Why Do We Use Custom-Made Package Cars?

[Livin the Dream?]

I'm serious - why do we use custom-made cars from Freightliner, gruman, etc?

I drove a Dodge Sprinter Turbo-Diesel the other day - Holy Crap! Power, comfort, accessibility.

Half the cost of what we spend on our package cars.

[drewed]

Originally Posted by Livin the Dream?

I'm serious - why do we use custom-made cars from Freightliner, gruman, etc?

I drove a Dodge Sprinter Turbo-Diesel the other day - Holy Crap! Power, comfort, accessibility.

Half the cost of what we spend on our package cars.

One of the mechs will be happy to answer why our fleet doesnt comprise a lot of sprinters, young bragg you really are still really wet behind the ears

[Livin the Dream?]

Originally Posted by drewed

One of the mechs will be happy to answer why our fleet doesnt comprise a lot of sprinters, young bragg you really are still really wet behind the ears

Please, oh wise one, grace me with your vast, infinite knowledge, and bless me with your opinion.

[drewed]

The reason the sprinters dont comprise our package fleet is because theyre trash, theyre not a work horse, the trannys go out, engine problems, tfer case problems.....Not saying the other cars dont have problems as well but the hour in the shop per hour on the road is lower

[speeddemon]

I still use a P800 that was built in 1985. Kills my arms steering that tank.

[Livin the Dream?]

Thank you so very much for blessing me with the time it took to type in an answer. You are great and wonderful, and I will forever sing your praises. I am not worthy to have you read my insignificant ramblings.

For all the other normal people here - forget I said Sprinter - why don't we use existing makes/models of vehicles?

[drewed]

Well BBAG either way you cut it we're going to be using "custom" made vehicles (even though tons of companies order very similar models) its not like can pull an f350 off the lot put a box on it and get the same functionality wed get out of a p-8

[satellitedriver]

Originally Posted by Livin the Dream?

Thank you so very much for blessing me with the time it took to type in an answer. You are great and wonderful, and I will forever sing your praises. I am not worthy to have you read my insignificant ramblings.

For all the other normal people here - forget I said Sprinter - why don't we use existing makes/models of vehicles?

Just because, that's why.
UPS designs the cars to last.
Ergonomics and road safety,forget it.
Don't worry about the mule Martha, just load the wagon.

[Dagoof]

This is just something I heard dont know if it is true or not so dont go all Rambo on me if you know or think you know something different. I was told that the newer trucks that we have cost UPS around $30,000 now I dont see very many off the lot vehicles capable of doing what our trucks are doing going any cheaper. Also if we all ran sprinters we would have to double the amount of trucks and drivers. Not a very cost efficient way to go.

[City Driver]

i know where you can get a bunch of package cars cheap cheap cheap! but you will have to strip the yellow and red paint off first

[bg7519]

Saw a Sprinter here at the Mesquite hub headed to the scrapyard Friday evening.

[Billy]

We have a ton of them for air drivers, and sometimes they get used by regular drivers as well. The fact is, by the time the shelves go in there's not a lot of room inside. Their turning radius is terrible. There even seems to be more blind spots. It takes a lot longer to deliver out of them than a regular truck. The question here should be; Why are we still in a 1854 model p1000 with a step 4" above my knee?

[cino321]

For those of us who are tall, the sprinters are horrible to maneuver in.

[trplnkl]

Living, what vehicles have you seen on the road that compare to our P600s and larger? What makes and models, who is using them? serious questions, no flames.

[soberups]

Originally Posted by Livin the Dream?

For all the other normal people here - forget I said Sprinter - why don't we use existing makes/models of vehicles?

A lot of our vehicles are based upon existing designs...for instance the P-700's and P-1000's from the 90's were Internationals with Ford Powerstroke engines and Spicer transmissions....identical to what you would have found in a 1-ton Ford pickup of the same year. The only difference is in the frame and body, we require a much larger cargo area and longer wheelbase than a conventional pickup truck does. For the most part, existing makes/models of vehicles are too small to function as UPS trucks.

[soberups]

Originally Posted by Billy

The question here should be; Why are we still in a 1854 model p1000 with a step 4" above my knee?

Because UPS intentionally designed these vehicles to be harder to work out of. The goal was to force the older drivers into early retirement once they were no longer physically capable of fighting the equipment for 10 hours a day. These drivers can then be replaced with new hires in progression for 3 years at a savings of at least $10,000 per year.

[MechanicForBrown]

LETS BREAK IT DOWN FOLKS;
p32 Ford 4.2L v-6, power steering and comfortable to drive, not much maintenance required.

P500 Gmc 292 and 4.3L straight 6 and v-6 JUNK, trucks just fall apart and are forever being worked on.

P500 Work horse 6.0L v-8 gas and V-6 diesel International, also JUNK diesel engines have issues out the ass and the body wiring sucks!! although the gas engine is much better.

P700 Freight liner straight six Cummings diesel, engine is pretty solid and the body stinks, major frame issues, they are slowly going to the big junk pile of metal near you!

p700 International, 7.3L v-8 diesel, good engine, strong and long lasting, body is OK, nothing to major to deal with, will be around for the remainder of its 20-25 year cycle.

P700 Freight liner MB904 Mercedes Benz straight 6, so far so good, only problem so far is they can't move out of there own way!!, good ergonomics, good steering and brake feel. we'll see.....

p700 Cummings straight six Isb engine (new) so far they are good, powerful, QUIET, and feel good to drive.

p800 GMC 4.3L v-6 time has proved this truck to be solid, all kinks worked out and other than the occasional engine and tranny replacement its a legend.

p1000, GMC 4.3L, same as previous.

p1000, freight liner MB904 6, just the same as it's p700 little brother.

p1000 Cummings ISB 6, same as p700, but Bigger!

p1000, International T444E v-8 and VT365 v-8, the first engine is proven to last, the second should have never been made from an automotive stand point! PROBLEMS running good breakdowns are eminent, smoking and low power will happen!!

p1000 Ford, straight 6 Cummings engine, this truck stinks of breakdowns, hydraulic park brakes suck and cause most of them. should have never been built for us!

And then theres the 1200's and 24' trucks, majority of which are Internationals and are generally OK

[upssup]

The problem with Sprinters is the amount of maintenance required and since the word Mercedes is on the parts box the cost of parts is terrible. If you have to replace an engine or transmission it is usually expensive enough to justify scrapping the car! Contrary to popular belief the Sprinter is as much or more than the rest.

[david cassin]

we have merc sprinters in the dublin hub.we have some going back to 1999 and still going strong,we have had problems with hinges etc but nothing too serious.the lads love them some power in them.
we have some 2006/2007/2008 with 90 or 100 bhp which are very slow compared to the old sprinter van.the newer ones are p45 or p50s and have the box built in to the cab.
they are keeping the vans for 10 years the artics for 7 (use to be 5) before cutbacks.

[swampy1]

Originally Posted by soberups

Because UPS intentionally designed these vehicles to be harder to work out of. The goal was to force the older drivers into early retirement once they were no longer physically capable of fighting the equipment for 10 hours a day. These drivers can then be replaced with new hires in progression for 3 years at a savings of at least $10,000 per year.

For some of you "Old Dogs" out there I remember when the 1984/85 P80, P10,P50 showed up. Y'all loved them! Now, after your have got soft with the power steering and the auto transmissions nothing would please you.. You need to deliver out of a P400 Dodge!! That was an experience.

As for the Sprinters they just don't last long enough to keep. High expense and short life span says we need to dispose of them. But don't worry, UPS will find another car for you to hate.

[dragracer66]

Originally Posted by MechanicForBrown

LETS BREAK IT DOWN FOLKS;
p32 Ford 4.2L v-6, power steering and comfortable to drive, not much maintenance required.

P500 Gmc 292 and 4.3L straight 6 and v-6 JUNK, trucks just fall apart and are forever being worked on.

P500 Work horse 6.0L v-8 gas and V-6 diesel International, also JUNK diesel engines have issues out the ass and the body wiring sucks!! although the gas engine is much better.

P700 Freight liner straight six Cummings diesel, engine is pretty solid and the body stinks, major frame issues, they are slowly going to the big junk pile of metal near you!

p700 International, 7.3L v-8 diesel, good engine, strong and long lasting, body is OK, nothing to major to deal with, will be around for the remainder of its 20-25 year cycle.

P700 Freight liner MB904 Mercedes Benz straight 6, so far so good, only problem so far is they can't move out of there own way!!, good ergonomics, good steering and brake feel. we'll see.....

p700 Cummings straight six Isb engine (new) so far they are good, powerful, QUIET, and feel good to drive.

p800 GMC 4.3L v-6 time has proved this truck to be solid, all kinks worked out and other than the occasional engine and tranny replacement its a legend.

p1000, GMC 4.3L, same as previous.

p1000, freight liner MB904 6, just the same as it's p700 little brother.

p1000 Cummings ISB 6, same as p700, but Bigger!

p1000, International T444E v-8 and VT365 v-8, the first engine is proven to last, the second should have never been made from an automotive stand point! PROBLEMS running good breakdowns are eminent, smoking and low power will happen!!

p1000 Ford, straight 6 Cummings engine, this truck stinks of breakdowns, hydraulic park brakes suck and cause most of them. should have never been built for us!

And then theres the 1200's and 24' trucks, majority of which are Internationals and are generally OK

Can you not write in red it kills my eyes!!! I cant be the only one that thinks this???

[NHDRVR]

Originally Posted by Livin the Dream?

I'm serious - why do we use custom-made cars from Freightliner, gruman, etc?

I drove a Dodge Sprinter Turbo-Diesel the other day - Holy Crap! Power, comfort, accessibility.

Half the cost of what we spend on our package cars.

I was put in a new P-7 last year, a 670*** model, and the damn thing is a dream compared to the older P-7 I had. It's an auto, as most of the new ones are, a better designed seat, and as most of you know, there is something about a vehicle whose heat actually works in the winter...
Also, there is a perfect spot for my DeWalt radio on the floor on the passenger side (near the washer fluid reserve), a wider bulk-head door, a wider passenger side door, better rear-view monitor (color), came w/a new 2-wheeler.....

I hope mgmt. doesn't read this and think I like my job now. I may have just inherited a new split, damn!

[Big Babooba]

Originally Posted by NHDRVR

I was put in a new P-7 last year, a 670*** model, and the damn thing is a dream compared to the older P-7 I had. It's an auto, as most of the new ones are, a better designed seat, and as most of you know, there is something about a vehicle whose heat actually works in the winter...
Also, there is a perfect spot for my DeWalt radio on the floor on the passenger side (near the washer fluid reserve), a wider bulk-head door, a wider passenger side door, better rear-view monitor (color), came w/a new 2-wheeler.....

I hope mgmt. doesn't read this and think I like my job now. I may have just inherited a new split, damn!

What good is it if you can't get NESN? ( New England Sports Network)

[Pip]

Far as the Sprinters are concerned. They just will not take the abuse. I had 2-03' sprinters in my fleet. The last one just got crushed in jan. 09'. The body had cracks all over it, replacing doors, hinges, was pretty common. Parts are expensive for the sprinters. Not really a good cost effective vehicle for UPS in it's present state. If I remember correctly the cost per day was close to $55 or $60 to run. The rearends were another problem along with the tranny. Each were looking at $2500-#3000 approximate to replace.


the sprinters might be better suited for a private contractor, but just not viable for ups applications. The drivers did like them, though. Since I got rid of the 2 in my fleet, it has freed up a lot of time to concentrate on other repairs, though. Gotta say I'm glad They are gone, from a mechanic standpoint.

Just my 2 cents.

[soberups]

Originally Posted by swampy1

For some of you "Old Dogs" out there I remember when the 1984/85 P80, P10,P50 showed up. Y'all loved them! Now, after your have got soft with the power steering and the auto transmissions nothing would please you.. You need to deliver out of a P400 Dodge!! That was an experience.

As for the Sprinters they just don't last long enough to keep. High expense and short life span says we need to dispose of them. But don't worry, UPS will find another car for you to hate.

The only reason we "loved" the P-8's and P-10's is because for years UPS had been forcing the routes into P-600's that were just too small. The average route in my loop had at least 700 cubic feet going out, so double trips were common. And once peak hit we were really screwed. The newer cars might have been bigger but they were still ergonomic nightmares that ultimately forced a lot of old timers into early retirement with chronic arthritis and bursitis in their knees, shoulders and wrists. And yes, I have delivered out of a P-400....it had 4 wheel drum brakes that locked up on wet pavement, no light in the package compartment, no reverse lights, a bulkhead door that was 2" shorter than the average driver, and a stick shift that would whack you in the nut sack every time you got out of the "seat" that was basically an upholstered board. Those things were flat-out dangerous.