[Bob Steele]

I wonder what the cost per hundredweight is for Fed Ex Freight?
I don't know many teams that ship to Atlanta that aren't over the limit.

I know the Drayage cost for being overweight...and we budget for that........ but it is interesting that this information just comes out now... after we shipped everything to Atlanta..I can't recall FIRST ever re-weighing FedEx crates on the way home.

It is also interesting that there is nothing in the Robot Transportation section of the rules that limits the crate to being 400 lbs or less... The statement in the rules (Section 4.4.1.1) is that 5. All Crates MUST: Weigh 400 lbs or less when loaded to avoid drayage charges.
It says nothing about a weight limit to avoid excess Fed Ex charges...

It is also interesting that the email indicates there will be a $250 charge for crates left behind when the Robot Transportation rules specify (In Section 4.9.1.2 " A $150 clean up fee will be assesses for any crates left behind.."

Our team really appreciates the Fed Ex donation... but it is difficult to make any kind of change in your shipping procedures when that change is made after your crate has already shipped and you have already made all of your other travel arrangements. FIRST is changing the "rules" in the middle of the game for shipping.

We are in Seattle and we have little choice..we can't "drive" our tools to Georgia. We also have a difficult time because airlines are now charging for checked baggage. We are already having to pay an additional $200 in extra checked baggage fees for the totes that will bring the rest of our tools.

At this point we have little choice but to pay more again...
This is very frustrating...

If the rules had specified this we would have done our analysis and dealt with costs... but the rules don't specify this... We have shipped twice before to Atlanta and had to pay drayage (which we knew about) but NEVER had to consider paying extra Fed Ex...

I hope that next year's rules changes will consider this...and also consider the disadvantage that teams from far away...like the West Coast or Hawaii...have in this regard...

thanks

Good luck to everyone in Atlanta!!