Why can't FedEx/UPS estimate delivery times?

[GrumpyMan]

That's what the GPS is for. Granted, they need something more sophisticated than a TomTom, but it can be done.

I don't see how GPS could ever possibly help a driver route his deliveries. The drivers already know exactly where each of his deliveries are at before he leaves the warehouse.

 

[JoeBleed]

FedEx and UPS will both deliver their cheapest deliver packages to the local PO for them to deliver. I was told this was a deal they had with the carers. (shippers choice of shipping i think)

Unfortunately, when you order something and someone other that USPS is picked, a po box # us usually refused. Which does no good when you live in the city limits and they don't deliver mail to your house because you're in the city limits. (small town and PO Box is required)

Edit: i should also point out i know this has happened to me because it shows up in the ups tracking number. the last place i lived i didn't have a PO Box in that town, but the local PO let me pick up the package anyway.

 

[Farmer]

Would it make you feel better if they posted an arbitrarily time of day?

 

[sixone]

Would it make you feel better if they posted an arbitrarily time of day?

How would that be any better than what they're doing now?

 

[Farmer]

How would that be any better than what they're doing now?

Them not doing it now is probably a hint that they cannot predict with enough specificity to do it for free.

 

[GrumpyMan]

What you need to do is contact the dispatcher, which is difficult, but not impossible. They in turn call the driver on the 2 way radio and ask him for an eta. Every single driver who has been doing that for more than six months can tell you before he leaves the warehouse that morning within 5 minutes at what time he will be at any of his stops for that day. It is just inherent of the job. You know as a driver exactly when you will finish your route for that day. The trick is to get hold of his dispatcher that can radio him and to give him the exact time that sixone gets her goodies. The csr on the phone will do everything they can to prevent that though, that's what they are taught. And by the way there may 20 or more dispatchers for a large city who are assigned the same drivers everyday. This cannot be done with the USPS because they have no radio contact.

 

[xSauronx]

They know how many packages are on the truck, before they ever leave the dock. With GPS and reliable travel times, this doesn't seem so difficult. A half-hour window would be close enough.

I can't go to lunch until they show up, unless I want to drive to the other corner of the county to pick up my package after work. Already did that once this week.

They won't show up until I leave, no matter how long I wait.

because sometimes in kansas people want to stop driving around and talk themselves out of comitting suicide in between customers.

/at least, thats what i did when i had to drive around over there.