A pay dispute between DPD and a group of its self-employed delivery drivers has been resolved following talks between company managers and driver representatives, the parcel firm has confirmed. The disagreement centred on changes to payment rates for smaller parcel deliveries, which prompted some drivers to temporarily stop work earlier in the week.

It had been feared that the dispute could lead to several days of disruption, after drivers operating under DPD’s franchise model planned to strike for three consecutive days. However, the situation was quickly defused when discussions between the company and affected drivers resulted in an agreement after just one day of industrial action.

In a statement, DPD said only a “small minority” of drivers had chosen not to work on Tuesday in response to rate adjustments designed to reflect shifts in the company’s parcel traffic profile. The firm added that “the vast majority were working as normal” and confirmed that those who had taken part in the protest returned to work on Wednesday.

DPD did not confirm whether the deal reached was a permanent solution or a temporary measure before further changes in January. However, the company’s swift response appears to have averted wider disruption across its national delivery network.