FedEx problems

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Richard McClellan

2158 and 2881 are both shipping from the same place this year, and have both crates closed and ready to go. Fedex showed up around 5:15 today, loaded the 2881 robot in the truck, but while trying to lower the lift gate the second time to pick up the 2158 crate, the lift wouldn't go down! We're currently waiting for the Fedex mechanic to come fix it.

They put too many boxes of Thin Mints in the crate and broke the lift, didn't they? That or the Tagalongs. The Shortbread cookies weigh so much less and are better with milk. Kid, I kid. Hope the mechanic got there and everything worked out.

Jane

[dsmoker]

I had confirmed yesterday that our pickup needed to be after 3:00 (we had scheduled it last week), and Fed Ex showed up at 12:15!!! Yikes!!! The kids were in class, and the robot was not in the crate!!! Fortunately, Fed Ex couldn't have been nicer. They agreed to just return after 3:00. The driver actually got there a little before 3:00, and patiently waited while the students, who didn't get out of class until 2:15, finished securing the robot. He was very interested in what we were doing, and the kids explained the whole program to him (plus we gave his some water!!!) Got the robot safely in the truck, where it joined robots from teams 228 and 999. Ours was by far the plainest crate; I tell the kids that's just because we put all the effort we have into the robot LOL

[O'Sancheski]

this happens every year... i know alot of people who are having problems with FedEx

[Alex Cormier]

VERY interesting how the other shipping issues thread has now vanished...

We had the same issue when arriving to the dryage facility as listed in the vanished thread. They would not accept the truck we used with a tommy lift gate. We were just a mere 4" shy of the dock level. Last year, we had no issues with using that truck and the same guy who unloaded us last year remembered us and had his hands tied.

We then rented a Ryder truck that was dock height and I made a few phone calls and realized another team would have the same issue. So, after they arrived and our rental truck arrived, we went to some side street next to the facility and transferred all of the crates into the rental truck then returned to the facility.

Next year, we are just going to go straight to a rental truck and have no problems.

[thefro526]

816 is Lucky - We borrow our School's panel truck and drop the robot off ourselves.

On the subject of Fedex though, I think they do as good of a job as they can. I for one can't complain about any of the shipping that they've done for us in the past knowing that they donate millions and millions dollars through shipping vouchers and reduced rates for FRC teams.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

This just goes to show you that FRC is NOT a trivial issue for FedEx. They know what we're up to, they expend significant effort to donate a lot of shipping to us, they work hard for free - for us.

That's one reason FedEx gets virtually ALL of the $40 million we (where I work) spend in shipping each year. No matter what, they come through, time after time, after time.

I think I'm going to send Mr. Ex (or whoever their CEO is) a nice thank you letter.

I learned some interesting facts about FedEX during the shipment arrangements this year when I questioned why somethings were done the way they are.

On average FedEX freight picks up 68,000 packages a day (just crates, palletts and big stuff)

Regular FedEX peaked this past year shipping 14,000,000 packages in a single day the week before christmas.

I think 2000 crates on a single day, while a big task, is nothing fedex can't handle.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

On average FedEX freight picks up 68,000 packages a day (just crates, palletts and big stuff)

Regular FedEX peaked this past year shipping 14,000,000 packages in a single day the week before christmas.

I think 2000 crates on a single day, while a big task, is nothing fedex can't handle.

I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of the big stuff comes from places that actually have loading docks. My understanding is that the added complexity for FRC comes from the increased demand specifically for lift gate trucks.

[wendymom]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

VERY interesting how the other shipping issues thread has now vanished...

We had the same issue when arriving to the dryage facility as listed in the vanished thread. They would not accept the truck we used with a tommy lift gate. We were just a mere 4" shy of the dock level. Last year, we had no issues with using that truck and the same guy who unloaded us last year remembered us and had his hands tied.

We then rented a Ryder truck that was dock height and I made a few phone calls and realized another team would have the same issue. So, after they arrived and our rental truck arrived, we went to some side street next to the facility and transferred all of the crates into the rental truck then returned to the facility.

Next year, we are just going to go straight to a rental truck and have no problems.

Exploding Bacon has done that every year. We rent a truck and gather 3 or 4 crates from local teams and deliver them to the dryage space. It seems wrong to burn a FedEx credit when we live close to the place.

Happy post ship day everyone

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by jgannon

I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of the big stuff comes from places that actually have loading docks. My understanding is that the added complexity for FRC comes from the increased demand specifically for lift gate trucks.

That wouldn't surprise me. Our first year we shipped from the school, and needed a lift gate. Since then, we've been renting a pretty nice space which, in addition to having a place in the building let us use their machine shop for two years, has a nice loading dock which makes loading the crate extremely easy.

Yesterday the Fed Ex guy was a little confused, though... he was looking for a school and thought he was in the wrong place. Once we did the whole "i'm here, where are you" "no, i'm here, where are you" bit on the phone, he pulled around the corner and saw the loading dock.

[DRH2o]

It would be nice if the Bag and Tag system was expanded to all regionals and teams. I realize that alot of teams are limited with their ability to transport the robot, but you could have a system where FedEx could cut their donation to --- let's say 1/3 of the current donation. Teams that could not transport their own robot could apply for shipping or could work with other teams to transport. I do not know all the limitations at the venues, but I am sure there are some that would couse problems with this plan. Just my thoughts.