Tag: delivery van

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! 

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.

Shh! Driverless Vans are Real!

Posted on by News Desk

Over in America the times, they are a changin’. Yes, over the pond, permission has just been granted for the testing of the world’s first driverless van. 

It has no controls – no steering wheel, no foot pedals, no rear-view mirrors. Nothing. Nada, Zip. It’s also smaller in size than most American cars. It’s envisaged that the vehicle will be used for delivering hot food, like pizzas, groceries and small packages, in the first instance.

Nuro, the manufacturer of autonomous delivery vans could spell the end to your American brothers, the American men (and women) in vans. 

Testing will start in the coming months in Houston, Texas. It’s the first test of its kind, as previous tests of driverless cars in the USA have always required a human in the front who is (theoretically) able to use their own controls to stop the vehicle or avoid an accident if one looks imminent. (Although that hasn’t always worked out quite as planned). Tests will be overseen by the US Department of Transport.

The vehicle, which has a top speed of 25mph, is being heralded as a ‘milestone in the industry’, but it’s likely safe to say the UK van industry doesn’t need to break a sweat just yet. Let’s think about it. How many pizzas do we actually deliver here in the UK? How about all those twisty-turny narrow lanes, complex traffic systems and double-parked cars most UK van drivers have to contend with each and every day? It’s not quite the long straight roads on grids, with quiet, wide-open roads that they have in Texas, is it? How many vans the size of small cars would we need to actually make all the deliveries that we need? Mrs CVI could fill one with her weekly Waitrose shop in one go.

If the future really is driverless, it’s safe to say that here at least, van drivers only have to worry about getting the best van driver insurance deal for themselves, and not the future and being laid off as a result of a robot. Not just yet, anyway.

150 Parcels Stolen From Delivery Van

Posted on by News Desk

It’s Christmas again and that means one thing…lot’s of parcels being delivered all around the country by van drivers.

Unfortunately, one delivery van in Burnley got stolen last week, and although Police later found the van abandoned in a street, the 150 parcels it was carrying were nowhere to be found.

This wasn’t an isolated incident either. On that very same day another delivery van was also stolen in Burnley. Fortunately, on this occasion the driver was coming towards the end of his shift which means he didn’t have any parcels left to be stolen.

This comes at a time when Police are warning delivery van drivers around the country to not leave their engines running while making a delivery.

While it has not been confirmed exactly how the 2 vans in Burnley were stolen, typically speaking, when these kind of vehicles are taken it is because the driver got out to make a quick delivery and then left the keys in the ignition with the engine running.

It all happens so fast, and before the driver knows it their van is being driven off down the street by a thief who was just waiting for the smallest of opportunities.

Not only does leaving your keys in the ignition make the chances of your van being stolen more likely, but it also puts you in a bad situation if you need to make a claim on the insurance policy.

I’m sure that your van insurance provider is not going to be thrilled when they ask how the van was stolen, only to be told that you basically handed the keys to the criminals…and even left the engine running for them so it made the getaway even easier.

If you work for a big company then your boss won’t be impressed either, because the company will find it hard to claim on the van insurance.

Of course, there is a good chance the van will be found by Police in no time at all, but this doesn’t always happen, and as we’ve just seen in Burnley, many times the vans reappear but without those parcels.

It’s Christmas time remember, which means it’s now more important that all those parcels arrive safely to their intended destination.

So what is the solution? The only way is to turn off the engine, take out the keys and then lock the door when you are making a delivery.

Sure, it is going to take you a bit longer to deliver all the parcels, but at the end of the day it’s better to get everything delivered and be 30 minutes over schedule, rather than being back at the depot by lunchtime having to tell your boss the van was stolen.

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