“We are all constantly afraid that we will never have enough money to survive,” he said. “It really is the most toxic industry.” Hourly charges are on average just over 60 14.60 per hour – around £ 2 per hour less or 12% lower, with prices in October and November during Black Friday and the pre-Christmas rush. Some drivers say wages fell in December and others in January or February, despite nationwide shortages of skilled workers. Drivers say they have been reduced by an average of £ 20 a day on average from the temporary “peak” interest rates introduced in October, although some say they have been asked to deliver up to 60 more parcels per shift. Organize campaign group Pavlina Draganova said that while wages were returning to pre-Christmas levels, for many they still represented a reduction in real terms. “We are in a completely different world now than we were last summer, and even if the salary is the same now [per hour] “As it was then, this is a reduction in wages in real terms in the face of rapid inflation and rising gasoline prices, which is likely to become more unbearable in the coming months.” “As delivery drivers we are exhausted, we have worked tirelessly through a pandemic just to get out the other side and get kicked in the teeth,” the report said. Drivers say pay rates fluctuate steadily – with one driver experiencing five different daily price changes since September, while others had two or three adjustments at the time. Uncertainty makes the budget difficult. Many drivers reported that while they had not seen a reduction in daily wages compared to pre-peak levels, they were taking one or two fewer shifts each week. Some said that shifts were rejected or offered in a very short time, making future planning difficult. Drivers earn just over λί 14 an hour on paper, but many say they work more than the hours they get paid. They say a “nine-hour delivery round” does not include waiting time for loading trucks or handling non-delivered packages at the end of the day. While some drivers said their driving time was only eight hours, most said they were likely to spend 10 hours on the road, including relapses and delays such as traffic jams and parking. Drivers also have to pay for expenses such as insurance, van rental and maintenance, as well as parking tickets, which are often an inevitable part of completing a job. They get extra for fuel, but say the price per mile does not always cover the real cost, especially from rising fuel prices. Several drivers said they received 21p per mile in fuel payments, but would need at least 25p per mile to cover their actual costs, as gasoline prices soared during the war in Ukraine. “As a free man I do not think I could survive on that money,” Tom told Norfolk. “They want you to be available seven days a week for them, but they give you no guarantee.” Sam *, another driver near Birmingham, said: “In 2020, when we were serious [pandemic] lockdown, I was getting £ 160 a day and after that it is less and less. It’s hard work and they follow [your progress on the route] on the computer so you can not have a single minute break. “ The drivers he represents have reported the same problems, with ever-changing pay rates and laps that last longer than expected. “Prices are usually calculated on a nine-hour basis [rounds] “But in our experience, most drivers will need several hours more to load and re-deliver items,” Robinson said. “With the costs and working hours, some drivers come far below the national minimum wage. “Because they are not classified as employees or employees, they have no right to be paid.” “We are committed to ensuring that people who work with independent delivery providers are fairly remunerated and treated with respect, and this is reflected in the positive feedback we receive from drivers on a daily basis,” the company said, adding that it used “sophisticated technology to design routes.” delivery to ensure that drivers do not receive and do not drive with too many packages “.
- Driver names have changed
