Delivery & courier / Handover
Check a parcel handover
Spot a count difference before closing the round.
Delivery plan
Handover difference
Enter loaded.
How it works
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What it covers: Reconcile loaded, delivered and returned parcels.
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How to work out a parcel handover difference at the end of a round
At the end of a round, every parcel should be delivered or back at the depot, and returns picked up on the way need counting too. This checker compares parcels loaded and returns collected with what was delivered and what was counted back at the depot, and shows any difference.
- Enter the parcels loaded at the start of the round.
- Enter the parcels delivered, from your scans or delivery records.
- Enter the returns collected on route, meaning parcels picked up from customers during the round.
- Count everything handed back at the depot and enter it as parcels counted at depot. Failed deliveries returned to the depot go in this count.
- Read the handover difference. It shows Balanced when every parcel is accounted for, or how many parcels are missing or extra, with the expected and counted depot totals. Anything other than Balanced needs checking before the driver leaves.
Tips and common mistakes
- Count each parcel once. A failed delivery that came back belongs in the depot count, not in delivered.
- Check scans against physical parcels. A parcel marked delivered but still in the van is a common cause of differences.
- Do the count at handover with the driver present, so questions can be answered straight away.
- Record differences and their reasons. Patterns on one round can point to a process problem.
Questions
How do you reconcile parcels after a delivery round?
Add the parcels loaded and the returns collected on route, then take away the parcels delivered. The result should match the parcels counted back at the depot. As an illustration, 120 loaded plus 5 collected, less 110 delivered, means 15 should be at the depot.
Are failed deliveries counted as returns?
In this checker, failed deliveries brought back go in the depot count, not in returns collected on route. Returns collected on route are parcels picked up from customers during the round.
What causes missing parcels at the end of a round?
Common causes are parcels scanned as delivered by mistake, parcels left in the van, wrong addresses and counting errors. Recount, check the van and compare scans before treating a parcel as lost.
What should a driver do if the handover count does not match?
Recount together, check the vehicle and look at the scan history for the round. If the gap remains, record it and follow your depot's process for missing or extra parcels.
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