[Villages PL]

I've been watching these trucks zip around the area with no doors on their vehicles and no seat belts. Do they have air bags? I doubt it.

Not even long pants in cold weather!!!

It seems as though it would be much more dangerous than driving a golf cart because they can go much faster.

I wonder how it's allowed.

[redwitch]

They have doors (sliding in most trucks), seat belts and probably even airbags. If law officers choose to stop and ticket the drivers, they certainly could. It is the drivers who choose to leave the door open and belt off. Why would you think otherwise?

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by redwitch

They have doors (sliding in most trucks), seat belts and probably even airbags. If law officers choose to stop and ticket the drivers, they certainly could. It is the drivers who choose to leave the door open and belt off. Why would you think otherwise?

I would think otherwise because that has been what I observed.

[Chi-Town]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I've been watching these trucks zip around the area with no doors on their vehicles and no seat belts. Do they have air bags? I doubt it.

Not even long pants in cold weather!!!

It seems as though it would be much more dangerous than driving a golf cart because they can go much faster.

I wonder how it's allowed.

Just wait until the drones start delivering your packages. Those crazy trucks will be fond memories.

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I would think otherwise because that has been what I observed.

They don't get ticketed because the cops choose not to ticket them. They have more important things to do. And this time of year the delivery people have more to do and less time to do it.

[Buffalo Jim]

Until 2 years ago my brother managed all of UPS for Florida and a couple of other border States .
I am aware that the vehicles are all properly equipped and well maintained . I can`t comment on the driving .
UPS refers to these vehicles as " Package Cars ". Each one receives preventive maintenance on a regular schedule . Also each one is washed and cleaned both inside and outside each and every evening .
A computer system even determines how each package car should be packed for the Driver`s Route and ready for them when they arrive for duty each day so as to make delivery and pick-up as efficient as possible . The " Package Cars " are loaded from about 4AM to 8AM each day .
The Driver`s have uniforms which include both long and short pants as well as long and short sleeves as well as jackets . While they must wear a uniform each day it is their choice as far as long or short sleeves or long or short pants .
During his 35 year at UPS career my brother at different times had responsibility for the NY Metro airports , all freight trains shipping UPS trucks across and containers around the USA and various regional operations .
It is an amazing business because every single component can be reduced to a metric . Ultimately, everything in the company comes down to one piece of data as follows : " How much does it cost us to move a package from point A to point B / per mile ? Often referred to as the " cost per pound mile ".
The entire company operations are all based on the science of industrial engineering . Thus it is very easy to compare the performance of one geographic unit of the company to another .
UPS is most excellent at projecting Holiday package volume each season . They have to be so that they can make certain to hire , train and equip the right number of seasonal employees for their peak season each year .
In fact , their predictions of activity each season are always an excellent forecasting tool for consumer spending and the outlook for the economy in the near term .

[Lovey2]

Worked for FedEx for 25 years and my husband did for 33! Those trucks are all equipped with seat belts, and they MUST be worn or they are in violation of FedEx requirements...same for driving with the doors open... not allowed. Mind you, tho, I am speaking of FedEx Express. Ground and Home Delivery are not truly FedEx employees, but contractors. Not sure about their safety requirements, but can't imagine they'd be much different. Also...yeah, sometimes they go fast, but more often than not they just sound like they are going faster than they are. Those big trucks are just noisy beasts. Same goes for the UPS trucks. And, as Buffalo Jim said, they have uniforms that include long and short pants, shirts and jackets, gloves etc. It is their choice to wear what they are comfortable in, as long as it's FedEx issued. I gotta say, this time of year is the only time I really miss working...it is undoubtably the hardest work weeks of the year, but the comradarie and dedication to the job is unbelievable. Yeah, yeah....you'll run in to the occasional jerk, or see a package being mishandled, but that is NOT the norm. Most employees are out there breaking their backs to be sure you have your gifts on time, and work long and hard in to the night to be sure that happens. Our families know at this time of year, it is YOU, the customer, that is most important and our jobs take precedence. So, give that driver a break (unless he is being truly careless) and a hearty "Merry Christmas", or "Happy Holidays" when you see him. He'll appreciate it more that you know!

[swrinfla]

I've always been impressed by both FedEx and UPS drivers.

When I worked at a travel agency in the late 1990s, our regular UPS guy had been a delivery driver for more than 20 years.

And our regular FedEx guy always wore shorts, even when the temperatures were near or below zero!

And, both were always so upbeat and friendly.

Now, I have little contact with them, because they merely drop something at my front door, ring the bell and then are gone.

SWR

[Sable99]

We have the best UPS guy (in Michigan) ever! He makes way too many visits to our home and always waits for my 90 year old mother so he can put our packages in the foyer!

A couple of weeks ago I got a package that weighed over 65 pounds and he carried it up our icy drive -- probably about 200 feet and has a slight upward slant. I asked him why he didn't back the truck up the drive. He told me they were only allowed to back up so many times on an icy day! He also told me there was a monitor in the truck that told UPS how many times he backed up the truck. I know my aunt got the same jewelry armoire on that day and it was delivered by the same driver. He must have an aching back at the end of the day!

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Buffalo Jim

Until 2 years ago my brother managed all of UPS for Florida and a couple of other border States .
I am aware that the vehicles are all properly equipped and well maintained . I can`t comment on the driving .
UPS refers to these vehicles as " Package Cars ". Each one receives preventive maintenance on a regular schedule . Also each one is washed and cleaned both inside and outside each and every evening .
A computer system even determines how each package car should be packed for the Driver`s Route and ready for them when they arrive for duty each day so as to make delivery and pick-up as efficient as possible . The " Package Cars " are loaded from about 4AM to 8AM each day .
The Driver`s have uniforms which include both long and short pants as well as long and short sleeves as well as jackets . While they must wear a uniform each day it is their choice as far as long or short sleeves or long or short pants .
During his 35 year at UPS career my brother at different times had responsibility for the NY Metro airports , all freight trains shipping UPS trucks across and containers around the USA and various regional operations .
It is an amazing business because every single component can be reduced to a metric . Ultimately, everything in the company comes down to one piece of data as follows : " How much does it cost us to move a package from point A to point B / per mile ? Often referred to as the " cost per pound mile ".
The entire company operations are all based on the science of industrial engineering . Thus it is very easy to compare the performance of one geographic unit of the company to another .
UPS is most excellent at projecting Holiday package volume each season . They have to be so that they can make certain to hire , train and equip the right number of seasonal employees for their peak season each year .
In fact , their predictions of activity each season are always an excellent forecasting tool for consumer spending and the outlook for the economy in the near term .

My thanks to your brother and UPS. They've saved more than one Christmas for me.

[aussiemom]

I think the question to ask is why school buses don't have seat belts?

[Moderator]

The OPs question has been addressed. This thread is closed.