Why don't they have tracking software on UPS/USPS/FedEx?

The Coffee Shop
1

First world problems. Cry like a bee-otch. Blah … blah … blah. But, I’m genuinely curious about this.

When I order an Uber, I can see the exact location of the driver. When I order Uber eats, I get an alert when my food is picked up and another alert when the driver is 1 minute away, so I can meet the driver.

Why don’t they have this on FedEx/UPS/Etc? I have a package coming that needs a signature. It was supposed to arrive yesterday (Wed). So, I made myself available all day to sign for the damn package. I even put off a shower after my workout so I did not miss it. Well, I suspected it would not arrive because of the cold weather. But, the FedEx website said it was on the truck out for delivery. Nope. Finally, last night, after 8 pm, the website is updated to show a delay due to weather. So, it now says it will arrive today. But, it is still freezing outside, so, I doubt it will arrive today despite the website saying it is on the truck out for delivery. AND, I am nervous to take a damn shower and miss them!

At a minimum, why can’t they update the website showing there will be no deliveries. More importantly, why can’t they put tracking on the vehicles and send alerts when they are close?

When I have a delivery from Amazon delivery, there is the option to log in and see where they are on a map and how many stops until they reach you. Seems like FedEx and UPS could do the same or, better, set up a system like Uber.

Ok, I’m done whining …

2

Amazon delivery does now. The last handful of delivers I’ve been able to see how stops the driver is away from my house.

3

Amazon delivery does now. The last handful of delivers I’ve been able to see how stops the driver is away from my house.

Yep. I mentioned that in the second to last line, after all my pathetic bitching. :wink:

4

Might be due to security issues. When Amazon does it, they only show you the location for the last few minutes.

I am sure that UPS and others actively GPS track each of their vehicles.

5

Come to think of it, a local furniture store does it as well, I can log in to see how many stops away they are and the current estimated delivery time.

6

Might be due to security issues. When Amazon does it, they only show you the location for the last few minutes.

I am sure that UPS and others actively GPS track each of their vehicles.

Could be. But, I think it is more of an accountability issue. They have their set routes and do not want to listen to customers critiquing the manner in which they do their deliveries. In addition, I think deliveries are sometimes just missed and/or packages forgotten. They don’t want the customer to be able to show the truck drove right past their house with the package. Better to be able to claim it was “lost in the warehouse,” but, now found.

Finally, I think they are little like the cable companies - sadists who love having this little power over people making they sit around all day waiting for their arrival.

7

Fed Ex can deliver in a time frame window if you want. I ordered some bike wheels that required signature and if you sign up with them and pay an extra fee you can schedule the exact time of delivery. I want to say it was something like $5 for the day, $10 for a 4 hour window and $15 for a one hour window.

Seems very similar to how airlines make you pay extra for a preferred seat.

Edited to add: I always found if a signature is required they try to deliver after 4pm when most people are home from work.

8

My guess would be it is simple market economics. FedEx and UPS make more of their money off of business clients and not individual consumers. When the business clients start bitching and moaning about that information, I would expect it to show up in a fashion that the consumer can see (you know they have it available to themselves already).

However, most business clients have a pretty routine setup with UPS and/or FedEx. They are on a regular daily delivery/pick-up routine that happens every business day/week day and the time is pretty routine. At my last employer we all knew the UPS truck made two stops: right around 10:00 am and one more at about 2:00 pm. So if you needed to send something out have it at the receiving area before then. Our employees could go into the UPS site and login to our company account and create a shipment and get the label so it was all ready for the driver. All the driver did was scan the label and put the package in their truck. Very slick for corporate clients.

Amazon/Uber etc. are trying to keep their major customers (individual consumers) happy too and that is why they have that information available.

9

Old dogs rarely innovate. The companies you mentioned that have this feature are all younger companies born out of innovation.

10

My mailman comes by around 430 every day.

This is what you get for relying on Harvard Business School types instead of the framers of the constitution

11

Fed Ex can deliver in a time frame window if you want. I ordered some bike wheels that required signature and if you sign up with them and pay an extra fee you can schedule the exact time of delivery. I want to say it was something like $5 for the day, $10 for a 4 hour window and $15 for a one hour window.

Seems very similar to how airlines make you pay extra for a preferred seat.

I knew you could do that with UPS. I was not aware FedEx had the same feature. I wonder what would have happened if I paid for a delivery window yesterday while deliveries were cancelled.

But, I’m not asking for delivery at a certain time. They can deliver any time they want. Just give me an update with a ballpark about when to expect the delivery.

12

USPS actively tracks the scanner so they can see u r doing your walking routes. It’s updated every 60 seconds. Oddly enough their timeclock is broken into 100ths of a minute. It’s a security thing. There are some crazy people out there and u would get tracked down to get their package but the truck is loaded in order of the route and it could be burried.

13

First world problems. Cry like a bee-otch. Blah … blah … blah. But, I’m genuinely curious about this.

When I order an Uber, I can see the exact location of the driver. When I order Uber eats, I get an alert when my food is picked up and another alert when the driver is 1 minute away, so I can meet the driver.

Why don’t they have this on FedEx/UPS/Etc? I have a package coming that needs a signature. It was supposed to arrive yesterday (Wed). So, I made myself available all day to sign for the damn package. I even put off a shower after my workout so I did not miss it. Well, I suspected it would not arrive because of the cold weather. But, the FedEx website said it was on the truck out for delivery. Nope. Finally, last night, after 8 pm, the website is updated to show a delay due to weather. So, it now says it will arrive today. But, it is still freezing outside, so, I doubt it will arrive today despite the website saying it is on the truck out for delivery. AND, I am nervous to take a damn shower and miss them!

At a minimum, why can’t they update the website showing there will be no deliveries. More importantly, why can’t they put tracking on the vehicles and send alerts when they are close?

When I have a delivery from Amazon delivery, there is the option to log in and see where they are on a map and how many stops until they reach you. Seems like FedEx and UPS could do the same or, better, set up a system like Uber.

Ok, I’m done whining …

Well I was watching an Amazon package on Sunday make its way to my house. They said delivery before 9. Well at 7 it was a block away, and all of the sudden tracking no longer works. I wait and wait, no package Monday its changed to a Monday or tue delivery, it showed up monday. Bonus contacted amazon they refunded my purchase price.

One issue UPS and Fed ex will have is the drivers are Union so they will need buy in from the union, before they can start spying on the drivers.

14

One issue UPS and Fed ex will have is the drivers are Union so they will need buy in from the union, before they can start spying on the drivers.

This is the #1 reason.
The unions are incredibly protective over this. This could allow companies to have incredibly detailed productivity metrics - the anathema of most unions.

15

First world problems. Cry like a bee-otch. Blah … blah … blah. But, I’m genuinely curious about this.

When I order an Uber, I can see the exact location of the driver. When I order Uber eats, I get an alert when my food is picked up and another alert when the driver is 1 minute away, so I can meet the driver.

Why don’t they have this on FedEx/UPS/Etc? I have a package coming that needs a signature. It was supposed to arrive yesterday (Wed). So, I made myself available all day to sign for the damn package. I even put off a shower after my workout so I did not miss it. Well, I suspected it would not arrive because of the cold weather. But, the FedEx website said it was on the truck out for delivery. Nope. Finally, last night, after 8 pm, the website is updated to show a delay due to weather. So, it now says it will arrive today. But, it is still freezing outside, so, I doubt it will arrive today despite the website saying it is on the truck out for delivery. AND, I am nervous to take a damn shower and miss them!

At a minimum, why can’t they update the website showing there will be no deliveries. More importantly, why can’t they put tracking on the vehicles and send alerts when they are close?

When I have a delivery from Amazon delivery, there is the option to log in and see where they are on a map and how many stops until they reach you. Seems like FedEx and UPS could do the same or, better, set up a system like Uber.

Ok, I’m done whining …

Well I was watching an Amazon package on Sunday make its way to my house. They said delivery before 9. Well at 7 it was a block away, and all of the sudden tracking no longer works. I wait and wait, no package Monday its changed to a Monday or tue delivery, it showed up monday. Bonus contacted amazon they refunded my purchase price.

One issue UPS and Fed ex will have is the drivers are Union so they will need buy in from the union, before they can start spying on the drivers.

I’m fairly certain UPS and FedEx actively track their drivers. I know their vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking software. So, the “spying” is already going on. It’s just that the customers cannot see it.

16

My mailman comes by around 430 every day.

Have you tried being friendly to him/her? They might be the perfect friend to invite over for Zima and Cuba discussions.

17

One issue UPS and Fed ex will have is the drivers are Union so they will need buy in from the union, before they can start spying on the drivers.

This is the #1 reason.
The unions are incredibly protective over this. This could allow companies to have incredibly detailed productivity metrics - the anathema of most unions.

GPS was installed in UPS trucks starting back in 2010. https://fieldlogix.com/news/gps-tracking-systems-installed-in-ups-trucks-driver-efficiency/

Same with FedEx.

The companies have been tracking their drivers for nearly a decade. It is the customer who cannot readily track all deliveries.

18

My mailman comes by around 430 every day.

Have you tried being friendly to him/her? They might be the perfect friend to invite over for Zima and Cuba discussions.

Doesn’t live in my neighborhood

19

Interestingly I had my bugatti (lego) scheduled to be delivered. Saw the driver go to house when I was out

Got message that it would be delivered the next day. Never showed up but appeared as delivered on amazon

Same thing the next week…

600 dollars of lego missing in seven days

20

My package just arrived. I felt bad for the guy. It’s so cold, his electronic signature tracker was frozen and the touchscreen did not work.

Tons of respect for these guys delivering in this weather. The probably should have skipped today as well. Very grateful for their efforts. I just wish their corporate overlords would provide residential customers more detail on delivery times.