Express delivery sortation hub operative

This occupation is found in the logistics sector and provides the centralised support that enables the rapid distribution of goods in transit to and from couriers and postal services.

Employers in this sector provide the vital link between those sending and receiving a very wide range of letters, parcels, packets and other packages. Organisations are found in the private sector.

A few sortation hubs have direct rail links but the majority rely on the national road network for distribution. The work is always highly organised and often uses the latest technological solutions, as sortation hubs can process millions of items each day. Sortation hub operatives often work for employers that have national coverage, though some are smaller and more specialist and could focus on certain types of goods.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to contribute to the successful processing of items within the expected timeframe. Sortation hub operatives receive, assess, and sort goods by destination. These goods are then collected for “final mile” delivery. Goods are typically small enough for manual handling, and could be almost anything, from online shopping orders intended for home delivery through to business-to-business sales. Sortation hub operatives are vital therefore in ensuring the smooth running of these complex, often automated operations.

Sortation hub operatives do not store or deliver goods themselves. Instead, they provide an express service, turning around the distribution of these goods to couriers/postal services and other road transport operators at great speed, often within a few hours of receipt.

Sortation hub operatives can expect to work indoors and at a fixed site. They usually work shifts, which quite commonly includes some unsociable hours.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other sortation hub operatives within their own team, together with the supervisor or manager who they report to. They may need to contact a specialist team following a major problem, for instance with their IT systems or mechanical equipment. Sortation hub operatives may also be expected to liaise on occasion with the organisation who is either sending, delivering or collecting items, including retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, courier companies, and postal companies.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for completing their own work to specification, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet set deadlines. Sortation hub operatives are responsible for maintaining their own workspace, and responsible for operating highly technical, specialist equipment. Depending on the type of employer this could involve loading/unloading goods using booms (that reach for parcels in trucks) or cages, operating multi-level belt sorters, automated chutes, and using sophisticated IT systems.

They are responsible for meeting quality requirements and working compliantly to their own organisations procedures. They must also work in accordance with health and safety considerations. They will typically maintain and clean machinery and fix minor jams. They will respond to incidents and emergencies, such as damage to parcels, but will escalate more significant issues that are beyond their own responsibility. Sortation hub operatives tend to work in teams where everyone has a specialist task and all work together in order to complete their shared goals.