Shipping help

[Southgate Servo]

We are a new team and we were wondering if any one had any tips on shipping or just how it works.




T.Y.

[David Brinza]

As part of your Kit-of-Parts, you should have received a FedEx envelope with your shipping documents. These documents are for the two donated shipments from FedEx - shipment to one regional and shipment home (or to the Championship). The envelope includes two FedEx Freight Bills of Lading, two pro-number labels that will attach to your crate and two tracking labels with the same numbers. It's important that you do not lose these, as FIRST will not replace them and you will then need to pay for the shipments.

At risk of getting pounded with "neg reps" - please read Section 4 of the Game Manual (Robot Transportation). There is important information on construction of the crate including size/weigh limits, transportation of batteries (and labeling), the actual shipping process, options if you are attending more than one event, shipping to the Championship (if you qualify), etc.

There was a recent (Jan 25) e-mail blast: Shipping your Robot - FedEx Donation Information Available that includes a link to important updated information regarding FedEx Donated Shipping. Read this item, but remember that the 400 lb weight limit still applies to Drayage.


Feel free to ask more questions here - especially if you are attending more than one regional - there are a lot of teams who have figured out the most economical way to get that 400 lb box from point A to point B!! There are also some tips available on crate construction - search the CD media papers.

In any case, you must ship your robot on or before Feb. 19 and provide verification to FIRST that the crate was shipped on time - no exceptions to this rule!

[Molten]

First off, make sure the bot is in the crate and ready for whenever they come. Also, do not expect them to be there when they say they are. FedEx has run hours late for our team in the past. I forget who, but one team did not get their robot picked up for days last year. Just read the manual, make sure you get everything in the box that it says to. Other things to consider is to make sure it will be easy to get out of the crate and it is well supported. As for when to fill out the paperwork, you will have to ask someone else because I can't remember. I hope I helped a little, even if I did not say exactly what you are looking for.

[RoboMom]

The Senior Mentor project will be hosting a call on Shipping, open to all teams, but especially for rookies. Hosted by Paul Kloberg.
Email blast for date and call-in info should be going out to main team contact soon.

Just to reinforce-there are no "spare" free FedEx forms at the regionals. If teams do not have the FIRST supplied form, your team will face hefty charges.
And even if your robot is not "finished", put the pieces in the crate and ship. I've seen robots completely built on Thursday of the regional with help from the teams.

[JaneYoung]

This is an FYI.
Make sure your location is easily accessible and FedEx has been provided with accurate directions. I can't think of a worse knuckle biter than waiting for your crate to be picked up and watching the time slip away. (Well, I can but this is a good knuckle biter.) Our pick-up location is located behind our building. The first time FedEx came, they didn't know where to come to, they just came to the main street address of the school. We were waiting for them and they were waiting for us. Long story short, it worked out. We apologized for not being more specific and now we make sure each year that they are clear on where to come for our pick-up.

[bluefluke]

Does anybody have an idea of the latest TIME on February 19th, 2008 that the robot has to be picked up by fedex? I've checked the manual and all of the updates, and the manual says February 19th, 2008, but there is no time.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

And even if your robot is not "finished", put the pieces in the crate and ship. I've seen robots completely built on Thursday of the regional with help from the teams.

The old slogan "some assembly required" is prevalent among the FIRST community and there are many teams willing to help you all weekend of your regionals if you haven't gotten everything perfect by the time you have shipped it.

Go to pit administration, and request some help if you need it.
It will most definitely be there.

Good luck this year rookies!

[EricH]

Originally Posted by bluefluke

Does anybody have an idea of the latest TIME on February 19th, 2008 that the robot has to be picked up by fedex? I've checked the manual and all of the updates, and the manual says February 19th, 2008, but there is no time.

Historically, 5PM, but last year it was midnight....(Local times all) And last year's rules do not apply!

OK, I did a little poking around in Section 4, and I found this little tidbit:

NOTE: Teams must work within the business hours of the shipper and drayage facilities. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., including the Shepard Exposition Services warehouses.

[bluefluke]

Yeah, I saw that too. However, FedEx is not a drayage company, and they do not work within those hours. Thank you for the reply, however.

[Southgate Servo]

After the first competition does your robot come home or just to the next competition? If it does not come home is it possible to bring it home?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Southgate Servo

After the first competition does your robot come home or just to the next competition? If it does not come home is it possible to bring it home?

It goes straight to your next competition. You may NOT bring it home; however, you may bring parts home for repair during your FIX-IT windows.

If, after your last competition, you wish to bring your robot home yourself, you need to request permission from FIRST directly, then talk to the appropriate person at the event.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

please read Section 4 of the Game Manual (Robot Transportation).

Southgate Servo: Your question about bringing the robot home is clearly answered in the manual, please read it! Transporting the robot is a serious business, the rules are complicated, and you have to read them yourself and understand them. We can help with specific questions, but you really do need to read the manual and try to figure it out, please.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by bluefluke

Does anybody have an idea of the latest TIME on February 19th, 2008 that the robot has to be picked up by fedex? I've checked the manual and all of the updates, and the manual says February 19th, 2008, but there is no time.

The latest I've been able to get FedEx to do a pickup was "between 5 and 7PM". They were reluctant to do it, and I had to get one of our sponsors (who was some sort of elite customer with FedEx) to persuade them to do that - they originally told me 3-5 was the best they could do. Of course, they showed up promptly at 4:45. Fortunately it was the driver's last pickup of the day, so she was nice and waited for us to finish crating the robot.

[GaryVoshol]

Fed Ex Freight division is the carrier this year; previously it was Fed Ex Express. Two years ago when 1188 used Freight by mistake, we scheduled a pickup of about 7:00 or 8:00, which we thought was wonderful. It made us all the more worried when the driver said we didn't have the right paperwork! No one was even in the Express division office, and all the trucks were in for the night. A parent's credit card solved the problem (same parent who somehow made the mistake of scheduling the wrong division of Fed Ex).

[RoboMom]

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