- #1
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Today I saw a UPS man on a bicycle towing a trailer full of packages. Do you suppose that the driver... I mean peddler... gets a cut of the fuel savings, or does he just get the benifit of the exercise.
UPS Cost Cutting - Peddler Benefits From Fuel Savings?
- Thread starter Integral
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the use of bicycles for package delivery by UPS, exploring the potential benefits of fuel savings, exercise for delivery personnel, and the practicality of such an approach in urban environments. Participants consider various implications of this delivery method, including efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants speculate whether delivery personnel receive a share of fuel savings or simply benefit from physical exercise.
- One participant notes that physical activity from delivery work can lead to improved fitness, citing a personal example.
- There is a suggestion that using bicycles for deliveries could save time and avoid parking issues in congested urban areas, particularly in cities like NYC.
- A participant raises concerns about the security of leaving packages unattended in a cart on the sidewalk.
- Another participant mentions that a bicycle cart could be beneficial for mail carriers, proposing that a tricycle might be safer for them.
- One participant expresses skepticism about UPS's cost-cutting measures, suggesting that the company may not prioritize package care, leading to losses in transit.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a mix of curiosity and skepticism regarding the effectiveness and practicality of bicycle deliveries. There is no consensus on the benefits or drawbacks of this approach, and multiple viewpoints are presented.
Contextual Notes
Participants reference different delivery environments, indicating that the effectiveness of bicycle deliveries may depend on local conditions such as terrain and urban density. There are also varying opinions on UPS's operational practices regarding package handling.
- #2
Proton Soup
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either way, you'll never see a delivery guy out of shape. a neighbor of mine that had been fat all his life got a job driving a truck where he has to get out and deliver packages all day. for the first time ever, he's not fat.
- #3
Moonbear
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Integral said:
That's a neat idea. Was this in a city that they were doing this? Aside from the fuel, it seems it might actually save time and parking tickets (at least in NYC, delivery trucks aren't exempt from parking tickets). When there's a ton of traffic and no parking in a city, peddling a cart around for deliveries might not be a bad idea to get around faster. I guess the key would be if the cart is small enough to bring the bike and cart into the lobby of the buildings where they are delivering. Otherwise, leaving an unattended cart full of packages on the sidewalk sounds like a thief's dream.
The guy who has the job of lugging the big cart full of packages delivered to the central receiving facility in our building up to all the different departments twice a day would probably appreciate it if the cart was hitched to a bicycle.
Actually, it would probably be a great idea for mail carriers too...especially ones who have walking routes. I'd recommend a tricycle rather than bicycle, just for safety sake, but wouldn't it be better for them to get to pedal a bike with a cart in tow than to lug around those heavy bags of mail that probably really do a number on their backs.
- #4
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This was in a very flat residential area, it may take a bit longer to run the route but will certainly cost less.
According to http://bikeportland.org/2008/11/14/ups-gears-up-for-holidays-with-bike-delivery/" article from the Portland area they are hiring a special crew for bike delivery. I live in a completely different delivery area then Portland so it is bigger then mentioned in that article.
According to http://bikeportland.org/2008/11/14/ups-gears-up-for-holidays-with-bike-delivery/" article from the Portland area they are hiring a special crew for bike delivery. I live in a completely different delivery area then Portland so it is bigger then mentioned in that article.
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- #5
WarPhalange
I thought they cut costs by simply not caring about your package at all and having a quota of packages that are "lost in transit" or whatever.
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