DPD – Live Tracking, Track and Trace Service
DPD operates an online tool for tracing and tracking parcels. A parcel number is needed to track a parcel. This number can only be obtained from the original sender or from a calling card left by a DPD delivery driver.
DPD’s Predict service gives customers a one-hour delivery window for their parcel by SMS and email. This allows customers to know exactly when to expect a parcel rather than wait all day. It also gives customers options for rescheduling delivery on the night before and on the day of delivery. Similarly, DPD’s innovative Follow My Parcel service allows parcel recipients to watch the progress of their delivery using a real-time map. SMS and email notifications including tracking numbers and feature the sender’s branding. The notifications also include the name of the DPD driver that will be making the delivery and the position the parcel is in the delivery queue.
Using the tracking details provided with the Predict it service, recipients can select an alternative delivery date or opt for delivery to a neighbour. Recipients can also nominate a specific location for the driver to safely leave a parcel. They can also select to collect the parcel from a DPD depot or choose to upgrade delivery, including before 10 or noon and on a Saturday.
When an item is damaged or a recipient wishes to return the parcel, the recipient must contact the original sender. Discussions about a replacement and arranging for returns can only be made with the sender.
DPD – Company History & Information
DPD – Company © image by DPD
In 2001, DPD merged with GeoPost with the goal of improving stability and growth. A subsidiary of France’s mail service, GeoPost is the parent company for all of La Post Group’s parcel and express services including Chronopost International and Exapag in France and DPD, Seur GeoPost and Yurtiçi Kargo internationally. La Poste itself operates postal services in France, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Monaco and Andorra.
DPD’s UK operation traces its roots to Courier Express, a parcel delivery service that was founded in 1970. In 1984, Courier Express changed its name to Parceline when it was purchased by Mayne Nickless Limited, a multi-sector Australian company that began as a delivery service in 1886. In 2000, Parceline was acquired by La Poste, France’s mail service. Parceline adopted the DPD name in 2008.
At the core of DPD’s business is domestic and international parcel and express services. The company specialises in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) services. It also provides businesses with bespoke delivery and transport services. DPD specialises in providing parcel delivery services for companies in the entertainment, e-commerce, publishing, retail, stationery and telecommunications sectors.
DPD handles approximately two million parcels every day across its international network. The company operates more than 500 depots in over 40 countries and serves more than 200,000 business customers. Major DPD clients include Adidas, Esprit, EMI, Intersport, MGL Metro, Würth and Yamaha. DPD operates a global fleet of approximately 15,000 vehicles and employs more than 22,000 people worldwide.
In the United Kingdom, DPD employs nearly 8,000 people and operates more than 3,500 vehicles. DPD’s UK operation serves some 6,500 business customers from more than 50 locations. Among the company’s major facilities in the UK include a 27-acre Superhub at Oldbury in the West Midlands, which opened in 2008. A second Superhub is located in Smethwick, also in the Birmingham area. A third facility is being built in Hinckley and will be completed in 2015. The Hinkley facility will be the largest of its kind in Europe. DPD also operates a National Customer Service Centre with over 200 advisors.
DPD Services
DPD Services © DPD
DPD provides domestic and international time-definite services in the UK. Main UK delivery options include DPD 10:00, DPD 12:00, DPD Next Day and DPD Two Day. There are also a range of delivery options for Europe and the rest of the world. The cost of delivery typically depends on the destination, parcel dimensions and service.
Domestic ServicesGenerally, items are categorised as standard parcels if they weight between one and 30 kilograms. Freight parcels weight between 31 and 90 kilograms per item, while freight pallets are between 100 and 999 kilograms per pallet. Different delivery rates apply in England and Wales and Offshore destinations, including Northern Ireland. Maximum parcel dimensions for offshore deliveries are 120 (length) by 60 (width) by 80 centimetres (height) and a weight of no more than 31 kilograms.
DPD 10:00 guarantees delivery of parcels by 10 a.m. on the next business day. Within England and Wales, delivery with DPD’s expresspak for parcels weighting up to five kilograms is £27.05 per parcel as of 2014. Rates for standard parcels start at £35.00 per consignment for the first five kilograms plus £0.85 per additional kilogram. The rate for freight parcels is £50.15 per consignment for the first five kilograms and £0.85 per additional kilogram, while the rate for freight pallets is £152.65 per pallet for the first 250 kilograms and £0.15 per additional kilogram. DPD 10:00 is not offered for Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Isles of Scilly.
DPD 12:00 guarantees delivery by noon on the next business day to most addresses in the UK. Rates start at £19.40 per expresspak parcel, £24.50 per consignment for standard parcels (plus £0.75 per extra kilogram), £41.40 per consignment for freight parcels (plus £0.75 per extra kilogram), and £135.80 per pallet for freight pallets (plus £0.15 per extra kilogram). DPD 12:00 is also available for offshore deliveries to and from Belfast and St. Heller in the Channel Islands. DPD 12:00 is not available to other destinations in Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, as well as the the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Man.
DPD Next Day provides delivery within most destinations in the UK before the close of business on the following working day. Rates for DPD Next Day start at £17.00 per parcel when using an expresspak, £19.75 per consignment for standard parcels (plus £0.65 per extra kilogram), £27.65 per consignment for freight parcels (plus £0.60 per extra kilogram), and £96.90 per pallet for freight pallets (plus £0.10 per extra kilogram). DPD Next Day is also available to Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, although it is not available to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the Isle of Man and the Isles of Scilly.
DPD Two Day is designed for non-urgent parcel delivery within the UK. For DPD Two Day service, rates start at £15.40 per consignment for standard parcels (plus £0.45 per extra kilogram), £25.15 per consignment for freight parcels (plus £0.45 per extra kilogram), and £83.05 per pallet for freight pallets (plus £0.10 per extra kilogram). DPD Two Day is also available to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and the Isles of Scilly.
DPD also offers Saturday Service and Sunday Service for weekend deliveries. Saturday Service ensures delivery by 10 a.m., by noon or next day delivery on Saturdays. A Saturday surcharge applies for all deliveries, including £18.00 for expresspak, standard parcel and freight parcel deliveries, and £41.85 per pallet for freight pallets. An industry first, the company’s Sunday Service was launched in 2014 and operates between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays.
A surcharge is applied to all deliveries in Scotland. As of 2014, the surcharge was £1.00 per standard parcel and £3.15 per pallet on rates for England and Wales. Rates for offshore destinations are also higher than prices for England and Wales.
International Services
DPD Classic is designed for scheduled delivery within the UK. Delivery is within two to eight days depending on the destination. For example, delivery of parcels from the UK to Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Netherlands is within two days. DPD Classic is for parcels measuring up to 175 centimetres in length and 300 centimetres in width, and weighting up to 31.5 kilograms. Individual parcel tracking and proof of delivery is offered thanks to an independently monitored and secure closed transit system. Rates depend on the weight and destination, with prices starting at £25.70 per consignment for the first five kilograms and £1.50 for each additional kilogram.
Heavyweight items may also be sent within the UK using DPD Classic. Additional charges apply on heavyweight items in excess of 31.5 kilograms, although there is a maximum weight threshold of 300 kilograms and a maximum length of 175 centimetres. Delivery of heavyweight items range from three to eight days depending on the destination.
DPD Express is available for door-to-door deliveries to more than 200 countries. Prices for sending documents and parcels depend on the destination and weight of the item, with the rates for documents starting at £40.30 and for parcels starting at £46.40 send to non-EU destinations. Within the European Union, rates for documents and parcels start at £37.10. Shipping times range from two to five business days for EU destinations and two to nine days for international destinations. Transit times outside of major cities could be longer. DPD Express is typically available for items weighting up to 31.5 kilograms.
Designed especially for online retailers, DPD Direct provides international home deliveries. The service is available for shipments between the UK and 23 countries in Europe and around the world, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Spain, Saudi Arabia and the United States. With DPD Direct, DPD uses local delivery companies for ‘last mile’ delivery. Delivery time ranges from three to eight days, based on the destination. DPD Direct provides online retailers with the ability to track deliveries and offers fast customers clearance, separate invoicing for any applicable duties and returns for unwanted or undeliverable items.
DPD also offers international mail services. Delivered with national postal authorities and other suppliers, DPD’s international mail service is designed for businesses that send over two kilograms of international mail every day. Ideal for bulk mailing, DPD offers priority service for delivery within three to seven days in Europe and six to ten days for the rest of the world. Standard mail is also available for delivery within seven to 14 days in Europe and 14 to 21 days for other destinations.You can download the PDP info guide for further information.
Other Services
DPD offers a variety of additional services within the UK. Swap it is a quick one-for-one exchange service when making repairs or undertaking maintenance work. It allows clients to receive replacement components at the same time as they return old equipment. This option is available with DPD 10:00, DPD 12:00 and DPD Next Day delivery options.
Reserve it is designed for quick returns, especially for businesses that move goods regularly between stores and other facilities. Companies can recall and relocate stock while tracking movements online. The service also provides pre-supplied labels for returns and automatic collections without the need to call or book online.
Other services include contractpak is available for documents that requires signatures. The exchange service delivers the documents, obtains the required signatures and then returns it to the sender. DPD also provides desk to desk services for direct deliveries and logistics solutions for fully integrated warehousing and distribution services.
To find services within a specific area, use DPD’s online service lookup tool.
DPD Calling Card
DPD Calling Card – Copyrights by DPD
If a parcel cannot be delivered, DPD will leave a calling card with a tracking or calling card number. The document will include information on how the item can be collected from a DPD depot. Parcel recipients will not be able arrange to pick up a parcel from a depot if the item is still in transit or out for delivery. Recipients can also choose to upgrade delivery to before 10, before 12, afternoon or Saturday delivery.
The card will also have information on how to change delivery details, including ways to re-book delivery. Delivery can be rearranged by the recipient, choosing to re-book the collection by calling DPD or selecting a new time online at www.dpd.co.uk. Alternatively, DPD will contact the sender and inform them that the delivery was not made. The sender will then contact the recipient directly to arrange a new time for delivery or collection.
An alternative to the Calling card is the Collection Card. DPD is offering a pickup service for parcels. In case of shipment of heavy or big quantity of parcels, it comes in very handy to have them collected by the DPD driver. You will require the Collecting Card in this case. You receive the card, if a driver has visited you and you were not present. The collection can be then re-arranged and a proper pickup can be assured.
Recipients can also arrange to have parcels left in a safe location or delivered to a neighbour when they receive a calling card. This change can be made by calling DPD or online. If delivery to a neighbour is selected, the items can only be left at an address within the same post code as the original recipient. In order to deliver to an address outside of the post code, DPD needs authorisation from the parcel’s sender. As a result, recipients must contact the original sender to make this change.
Samples of DPD calling cards are available online at DPD’s website.
DPD Depot Finder
DPD provides a convenient online tool for locating nearby depots. Only a post code is needed to search for a DPD depot. In addition to the address of the nearest DPD depot, information on opening hours and directions to the depot are also provided. To find a local DPD depot, visit http://www.dpd.co.uk/apps/depotfinder/.
MyDPD
MyDPD is a free, online service for registered account holders. In order to register with MyDPD, a business must have a DPD account number. The online system is designed to streamline the shipping process for businesses of all sizes. It allows customers to create shipments, print labels, arrange collections and track parcels. MyDPD also brings together essential shipping information into one portal, including address books and personal shipping preferences.
DPD Owner Driver Franchise
DPD Driver with parcel © DPD
DPD offers opportunities for owner driver franchises using 3.5 tonne vans and 7.5 tonne vehicles. Owner drivers franchise work with a local DPD depot. Franchisees have access to DPD’s technology and customer service support. Franchise agreements range from 12 to 60 months and contracts include vehicle leasing, automated four-week billing and approximately £28,000. In order to apply, drivers must have a current driving license, be over 21 years of age, have a current UK bank account, and have at least one year’s experience as a courier or making multi-drop deliveries.
Please visit the DPD owner driver franchise to apply.
DPD Mobile App
As of July 2014, DPD UK does not have an app for Apple or Android devices. Certain DPD national operations, including Germany, do have offer customers an app. The free tool allows users to track shipments and find a depot or DPD ParcelShop. Users can also arrange a new delivery date, select a different delivery address and request collection at a DPD ParcelShop. It is to expect, that DPD will launch an App for UK in near future.
DPD Jobs and Careers
There is a range of employment opportunities with DPD. Key roles with the company include account managers, drivers and customer service advisors. DPD’s Career Start Programme provides new drivers with comprehensive induction training. The company also provides accredited management training, e-learning opportunities, and other education support and in-house training.
Benefits with working with DPD include a stakeholder pension, annual holidays starting at 22 days plus bank holidays and service days, sick pay following a qualifying period, and training and development. DPD also provides free parking and a Cycle2Work scheme, as well as an incentive programme for management. Employees are also able to choose benefits solutions that meet their needs, including using their salary to buy and pay for childcare vouchers, life assurance, charity donations, dental insurance, health care plan, travel insurance and partner life assurance. Employees also have access to discounted shopping with thousands of local and national retailers.
For more information about jobs and career opportunities with DPD, visit the DPD career website.
DPD Contact Information
DPD’s UK head office is located in Oldbury, north-west of Birmingham. The head office is located at Hub 3, Broadwell Road, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 4DA.
- To write to DPD UK, write to DPD, PO Box 6979, Roebuck Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands, B66 1BN.
- Customer service enquires can also be made using DPD’s online email form.
