Nick

When did you start working at Royal Mail?

I started working for Royal Mail maybe 6 weeks ago…. October this year.

What position do you hold at Royal Mail?

I drive a class 1 HGV vehicle.

What does your job entail?

I take mail and parcels to different Royal Mail centres ready for sorting. 

Tell me about a typical day at work?

My shifts vary and the routes change from week to week. I can do anywhere from 8 to 15 hour shifts. If I do a shorter shift, I do still get paid for the 8 hours. 

What made you choose this job at Royal Mail?

The money is really good - even for a class 1 driver where the money is usually ok, the money here is great.

What was your application process like?

It was straight forward, they did a criminal record check and a background check. Then I did a driving assessment and I was ready to start. 

What surprised you most when you started? 

They really concentrate on getting the mail out, even if the loads are not full they will still send you out. Sometimes they cancel your load, but I still get paid as though I did them. 

Did you receive any training before you started?

Yes, I did get some training about how Royal Mail works and what my job was.   

What do you like most about your job?

The flexibility of my job is great, and the pay for sure! I do really like working for Royal Mail, they are good to work for. 

What do you dislike most about your job?

I live about 45 minutes from the depot so driving to work is probably the worst part.

Tell me about your vehicle?

They are all different, you get assigned to a different one on every shift, so you don’t always have the same one. Some are brand new, but I prefer the older ones, something that has had time to run in a bit. You don’t worry so much about someone hitting an old one. 

What are your fellow team members like?

Everybody is fine, in this job you don’t really interact too much but everyone seems ok. 

Do you receive on-the-job support from management?

Yes, if you have a problem then they will always try to help you out. 

What would you tell someone who was considering applying for a role like yours?

It can be a very anti-social job with long hours and there is so much traffic on the roads now that it can be quite stressful at times, but the pay does reflect this. The most important part would be to make sure you look after yourself, driving can be an unhealthy job if you don’t make an effort to be fit. 

Would you recommend your job to a friend?

I suppose I would recommend driving, if you need work then you will always find it as a driver that’s for sure.