My delivery sevices

[Andara Bledin]

It still doesn't cost anything to do that.

Now, however, they'll allow the recipient to do so, while the package is en route. Other than having them held at the distribution center, I'm fairly certain none of the other services were available except to the shipper, and then only for a fee.

As for the route and timing: And then what happens when you have a sub who shows up 2 hours later? And even if the route is the same, the timing won't be. If there are more deliveries in one area than normal, that will push the entire schedule back.

Did they used to offer email and text messages announcing upcoming delivery or guaranteed 2-hour windows? Because I'm fairly certain they didn't.

[crashhelmet]

It still doesn't cost anything to do that.

UPS MY Choice

$40 a year or $5 for an individual adjustment.

Now, however, they'll allow the recipient to do so, while the package is en route. Other than having them held at the distribution center, I'm fairly certain none of the other services were available except to the shipper, and then only for a fee.

The recipient always could. They'd simply call into customer service (1800PICKUPS), provide their tracking number, and make whatever changes needed to be made. If the package was already out for delivery, an update would be sent out to the driver's DIAD (the brown tablet they carry). Naturally, an exception would be if the different address was a good distance away and required more than minor shipping. Like, say, shipping it to an address on the opposite side of town. In that instance, they'd present the offer to have it picked up at the hub or at a UPS store.

As for the route and timing: And then what happens when you have a sub who shows up 2 hours later? And even if the route is the same, the timing won't be. If there are more deliveries in one area than normal, that will push the entire schedule back.

Naturally, timing can be off due to traffic or large delivery/pick ups at one or more locations. Hopefully you're not thinking I was saying if they're at your house at 11am one day, they'll lose their jobs if they're there at 11:01am the next. They're set to be at certain checkpoints at certain times. Again, not exact, to the minute, as they can't control the world around them. UPS has been at the mercy of the Teamster's Union for far too long to let extra time and pay go. The scrutinize time tables in such ways that rival severe cases of OCD. Routes are planned. They know exactly how long it takes to get from one place to another. They know exactly how long an engine should be shut off for.

Their vehicles, as well as their DIADs, have GPSs in them and they are monitored and evaluated at their local Hub.

If a driver calls out, a backup driver (typically someone making the transition from loader to driver) will drive that vehicle on that route that day. A supervisor will ride with them to ensure everything is set. If the vehicle breaks down, it's replaced. If they can't, for some reason, provide a replacement driver or vehicle, they will reload the packages on to other vehicles that overlap that route.

Did they used to offer email and text messages announcing upcoming delivery or guaranteed 2-hour windows? Because I'm fairly certain they didn't.

They have been offering this for a while now, but I don't know exactly how long. When you punch in your tracking number on their web site, you could elect for text and email alerts. FedEx offers it too.

[Nekojin]

I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of rerouting options that UPS simply will not do on the recipient's say-so - many such adjustments require the shipper's authorization. Delivering it to a different address in the same zip code is a trivial change. Delivering it to a different city is (or was, last time I checked) something that only the shipper could authorize.

Edit: As far as the idea of a UPS supervisor riding along with a substitute driver, I can say that for the most part, that just doesn't happen. Whenever our regular driver is out, either for a scheduled vacation or calling out sick, our evening pick-up is ALWAYS much later, and the dude who drives is always alone. The ONLY time I've seen a supervisor ride-along was when they adjusted his route, and that's happened once. Maybe that's the ideal, but they don't meet that ideal.

[crashhelmet]

I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of rerouting options that UPS simply will not do on the recipient's say-so - many such adjustments require the shipper's authorization. Delivering it to a different address in the same zip code is a trivial change. Delivering it to a different city is (or was, last time I checked) something that only the shipper could authorize.

That's why I said:

Naturally, an exception would be if the different address was a good distance away and required more than minor shipping. Like, say, shipping it to an address on the opposite side of town. In that instance, they'd present the offer to have it picked up at the hub or at a UPS store.

Edit: As far as the idea of a UPS supervisor riding along with a substitute driver, I can say that for the most part, that just doesn't happen. Whenever our regular driver is out, either for a scheduled vacation or calling out sick, our evening pick-up is ALWAYS much later, and the dude who drives is always alone. The ONLY time I've seen a supervisor ride-along was when they adjusted his route, and that's happened once. Maybe that's the ideal, but they don't meet that ideal.

I apologize for not being clear. The supervisor ride along would be with a a new driver. Someone that's still a full time package loader, about to convert to a full time driver. Someone that's already a full time driver would go alone, unless it happened to coincide with their scheduled review.

[siead_lietrathua]

wow, today, for once i DIDNT have a problem with DHL. new driver, he seems actually nice!
granted, i still almost missed him. that's what i get for going to the barns.
i wanna add something to this topic. why, oh why, can't companies let me know they've shipped something!!! i order a lot of hobby stuff from china, and they often are like "ok, we'll let you know when we ship it and give you the tracking", and then it shows up before i even know it was sent, while i'm thinking it's stuck in a warehouse or not even made yet (for the custom stuff). i'm not complaining i get stuff quick, but if i don't know it's shipped/ have a tracking number, if it gets lost i'm kinda fucked.