[Milsurplus] OT: UPS Ground Insanity

[Albert LaFrance]

Not a new problem in the shipping business, apparently:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHRGkGFwo7k

Albert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milsurplus-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Robert Nickels
> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:50 AM
> To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] OT: UPS Ground Insanity
> 
> On 11/30/2012 8:01 AM, Thekan, Paul wrote:
> > UPS had driven a forklift fork right into the front panel of the radio
> > and completely destroyed the radio
> I realize it's out of the spirit of the thread to say anything supportive
of UPS ;-
> )  but back in the 90s I was involved with some automation projects in a
> number of UPS buildings, "in the belly of the beast" so to speak, working
> closely with their engineering people who were very focused on moving
> packages efficiently, safely, and with a
> high degree of predictability.   This is why they invested in some of
> the best material handling equipment available, and installed nets under
the
> elevated conveyors in the rare event something falls or gets pushed
> overboard.  It would be impossible for UPS to stay in business if the
damage
> rates reported on some radio-related lists were true across the board.
> Incidentally, UPS is the 4th largest employer in the US.
> 
> I learned that the greatest probability for damage was with  "heavy"
> packages (over 70 pounds, which used to be the weight limit). Normal
> packages and "smalls" are handled on high speed steel belt conveyors and
> are virtually never touched by human hands, but this less the case for
heavy
> items (like R-390As), so an unfortunate occurrance like the one
> Paul describes is credible, but hopefully rare.   When talking with
> their engineering guys, they were naturally reluctant to say anything bad
> about the company, but  did admit that many damage claims are traced to
> something that happened once the package is loaded onto your friendly
> brown local delivery truck (aka "package car"  in UPS terminology).
> This is because unpredictability skyrockets in proportion to the human
> element, including everything from drivers mishanding packages to packages
> shifting, traffic accidents, sudden stops, etc.
> 
> 73, Bob W9RAN
> 
> PS: a lesser-known fact - 40% of UPS freight goes by rail.  If your
package has
> to travel more than 500 miles, chances are good it's ridden on a train.
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