DPD drivers take action in row over payments

Delivery firm DPD could face disruption to its services after some of its drivers began three days of action in a dispute over payments.

The drivers involved are refusing to work for three days after DPD said it was cutting the amount it pays for deliveries of small parcels by 65p. One driver told the BBC this could cost him about £6,500 a year.

The lower rate applies to those who are self-employed or franchised, which is the majority of DPD drivers.

DPD said it did not expect the the action by the drivers to have a “significant impact” on its services, and added that it had increased pay rates for the delivery of larger parcels.

The BBC has been told that the various chat groups where drivers are organising their action have about 1,300 to 1,500 participants.

Several drivers told the BBC they were given only a few hours notice before the payment changes came into effect in late September.

DPD said it had “adjusted some of our rates to reflect changes in our parcel traffic profile”.

It said driver stops which include only smaller parcels would see a reduction of 65p.

Stops which include larger parcels, or high-value or pharmaceutical parcels would see no change, DPD said, while heavier deliveries would get an extra 65p.

The company also said it had introduced new incentive payments, “designed to increase earnings all year round”.

“As a result, we believe our driver remuneration package remains among the best in our industry,” it said.

But one driver said the changes would cut his income by about £25 a day, or around £6,500 a year, which would make it “difficult” for him to manage his household costs.

Another driver said that even with the increased rate for larger parcels, there is “no way” he could make up the losses resulting from the 65p cut.

“We just don’t get that many larger parcels to make up for the loss resulting from the rate cut in smaller parcels,” he told the BBC.

“And even if we did take on more larger parcels, we would have to work longer and do more stops just to earn the same amount as before the cut.”

The drivers taking part in the action will refuse to deliver parcels on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.

DPD said: “We acknowledge that some drivers have raised concerns regarding the new arrangements, and these are being addressed.

“However, a small number of drivers at various depots have chosen not to operate today. We do not expect this to have a significant impact on our service.”