The common-or-garden postman has been a part of our cultural furnishings for over 200 years – as British as a cup of tea or unpredictable summer time climate.
However they’re going through stiff competitors within the nation’s affections with half of Brits (47%) believing supply drivers now play a extra necessary function of their group than posties. Amid the increase in on-line purchasing and residential deliveries an analogous determine (40%) stated they really feel as a lot heat and affection in direction of supply drivers as they do in direction of their postman.
The findings, from Mercedes-Benz Vans’ new Underneath the Bonnet report, additionally reveal supply drivers make extra visits to households than the postman – knocking on our doorways a median of two.7 occasions every week, in contrast with 2.3 occasions every week for postmen.
For 18-34-year-olds – who’ve grown up with on-demand deliveries and shopping for on websites like Vinted – the typical weekly variety of van deliveries rises to five.4 in contrast with 2.5 postal visits.
The development comes as the quantity of letters posted has halved over the past decade whereas residence deliveries have soared. It’s led to a 37% enhance within the variety of vans on UK roads; in 2012 there have been 1.2m, by 2022 the quantity had risen to 4.5m.
Ex-serviceman Simon Deniel, 51, Northumberland, has been working as a supply driver for 5 years and has seen first-hand how folks’s on-line purchasing habits have modified.
“So many people began getting our groceries delivered to keep away from contact with others however now have settled into the rhythm of on-line purchasing as a result of, frankly, it’s a lot simpler.
“Now, after 5 years on the job, I’ve acquired to know so many individuals so nicely inside my group that if I’m within the space of a buyer I haven’t seen for some time, I’ll make sure that to pop in and say good day. I even go in for a cup of tea sometimes.
“You get to know them and their households, and that’s what makes the job so rewarding.”
The Mercedes-Benz Vans report additionally appears on the altering nature of {our relationships} with the trades and repair sectors who go to us at residence.
It reveals prospects are increase nearer and extra trusting relationships with supply drivers – which embrace grocery store and parcel supply drivers – with a 3rd (33%) saying they’d supply a supply driver a glass of water on a scorching day in contrast with 25 per cent who’d do the identical for a postman and 22 per cent for a tradesperson.
Nearly one in 10 (9%) would ask a tradesperson or supply driver (8%) for native service suggestions and 15% stated they’d chat to a supply driver about their household or every day life. That compares with 13% who’d have an analogous chat with their postie and 12 per cent who’d speak to a tradesperson about their residence life. Simply 4% stated they’d chat to a takeaway supply driver.
Mercedes-Benz Vans analysis discovered almost 1 / 4 (24%) would let a grocery store or supply driver into their residence to make use of their bathroom, in contrast with 20 per cent who’d enable a tradesperson to make use of their amenities. Lower than one in 5 (19%) would let the postie in and simply 7% would enable a takeaway driver to make use of their toilet.
In the meantime one in 10 (12%) stated they’d supply their supply driver a money tip at Christmas – the identical determine who would give their postman a Christmas tip. Simply seven per cent would give their takeaway driver a festive bonus dropping to 5 per cent for tradespeople or the milkman.
Regardless of the shift in relationships postmen and ladies had been the group most certainly to know their buyer’s names (21%) carefully adopted by supply drivers (19%) and tradespeople (15%). Simply 5% stated takeaway drivers would know them by title.
Sarah Palfreyman, Gross sales Director for Mercedes-Benz Vans within the UK stated: “Our Underneath the Bonnet report demonstrates the essential function van drivers play in our communities, fuelled by the rise in on-line purchasing and residential deliveries.
“We’re proud to maintain van drivers shifting with dependable transport, to allow them to proceed to hold out their more and more necessary work inside our communities.’”
