The odyssey of being a delivery driver in Palma

Raúl Beltrán. Palma. Photos: Pep Caparrós.

Article 45 of Palma’s municipal traffic ordinance states that “in no case and under no circumstances may vehicles carrying out loading and unloading operations do so in places where stopping is prohibited and/or in double parked”. This is no easy task for those who deliver goods in a city increasingly saturated with vehicles. “The loading and unloading areas are almost always occupied by vehicles that are not authorised to park there, often by parents taking their children to school”, laments Bernardo Mas, who faces the arduous task of being a delivery driver in Palma. Moreover, he continues, “as these reserved parking spaces are usually in front of a bar, drivers leave their cars and watch the vehicle while they drink their coffee. That way, if they see the police coming, they take it away. But while the coffee is being drunk, we delivery drivers have to leave our vehicles in the middle of the street, on the pavement… They don’t say anything to these badly parked vehicles, but they do give us a hard time,” he laments.

Antonio Gordillo.

The coveted loading and unloading

The occupation of loading and unloading bays by ordinary vehicles is the most common problem reported by delivery drivers. Pedro Antonio Ramis, who distributes drinks, agrees. “They are usually occupied, so you double park and when the policeman on duty comes to reprimand you, you tell him: fine the cars first and then talk to me”. Ramis believes that some officers “have more empathy” with this situation, while others “get up in a bad mood. Palma centre is too complicated. I’ve dealt a lot in Santa Ponça and Palmanova and the officers are more empathetic”.

He explains this from Blanquerna street, which is pedestrianised and has restricted opening hours. “Here you can deliver until 10:00, but many clients open later and they all demand
that you serve at the same time. I have three deliveries at 12:00 but… how do I get in here at that time? They should allow more opening hours to do our work,” he complains.

“We argue all day long”

Same area where Francisco Casado, a food delivery driver, finds himself. “There is a lot of traffic and people drive very badly. Many of them have their phones in their hands and, at traffic lights, I always have to beep because people take advantage of the stoppage to use their mobile phones and when it turns green they don’t move on”, he says. Casado believes that delivery drivers should have more licence points. “We are behind the wheel all day; if you get a fine, you have to pay it, and if they take away your licence…”. On the use of loading and unloading, he says: “We argue all day long, they are always busy”.

So are there enough of them? Antonio Gordillo, an ice-cream delivery driver, is ironic: “If everyone respected them, yes, but as people don’t, we always have that little problem of stress in Palma, where you don’t know where to park. Otherwise, if you like the job, there’s no problem”, he concludes.