. Truly terrifying, yet bizarre stuff. We are sure Netflix would be interested in a feature film or television show.

Thankfully, despite the hellish hallucinations, Paul was miraculously discharged and is doing his best to work through his illnesses. You can read more about Paul’s experience of being in a coma, here. We wish you all the best, Paul!

When Dreams Become Reality

For many of us, the reality of being a supermarket delivery driver really is not that bad. Dare we say, some even enjoy it? Although, we guess that is dependent on whether or not you are being forced to hand your earnings over to the dwarf mafia. Hopefully, you’re not.

Our delivery drivers are still out there working hard as usual, despite Covid-19 restrictions having been lifted. There is still a lower number of customers actually going in-store to shop, so home deliveries are as popular as ever. 

So, delivery drivers, we’ve dedicated this post to you! We’ve also provided you with cheap van insurance quotes. Simply fill out this form, and you’ll be on your way to saving in just 3 minutes.

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.

Takeaway Delivery Driver Goes Viral on TikTok

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Fame. It may not be every delivery driver’s dream, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) for some, you may end up getting it anyway. All it takes is a short clip (around 15 seconds) and some musical talent from our now famous delivery driver. 

The clip, which has gone viral on a social media app called Tiktok, has gained 1.8 million views so far. The video continues to gain traction and more and more people are acknowledging the talents of the blessed takeaway driver.

As you may know, when placing an order for a takeaway online/through an app, you are able to provide additional details. These details could be crucial for the delivery driver. For example, if you can only choose from an option of Flat 4 as your door number… when there’s actually a Flat 4A, 4B and 4C. 

However, this particular user on Tiktok (@kfresh420kickit), decided to upload his first video showing his hilarious demand for his food delivery. He asked the driver to:

“Knock a cool beat so I know it’s you and not a bad guy.”

Not your everyday delivery instruction, huh?

You can view the viral clip below: 

@kfresh420kickit♬ original sound – kfresh420kickit

Now, we’re willing to bet that takeaway shops and delivery drivers get strange requests like this all the time. Perhaps, asking the chef to write their favourite joke on the inside of their pizza box. Or, to climb in through the window and deliver the Amazon goods straight into the kitchen. We’re sure they’re a lot more interesting than that, too.

In this case, the brave driver delivered the tasty goods, as well as a barrel of laughs, by singing and thumping a drumbeat on the door. Okay, we’ll be honest, it isn’t like the poor fella is the new Mozart, Eminem or even Justin Bieber, but he can definitely drum along to the tune of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. And successfully, too. Surely that’s talent, otherwise, we don’t know what is. If you’re not sure what song that is, you can listen to it here.

If your dreams don’t quite involve fame, singing or dancing, you can keep it real right here. Or, if you’re thinking about becoming a delivery driver and need to insure your van, simply get a quote by filling out this form (singing a tune not required).

£17k for using your home toilet? Every little helps…

Posted on by News Desk

Okay, so Tesco is not paying their delivery drivers £17,000 to use their home toilets, unfortunately.

If they were, well then sign my partner up, because I’m certain he would end up bankrupting the company.

I’m sure all delivery drivers have been there.

You’ve still got a couple of deliveries to go, and you’re suddenly bursting to use the loo.

What do you do when these situations arise?

Especially if you work for Tesco, whose vans have tracker systems fitted.

This means they can check up on you every 5 minutes or so, alongside monitoring your speed and location.

Well, for one Tesco delivery worker, his solution was his home toilet.

Nothing too crude here, thank you.

This week’s tale fuels itself with justice and a hefty £17k package.

Tesco’s Scottish branch awarded Billy Fitzsimmons £17k in compensation after his unfair dismissal.

Due to his ailments, he required to use the toilet far more than your average person.

An employment tribunal ordered Tesco to pay Mr Fitzsimmons for not taking his medical problems into consideration.

His employer penalised him for using his toilet at home, even though he only stopped by between deliveries.

After discovering these stops, his boss learned about his urinary tract infection and enlarged prostate, which required urgent restroom access.

However, Tesco bosses claimed they were not aware that Mr Fitzsimmons also experienced incontinence.

Although they were aware of his other illnesses.

Unfortunately, he’d also had to visit home on some occasions to change. 

After conducting his business at home, Mr Fitzsimmons would wait in his delivery van until he had to drop off groceries to the next client.

Nothing wrong with that, right?

Deliveries were always made in a timely manner, and not a single person ever made a complaint against him.

Discrimination against disability isn’t a joke.

Fortunately for Mr Fitzsimmons, the judges agreed with him.

Hopefully, many of you will not have faced an illness or a situation like this, but I’m sure we can relate to needing the toilet after a long drive.

We wish Mr Fitzsimmons the best, and if he ever requires cheap van insurance for another role, we’re here to help!

Long drives? Back pain? Here’s some advice.

Posted on by News Desk

Long Drives and Back Pain

How to Stay Comfortable On The Road

We’ve all felt the burn of a long drive.

Whether it’s in a shiny new van or a reliable old one, those hours take a toll.

Sitting in the same position for hours isn’t easy.

And, let’s be honest, back pain doesn’t care about age.

But here’s some good news.

Simon Reynolds, a former driver performance manager at Formula One McLaren, knows a thing or two about avoiding back pain.

Now a sports therapist, Reynolds has shared his best tips to help you stay comfortable on those long drives.

Start With Seat Ergonomics

Before you even step into your vehicle, take a moment for seat adjustments.

Why?

Preventing back and neck pain begins with full visibility of the road and easy mirror access.

Check your mirrors—they should require just a simple, comfortable glance.

Recline For Spinal Support

Next, consider reclining your seat back just enough to support your spine.

An unsupported head leads to tension, and an unsupported upper spine only adds to the discomfort.

Above all, remember lumbar support.

Without it, the pelvis can shift backward, putting stress on your lower back over time.

Choose The Right Seat Cushion

Did you know that seat cushions come in various shapes and padding options?

Surprisingly, many car seats don’t provide adequate lower back support.

By adding a thin cushion, however, you can help maintain the natural curve in your lower back.

This small adjustment may not only reduce discomfort but also help prevent medical issues over time.

Perfect Your Leg Position

Leg positioning is crucial.

The seat should support your legs without forcing them to stretch too far.

Contrary to popular belief, your leg shouldn’t be fully outstretched when pressing the pedal.

Instead, aim for a slight bend in your leg when braking or accelerating.

And keep your bottom snug against the driver’s seat.

Find Your Best Steering Position

For optimal steering, keep your elbows slightly bent.

But lock your shoulders back against the seat.

If this feels off, adjust the steering wheel height for a more natural fit.

Take Regular Breaks For Physical And Mental Health

The most important tip?

Take breaks.

Ideally, stop every hour for a quick stretch or a short walk.

These breaks help prevent aches and keep your body in good shape for the road ahead.

With these tips, you’re set for a more comfortable, healthier drive.

So, will you be trying these tips?

Whether it’s in your comfy new van or an old banger, we hope it helps you in some way.

At least you can rest easy and search for cheap van insurance deals with us, without breaking the bank (or, your back).

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