New Truck time
Discussion
Bitofbully said:
What's the score with UPS vans? - surely it doesn't make financial sense to order coach built vans, rather than just take off the shelf solutions like all other couriers?
Although I do note that they don't do a custom cab build anymore.
The UPS trucks are designed so that they can get maximum productivity from the drivers, to do that they need the perfect delivery truck. Everything is designed with that in mind. The shelves in the back mean every drop is in order and stays that way, all the locks are automatic so no fumbling with keys. UPS also buy the package cars outright so get maximum service from them, my old one is a 1995 model with close to 1 million km's on it, they also don't sell them on, about 10 years ago a company made off the shelf package cars built on the same chassis but they were crap and UPS was the only company to actually order any.Although I do note that they don't do a custom cab build anymore.
Its all down to image, the vans are iconic and even if they were painted white and sold on if one were to be involved in a serious accident or something else people would still associate it with UPS regardless of whether it they still owned it, its all about protecting the brand.
They run the vans for so long because they are custom made (apparently mine cost £70k) so they need to get their moneys worth plus they are all ally so they wont rust away. They can replace the bodies if required but i've never known one to be replaced, the body shop works wonders with fiberglass and filler.
They run the vans for so long because they are custom made (apparently mine cost £70k) so they need to get their moneys worth plus they are all ally so they wont rust away. They can replace the bodies if required but i've never known one to be replaced, the body shop works wonders with fiberglass and filler.
egor110 said:
What time saving features do you have in/the front of the van?
I'm in the same line of work but have a red transit. Ours are bog standard apart from the pda dock.
The doors (Inc the rear) have an auto lock feature which means no keys required, they lock automatically when closed and unlock with the swipe of a wristband, the same system is also used for the ignition, when you scan the wristband the open the front door you can hop straight in the seat and drive away. Compared to my old van its a lot quickerI'm in the same line of work but have a red transit. Ours are bog standard apart from the pda dock.
Ad Blu filler is still in the same place although it has a huge neck around it to avoid the spillages, The Ad Blu is added to the exhaust to reduce the emissions, don't know exactly how it works but that's the basics.
Vans are sometimes rotated, with emissions regs in London it means they usually get new vehicles to keep up with the changing regs and the older stuff is pushed out to depots outside London. In the depots new vehicles are usually given to those drivers who have longest service/accident free record etc or in some cases like me needing a bigger vehicle. These new ones are 4ft longer that the standard truck which doesn't sound like much but can equate to 20-30 more drops or the ability to work more efficiently as you have more space.
The Ivecos i think are being phased out or moved to depots near to dealers as they have been so troublesome, i had one for a while but it spent more time at the dealer than it did on the road, they were all moved after about 12 months to Southampton were there was a dealer on the same estate, the new model is supposed to be much improved but as far as i know we haven't bought any, saying that the old American style trucks are supposed to be gone at the end of this year or at least mothballed for future use, some 460 new trucks should be replacing them.
egor110 said:
Do the shelves in the back adjust to take different sized packages?
Do you load up according to postcode area?
Obviously i deliver to a much smaller area than you , i just load the letters in trays and have the parcels in 3 areas which gradually work there way to the back and get delivered.
Do you do collections once delivery's finished?
Lastly are the vans automatic?
Stacked and racked in drop order, usually each shelf is one part of a postcode depending on postcode size. 112 Deliveries today & 29 collectionsDo you load up according to postcode area?
Obviously i deliver to a much smaller area than you , i just load the letters in trays and have the parcels in 3 areas which gradually work there way to the back and get delivered.
Do you do collections once delivery's finished?
Lastly are the vans automatic?
Generally collections are done after deliveries but most drivers do them as when they are ready during the day, the only exception is the daily collections which are done at the same time every day.
Sadly the vans are all manual, i'm guessing for ease of use and the driving style.
I'll see if i have time for pics tomorrow, the Sprinters are 3.5 ton so don't need a tacho, layout wise they're pretty much the same just smaller. Rumour has it the replacements for the sprinters will be fitted with digital tachos but will still be sub 3.5 ton with the tachos being for controlling driving hours more strictly than the current system of time cards etc.
The new sprinter should look like this, taken from the company that builds our trucks
The new sprinter should look like this, taken from the company that builds our trucks
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