Concerns regarding how grocery delivery retailers vet their drivers

Daniel Puchert

Daniel Puchert

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Delivery bike chaos in South Africa

On-demand grocery retailers Spar 2U, Checkers Sixty60, and Pick n Pay asap! have been quiet about vetting their delivery drivers.

MyBroadband asked the three services how they vet their delivery drivers, following comments from Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa founder Hein Jonker earlier this month.
 
Daniel Puchert said:
Delivery bike chaos in South Africa

On-demand grocery retailers Spar 2U, Checkers Sixty60, and Pick n Pay asap! have been quiet about vetting their delivery drivers.

MyBroadband asked the three services how they vet their delivery drivers, following comments from Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa founder Hein Jonker earlier this month.
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Who's concerned?
 
DapperDanMan said:

Delivery bikes create havoc on South African roads

Delivery bikes wreak havoc on South African roads Some fast food and grocery delivery drivers in South Africa could be unlicensed, and the pressure of the job can lead them to take chances on the roads, endangering their lives and the lives of others. Speaking to 702, Motorcycle Safety...
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
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So the guy who wrote that article is concerned?

What havoc? Where?

"...could be unlicensed"
"...can lead them to take chances..."

The usual coulda, woulda, shoulda MyBB "journalism".
 
TheMightyQuin said:
So the guy who wrote that article is concerned?

What havoc? Where?

"...could be unlicensed"
"...can lead them to take chances..."

The usual coulda, woulda, shoulda MyBB "journalism".
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Real story is why I have the odd Checkers Sixty or Dischem bikes delivering my Uber eats orders... Seems entrepreneurial...
 
According to Jonker, one way to address these concerns is for law enforcement to collaborate and set up more roadblocks to check riders’ licences.
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My food will be cold. :mad:
 
quovadis said:
Real story is why I have the odd Checkers Sixty or Dischem bikes delivering my Uber eats orders... Seems entrepreneurial...
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I had a similar scenario and asked the driver about it. He said he basically worked for Checkers until the store closed and then he would switch over to Uber eats and Mr D. I guess they do what they have to to stay busy and to make ends meet.
 
karnuffel said:
I had a similar scenario and asked the driver about it. He said he basically worked for Checkers until the store closed and then he would switch over to Uber eats and Mr D. I guess they do what they have to to stay busy and to make ends meet.
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Not sure who owns the bikes etc but these guys are earning peanuts for the most part. I've seen some consolidation of orders happening too though.
 
quovadis said:
Not sure who owns the bikes etc but these guys are earning peanuts for the most part. I've seen some consolidation of orders happening too though.
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If its more effective and they can squeeze a few more ZARs out then Im all for it. I cant help but wonder who maintains these bikes though.

I worked on a project for a company that had an owner driver initiative that allowed people to own the truck they were driving. They were really strict did checks whenever the truck entered the yard and had more in depth spot checks. Nothing would be loaded if the truck was not up to standard. If only Checkers could follow a similar approach.
 
I don't think the vetting part will resolve the safety issue of the driver especially were it concerns road rules and regulations this is because for as long as these guys have to complete deliveries within a certain amount of time, they will always be reckless in order to achieve targets. Do you think 60Sixty would be less than an hour if those guys drive like saints?
 
karnuffel said:
If its more effective and they can squeeze a few more ZARs out then Im all for it. I cant help but wonder who maintains these bikes though.

I worked on a project for a company that had an owner driver initiative that allowed people to own the truck they were driving. They were really strict did checks whenever the truck entered the yard and had more in depth spot checks. Nothing would be loaded if the truck was not up to standard. If only Checkers could follow a similar approach.
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I'd have thought that the branded bikes are owned by them. Uber Eats and MrD is probably randoms. I'd even think most owners of these bikes outsource them to whoever. I've also had plenty of Uber Eats cars that end up being bikes etc too so obviously there's more to this.
 
Stinkbeaver said:
I don't think the vetting part will resolve the safety issue of the driver especially were it concerns road rules and regulations this is because for as long as these guys have to complete deliveries within a certain amount of time, they will always be reckless in order to achieve targets. Do you think 60Sixty would be less than an hour if those guys drive like saints?
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I'd guess until they're held to account by some unfortunate event nothing will change.
 
Stinkbeaver said:
I don't think the vetting part will resolve the safety issue of the driver especially were it concerns road rules and regulations this is because for as long as these guys have to complete deliveries within a certain amount of time, they will always be reckless in order to achieve targets. Do you think 60Sixty would be less than an hour if those guys drive like saints?
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Yeah I hear you, but how much time can you really save by driving like a Muppet. Also, ending up with your head on the tar tends to delay things a bit...
 
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