anyone has to ship with Fedex and UPS on a daily basis at work?

[andylawcc]

A year ago we ship mainly with UPS for all parcels, and Fedex for Documents. We basically put all the packages out in one area and let the drivers come and pick them up each day. No problem what so ever.

Now, we included Fedex Ground into the mix (for those who don't know, Fedex Express and Fedex Ground (and Home Delivery) are two different operations, they have different drivers) and things has gone hay-wire. The UPS guy has been pretty good, but the Fedex Express guy has been screwing up quite a bit. He picks up the Documents (which are in its trademark fedex envelopes) but kept forgetting the Parcels. I am guessing he assume the boxes are Fedex GROUND shipment and just leave them behind. We gave him a few friendly headsup, but the problem persists.

Now, instead of complaining at Fedex (since it proved to be futile), I want to know is there anything we could do on our part to make life simpler for both parties.
Does your company experience the same problem? If so, how do you solve it?


[edit]: problem semi-solved

 

[iamwiz82]

Fedex Ground (and Home) is seperate pickup from Fedex Express. This is normal. We seperate them on unique pallets. No problems, that way.

 

[isekii]

Yep Fedex Ground picks up seperately from Fedex Express packages.
Atleast they do this at my place of work.

UPS they just pick up everything all at once.

 

[alkemyst]

I'd talk to the drivers.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Didn't he say he tried that?

I would just have different locations fior each--whether it is a shelf, pallet, or whatever.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Fedex Ground (and Home) is seperate pickup from Fedex Express. This is normal. We seperate them on unique pallets. No problems, that way.

Fedex Ground was formed by acquired companies, thus making it a separate subsidiary of Fedex.

Home delivery is a separate delivery for residential within the Ground Network.


edit: There are separate pickup procedures, and minimum requirements for Ground. I suggest you should check out at Fedex.com

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Fedex Ground (and Home) is seperate pickup from Fedex Express. This is normal. We seperate them on unique pallets. No problems, that way.

well, we don't have enough space to have a pallet specified for each courier. we only get like ONE pallet space.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Fedex Ground (and Home) is seperate pickup from Fedex Express. This is normal. We seperate them on unique pallets. No problems, that way.

well, we don't have enough space to have a pallet specified for each courier. we only get like ONE pallet space.

You are SOL?

Fedex Express = Air
Fedex Ground = Truck

Even for Fedex Express, they have their own trucking(labeled Fedex Express). Nothing goes together. Except for drop off centers and some delivery warehouses.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Originally posted by: altonb1

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Didn't he say he tried that?

actually (i didn't mention this part in OP), we talked to them, and a few week later a new guy shows up. I guess this is a shitty job, the turnover rate is quite high (especially for Fedex Express) The Fedex Ground guy and UPS has pretty much been the same dude for the pass 3 years.

 

[techgamer]

We used UPS for a number of years but switched to Fedex when UPS started losing our packages. Fedex isnt a whole lot better, but we have sensitive materials so we always have an employee watching when a driver comes to pickup the packages. I guess that also ensures that he takes everything. We also have a fedex account rep that is specific to our company (we do a lot of business for them) so if we ever have problems they hear about it and eventually do something about it. Dont know if that would be something you could do. But at least have an employee be around when the drivers come by if its during business hours.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Fedex Ground (and Home) is seperate pickup from Fedex Express. This is normal. We seperate them on unique pallets. No problems, that way.

well, we don't have enough space to have a pallet specified for each courier. we only get like ONE pallet space.

What about separate sections in that space clearly labeled?

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Fedex Ground (and Home) is seperate pickup from Fedex Express. This is normal. We seperate them on unique pallets. No problems, that way.

well, we don't have enough space to have a pallet specified for each courier. we only get like ONE pallet space.

You are SOL?

yeah, cuz to request more space requires a buttload of paperwork and forms, take Eons for my request to get up the bureaucracy, and our company ain't even that big.


so, hence, I am here to listen to our ATOT expert advice ;p

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Originally posted by: altonb1

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Didn't he say he tried that?

actually (i didn't mention this part in OP), we talked to them, and a few week later a new guy shows up. I guess this is a shitty job, the turnover rate is quite high (especially for Fedex Express) The Fedex Ground guy and UPS has pretty much been the same dude for the pass 3 years.

I believe Fedex Ground workers are Union/ Contract workers.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: techgamer
We used UPS for a number of years but switched to Fedex when UPS started losing our packages. Fedex isnt a whole lot better, but we have sensitive materials so we always have an employee watching when a driver comes to pickup the packages. I guess that also ensures that he takes everything. We also have a fedex account rep that is specific to our company (we do a lot of business for them) so if we ever have problems they hear about it and eventually do something about it. Dont know if that would be something you could do. But at least have an employee be around when the drivers come by if its during business hours.

yes, we do Not have a person looking over the package (hence, no one to ensure he picks them up). We thought about leaving it at the receptionist area, but our bigshot CEO thinks it's "unpleasant" to leave packages and brown boxes at the front desk.

 

[intogamer]

I would suggest you to contact your Fedex Ground rep. Call the local warehouse and get stuff straightened out. If you don't ship a certain amount of packages with Ground you get slammed with a pick up fee.

Also I would recommend you to get order some Fedex Ground stickers, just like the ones they use at Kinkos.

 

[iamwiz82]

What about visible tags on boxes color coded to the company? Blue, Green, and brown, for example.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: intogamer
I believe Fedex Ground workers are Union/ Contract workers.

what would this pertain? They have more bargaining power to their bosses should they be "less-than-efficient" (ie: suck at job).

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Originally posted by: altonb1

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Didn't he say he tried that?

actually (i didn't mention this part in OP), we talked to them, and a few week later a new guy shows up. I guess this is a shitty job, the turnover rate is quite high (especially for Fedex Express) The Fedex Ground guy and UPS has pretty much been the same dude for the pass 3 years.

I believe Fedex Ground workers are Union/ Contract workers.

Ground drivers are independant contractors and own their trucks.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: intogamer
I believe Fedex Ground workers are Union/ Contract workers.

what would this pertain? They have more bargaining power to their bosses should they be "less-than-efficient" (ie: suck at job).

I've been hearing that they are less efficient. I don't think Union workers but contract workers. Theres always plenty of news about Fedex Ground workers.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Originally posted by: altonb1

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I'd talk to the drivers.

Didn't he say he tried that?

actually (i didn't mention this part in OP), we talked to them, and a few week later a new guy shows up. I guess this is a shitty job, the turnover rate is quite high (especially for Fedex Express) The Fedex Ground guy and UPS has pretty much been the same dude for the pass 3 years.

I believe Fedex Ground workers are Union/ Contract workers.

Ground drivers are independant contractors and own their trucks.

Bingo that was the was the word I was trying to think of. I don't believe that they all have their own trucks. Most likely varies by area. I'm in the metro so most of my deliveries are by a fairly shiny white delivery truck.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
What about visible tags on boxes color coded to the company? Blue, Green, and brown, for example.

ya, that would do too... hope they don't mind spending a bit extra money to buy those labels for a problem that could have been avoided by more careful Courier Drivers.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
What about separate sections in that space clearly labeled?

ya, it will be a tight one... but hopefully this will work.


UPDATE:

a friend who used to work at my place suggested that I use UPS to seperate the two, Fedex G and Fedex E. and hopefully the Fedex guys will get used to this schematic... before they quit ;p

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

I know you said you only have one pallet space for everything but it would be wise to speak to management or whomever to obtain more space. We have two separate carts, one for FDX and one for UPS. We very rarely use FX Ground, because they suck, and also because we use UPS for all of our fairly local shipments and receive a 75 percent discount.

But yeah, have one cart of UPS and one cart for FDX. For your FX Ground if it's not a huge volume, simply have them set to the side.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
What about separate sections in that space clearly labeled?

ya, it will be a tight one... but hopefully this will work.


UPDATE:

a friend who used to work at my place suggested that I use UPS to seperate the two, Fedex G and Fedex E. and hopefully the Fedex guys will get used to this schematic... before they quit ;p

Bad idea. You increase the chance of UPS or FDX taking the FX Ground packages..

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
I know you said you only have one pallet space for everything but it would be wise to speak to management or whomever to obtain more space. We have two separate carts, one for FDX and one for UPS. We very rarely use FX Ground, because they suck, and also because we use UPS for all of our fairly local shipments and receive a 75 percent discount.

But yeah, have one cart of UPS and one cart for FDX. For your FX Ground if it's not a huge volume, simply have them set to the side.

will send you a PM...