Bpost’s shift to evening deliveries raises staff concerns 

Bpost, traditionally a very early-morning postal service, is moving towards evening parcel deliveries. The shift is unsettling unions and employees.

With newspaper deliveries ending and letter volumes falling, Bpost is increasingly relying on parcels, which require later pick-ups and drop-offs. Online retailers now promise next-day delivery for orders placed before midnight, pushing parcels into the Bpost network later and forcing delivery rounds to start later too. The company is also expanding night deliveries to its Bbox parcel lockers.

New routes

Bpost’s familiar morning routes are being replaced by new models, De Standaard writes. The company is rolling out “bulk rounds”, delivering parcels directly from five major sorting centres (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège) straight to parcel lockers and pick-up points, bypassing local distribution offices. It aims to handle 40 per cent of out-of-home deliveries this way by the end of next year.

At the same time, Bpost is testing new forms of delivery rounds. In pilot projects in Beerse, Hoogstraten and Philippeville, staff work in two types of routes: high-density rounds with closely packed stops, and low-density rounds covering larger areas with fewer stops. In the low-density model, preparation work is done by specialised colleagues, meaning carriers can start later (currently at 9 a.m). For those used to starting before dawn, this is a major lifestyle shift.

Social worries

Unions warn the new schedules could disrupt family routines and increase costs, such as needing extra childcare or even a second car. Staff also report uneven workloads: some finish in five hours, others in nine, despite identical working hours.

Bpost acknowledges the concerns. Stijn Hennebel, national director of distribution logistics, says rapid market changes leave little time for long-term planning. Financial pressure is adding urgency: Bpost posted a loss in the third quarter and says it must adapt to remain competitive.

^{A bpost distribution centre © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR}