Delivery drivers, specifically motorcyclists, are a necessary part of our lives in South Africa. However they’ve recently been gaining more attention because of the nature of the job and their relationship to the company that they represent. It was for this reason that Shoprite chairperson Wendy Lucas-Bull presented a summary of the working conditions that these riders are exposed to. She told us that there were approximately 7000 riders that delivered for Checkers Sixty60. They apparently earn way above the minimum wage but tend to attract legal foreign nationals to do the job. With 23% being South Africans. To quote Lucas-Bull
“We are bringing in South Africans into that training course, 80% drop out before the 10 weeks (of training) is finished, and then after two years, we’ve only retained 8%.”
“Why? Obviously, we are doing exit interviews … but the main thing we are getting back is that South Africans don’t view that job as one that they want to do, and that is the challenge for us,” she said, adding:
It is a well-paid job, but it is a high-risk job because you are on the South African roads all the time. The bottom line is that South Africans are not favouring that job even when it comes to bringing in unemployed individuals and giving them the training. They still drop out.
Each rider goes through a 10 week course. That’s a good idea. Sixty60 does need to make sure that the people delivering for them are capable at the outset. If HelloPeter is anything to go by the drivers are not taught to be responsible on the roads. This seems to be a common complaint on HelloPeter.
We think there are two problems that Shoprite faces when it comes to their biker delivery people. The first one is the ongoing training that is required to reinforce the values. Each rider is a brand ambassador. Everything they do has an impact on the brand.
The second one, and we believe that this may alleviate the issue when it comes to attracting South African riders, is a career path. If you are a delivery rider then you are a delivery rider. The more astute business-orientated people will set up a business that buys motorcycles and hires more riders. These are in the minority.
We’ve been working on this issue and have launched a Public Transport Online Programme that covers the necessary soft skills and a few technical skills that riders need to be aware of. It’s a dynamic course with new and modified modules added regularly. The benefit to an organisation like Shoprite is that they can see which of their riders are taking this career seriously. They’ve warmed to the idea that riders who complete modules get certain incentives in the form of vouchers.
What Shoprite needs is a further series of modules that cover basic management skills. And deals with things like applying for jobs etc.
If South Africans know that there’s a possibility that they excel at their rider apprenticeship and complete the online courses with a pass mark then they could be permanently employed. No one gets anything for free but a commitment by the rider to complete the course and quizzes is an indication that Shoprite may have a valuable employee down the line.
We have all of these courses in our Delivery Driver Training Course. Simple 15 minute courses that become an internship over a 12 month period.
For more information contact us