LTB 079/21 – Annex to the Royal Mail & CWU Joint Statement on the National Deployment of the Vehicle Check App made in November 2020
No. 079/21
1st March 2021
Dear Colleagues,
Annex to the Royal Mail & CWU Joint Statement on the National Deployment of the Vehicle
Check App made in November 2020
Branches will recall PE Documents 170/20 and 253/20 advising of the national terms of reference
on the trial of a vehicle check app. The checks were introduced in order to ensure compliance with
the company operator’s licence obligations. Royal Mail had developed an App that would sit on the
PDA for checks to be completed in a user-friendly manner, prompting the driver to complete each
check listed as opposed to entering the details into a vehicle logbook. All collated data would then
be made available in a QlikView dashboard for unit managers to view, increasing compliance and
visibility. The Department has previously confirmed that the trials have successfully been concluded
with positive feedback from the drivers involved.
The refreshed checks piloted across 13 sites have been categorised as Daily and Weekly checks
with each check being provided with a time value of 4 and 10 minutes respectively. In addition to
these checks, it was also necessary to bolster the TOR around the requirement for resultant work to
be completed which would not ordinarily take place on each visit but on an ‘as and when required’
basis i.e. topping up of fluid levels and/or tyre pressures. The checks did not include a time element
for refuelling or vehicle wash as such activities will be subject to local circumstances in terms of
frequency and location.
Additionally, Royal Mail has agreed to purchase a number of portable tyre inflators that work from
the 12v cigarette lighter but stored in the Office at approximately 2 per unit. Due to financial
considerations these inflators (Ring RAC610 Mini Tyre Inflator) purchased from Euro Car Parts have
already been piloted for use by Fleet, prior to any mass purchase being made to ensure they are
safe and fit for purpose and will now be issued to all units. The inflation rate from flat is 4 to 5 minutes
and the visuals are attached for ease of reference.
Rather than re-open the agreed TOR all of the above is now contained in the attached Annex that
indicates such activities will be taken into account during the Weekly Resource Meeting and the time
necessary for these tasks to be factored into resourcing arrangements, alongside the Industrial
Engineering Study Report, which provides an understanding behind the refreshed time checks as
noted by both the Royal Mail and CWU represented IE.
As per the TOR between Royal Mail and the CWU we will continue to carry out a Post Implementation
Review to jointly ensure that all drivers are not only able to physically complete their pre-use checks
and accurately record via the vehicle checks app, but to ensure that any safety related matters are
addressed as a matter of urgency. This includes any resultant work found on the vehicle that ensures
complete roadworthiness to the required ministry standard.
Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Department reference 300, email
address: njones@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Baulch
CWU Assistant Secretary