Delivery drivers face ‘intense pressure’ from low pay, tough targets and insecure contracts
A new Citizens Advice report has warned that self-employed parcel delivery drivers are facing tough targets, low pay and insecure contracts, with working conditions putting pressure on drivers to complete rounds at speed.
Self-employed delivery drivers are facing “intense pressure” from tough targets, low pay and insecure contracts, according to a new report.
Citizens Advice says employment and pay models across parts of the parcel industry can leave drivers under pressure to complete rounds quickly, with little flexibility when deliveries take longer than expected.
The charity said the system can encourage drivers to prioritise speed, while also making it harder to meet the needs of customers who require more time at the doorstep.
That includes disabled consumers, with Citizens Advice warning that drivers may struggle to meet new accessibility standards if spending extra time on a delivery means losing earnings.
The report also links working conditions to common delivery problems, including parcels being left on doorsteps.
Citizens Advice said improving the reliability of parcel deliveries will require more than changes to customer service, arguing that employment and pay models must also be addressed.
It called for closer consideration of how regulation and employment law interact across the delivery sector.
Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said: “CWU strongly welcomes this report and its finding that the employment conditions of the workforce in the parcel industry have a significant impact on the quality of service for consumers.
“The analysis confirms what the union has argued for many years, primarily that bogus self-employment in the sector has been hugely detrimental for workers in terms of pressure and stress.”
Royal Mail also backed calls for higher employment standards across the industry.
A spokesperson said: “We welcome Citizens Advice’s findings today, which clearly show a direct link between higher employment standards in the delivery sector and reliable service for customers.”
Royal Mail said 98% of its workforce are employed on permanent contracts, with benefits including holiday pay, sick pay and pension contributions.
The company said it supported calls for Ofcom and the Government to “level the playing field” by raising employment standards across the delivery sector.
The Citizens Advice report puts renewed focus on the conditions facing delivery drivers as parcel companies balance demanding schedules, customer expectations and the need to provide a reliable service.