Geopost has used its fifth Delivery Excellence Challenge to highlight the skills required in modern delivery jobs. The event, held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 September, brought together 32 professionals from 24 business units across the group’s international network.
Participants were assessed in situations that reflect everyday work, including vehicle checks, precision driving, route management, emergency response and customer experience. The programme shows that delivery roles require more than the ability to drive: workers must prepare equipment, make decisions under pressure, manage changing routes and communicate with customers.
Training and workplace safety
Health and safety were central to the event. Competitors completed physical warm-ups and pre-departure vehicle inspections before starting the driving exercises. They also had to demonstrate how they would respond to unexpected situations and carry out precise manoeuvres safely.
Geopost says the challenge, which began in 2022, supports the sharing of good practice between delivery teams in different countries. For workers, that creates an opportunity to compare methods and demonstrate the practical expertise built through training and experience.
The competition also included electric vehicles in all pickup and delivery tasks, with an electric truck appearing for the first time in 2026. Drivers were assessed on smooth acceleration, braking and anticipation of road conditions. These skills can contribute to safer driving and lower energy use, while giving employees experience with vehicles that are becoming more important in delivery operations.
Phil Coulter from DPD Ireland won the Pickup and Delivery category, and Mathias Klingebiel from DPD Germany won Long-distance Transport. Both received Sustainability Special Awards. Marek Janák and Marek Škorvánek from DPD Slovakia received Safety Special Awards. Geopost employs 55,000 people in more than 50 countries.