DIAD 4 Upgrade...

[Jack4343]

the other part of the upgrade that they didn't tell anybody about is that the gps feature now works too. management can see everybody in the center on a computer screen now. it also lets them know how many stops you have done and left. i'm not sure the refresh rate but i heard 15 secs. supposedly this is for dispatching oca's to the closest driver but everyone knows the real deal. so next time a sup wants to do an observation all they have to do is call the center and ask the oms where you are.

Yep, the GPS tracking software is online in our center too. One of the on-car sups in our center showed it to me after I punched out. It shows little packages that indicated the stops I completed. Showed how many stops I had done and pickups and where I entered my lunch. Also listed the amount of clerk packages I entered as well as packages that I didn't deliver. (they were not on my car) He mentioned the OCA thing but while I do believe that they will use the software for that, I also believe that is not the only reason for the software. They will be looking for people that are stealing time, breaking rules, etc. Count on it.

 

[brownracer]

Looks like there is some confusion on the Brokerage Fee (BF Field). It is only for international packages coming into the US for delivery where a brokerage fee needs to be collected. IT IS NOT FOR CODS.

-- CODS ARE FOR MONEY TO BE COLLECTED FOR THE SHIPPER (Check made out to shipper)
-- BROKERAGE FEES ARE FOR MONEY TO BE COLLECTED TO PAY FOR CUSTOMS DUTIES (Check made out to UPS SCS)

Make sure to enter all CODS in the COD field-- Not in the Brokerage Fee field. It is extremely rare to have an international package that have both CODs and Brokerage Fees.

Just a word to the wise, I was told they are going to audit.

 

[under the radar]

"They will be looking for people that are stealing time, breaking rules, etc. Count on it."

So don't steal time or break the rules.

 

[brownracer]

If you haven't seen the training for this upgrade, it is now in the DIAD like a slideshow. Go to 7-Training from the Main Menu (if you have a DIAD 4). Day 1 covers the changes. Day 2 tells you how to keep the DIAD from dying.

 

[upsgrunt]

Looks like there is some confusion on the Brokerage Fee (BF Field). It is only for international packages coming into the US for delivery where a brokerage fee needs to be collected. IT IS NOT FOR CODS.

-- CODS ARE FOR MONEY TO BE COLLECTED FOR THE SHIPPER (Check made out to shipper)
-- BROKERAGE FEES ARE FOR MONEY TO BE COLLECTED TO PAY FOR CUSTOMS DUTIES (Check made out to UPS SCS)

Make sure to enter all CODS in the COD field-- Not in the Brokerage Fee field. It is extremely rare to have an international package that have both CODs and Brokerage Fees.

Just a word to the wise, I was told they are going to audit.

Why does that brokerage fee field pop up on ALL cod packages? What a waste of time- I thought it just appeared on international pkgs.

 

[DiadDude]

Why does that brokerage fee field pop up on ALL cod packages? What a waste of time- I thought it just appeared on international pkgs.

UPS was not collecting Brokerage Fees for a large number of packages every day. In response, there was a change to the way Brokerage Fee info gets into the DIAD and that required that the BF field be turned on all the time.

The DIAD will now prompt you if a package has a Brokerage Fee. It will show the amount that it thinks you should enter in the BF field. You should enter the BF amount that you actually find on the package.

 

[BigBrownSanta]

The FindBC "fix" is a neat gimmick, but it only half-solves the problem.

From my understanding of barcodes, the laser reads the width of each line in the barcode and/or the distance between the lines and then translates that width into a number. If part of the line in the barcode is missing, then the diad cannot translate the barcode into a number.

Most of the time, the barcodes that won't scan are due to the printers the shippers use to print the labels. If a speck of dirt gets into the printer, then the printer will print the labels with part of the barcode lines missing.

If ups really wants to solve the unscannable barcode problem, then the next version of the world ship software needs to have an update for the shipper's printer that prints a second barcode vertically along the left or right side of the shipping label.

For example:

From: John Doe
1111 1st Street
Somewhere, UT. 00000

_
=
= <---new barcode
_
_
_
=
=
_

To: Jane Doe​

2222 2nd Street​

Elsewhere, TX. 99999​

I II II I I I II II I <--current barcode​

1Z XXX XXX XX XXXX XXXX

 

[over9five]

That would also solve the problem of scanning the zip code. How many times a day do ya do that?!?!?

There's some company (Lands End??) that has their barcodes going different ways so you can only scan the one you want. It's not rocket science, Bob...

 

[tribefan83]

Yep, the GPS tracking software is online in our center too. One of the on-car sups in our center showed it to me after I punched out. It shows little packages that indicated the stops I completed. Showed how many stops I had done and pickups and where I entered my lunch. Also listed the amount of clerk packages I entered as well as packages that I didn't deliver. (they were not on my car) He mentioned the OCA thing but while I do believe that they will use the software for that, I also believe that is not the only reason for the software. They will be looking for people that are stealing time, breaking rules, etc. Count on it.

GPS was always available with DIAD IV... all the center had to do was turn it on for that route and they could see on a map the driver's travel path and where each stop was sheeted, but only on the day after.

I believe that what everyone is talking about is a different upgrade than the DIAD stuff. Basically it will reduce the number of text messages the center has to send because they will be able to see in (almost) real time where the driver is, how many stops/pickups are left, stop complete times, and anything like missed call tags. No more asking "ETA?" or calling a million drivers to go get the OCA in BFE because they'll already know who has 30 min to kill before their next p/u and is the closest...

It's being tested at a few buildings through peak this year, but it won't be coming out til sometime next year (someone confirm this?)

 

[brownracer]

Remember, you need to press the Alpha key twice and then the Cycle key twice to turn the keypad backlights on. They turned them off on this release to save battery power. But you can turn them on/off at any time. This is especially useful as daylight savings approaches. Heard of some drivers returning the DIADs for repair because they think the backlights are broken.

 

[Ms Spoken]

What is sad is that I'm learning more from this website than at our PCM.

 

[Overpaid Union Thug]

GPS was always available with DIAD IV... all the center had to do was turn it on for that route and they could see on a map the driver's travel path and where each stop was sheeted, but only on the day after.

I believe that what everyone is talking about is a different upgrade than the DIAD stuff. Basically it will reduce the number of text messages the center has to send because they will be able to see in (almost) real time where the driver is, how many stops/pickups are left, stop complete times, and anything like missed call tags. No more asking "ETA?" or calling a million drivers to go get the OCA in BFE because they'll already know who has 30 min to kill before their next p/u and is the closest...

It's being tested at a few buildings through peak this year, but it won't be coming out til sometime next year (someone confirm this?)

Our sups told us that they can see up to 5 drivers at a time. I don't think they'll be using GPS much in our building because in most cases it's quicker to pick up the phone and call a driver. GPS might end up being a tool for tracking down misdelivered packages. That is until we get the little target icon that warns us that we are about to delive to the wrong address.

 

[Archiater]

I'm new here, and this is an old post, but to clear up a myth that most of my own drivers still believe....

What DIAD 4 does, insofar as GPS, is tell us where you SAY you are. You can be at 4 Main St, but if you sheet a package for 12000 Main St, what the OMS' see is a blip for a delivery at 12000. If you are not cheating, yes, an On-car can call up the center and ask where a driver is (or last was, in reality) in order to be able to find a driver.

The GPS function, which is now only present in minimal places, (the only place I know of is Atlanta, but I am sure there are more) but which will very soon be implemented everywhere (that uses DIAD 4) is the ability to see, the following day, where you were, what you travel path was, when you backed, when your bulk head is open when in motion, how far you backed, at what speed you backed, etc. It is too costly to relay all that info instantaneously. The info is stored both in the vehicle and DIAD, and is uploaded each night.

I know this thread is a year old, but I'm just wading into this sight, and came across this and thought I'd clarify the myths reported here in case no one else had. Please excuse the bump.

 

[pretzel_man]

I'm new here, and this is an old post, but to clear up a myth that most of my own drivers still believe....

What DIAD 4 does, insofar as GPS, is tell us where you SAY you are. You can be at 4 Main St, but if you sheet a package for 12000 Main St, what the OMS' see is a blip for a delivery at 12000. If you are not cheating, yes, an On-car can call up the center and ask where a driver is (or last was, in reality) in order to be able to find a driver.

The GPS function, which is now only present in minimal places, (the only place I know of is Atlanta, but I am sure there are more) but which will very soon be implemented everywhere (that uses DIAD 4) is the ability to see, the following day, where you were, what you travel path was, when you backed, when your bulk head is open when in motion, how far you backed, at what speed you backed, etc. It is too costly to relay all that info instantaneously. The info is stored both in the vehicle and DIAD, and is uploaded each night.

I know this thread is a year old, but I'm just wading into this sight, and came across this and thought I'd clarify the myths reported here in case no one else had. Please excuse the bump.

What you are talking about is called Telematics.

Look at the last Inside UPS issue issue. There is a short blurb on it on page 11.

1500 drivers have it installed right now in 10 centers.

P-Man

 

[Archiater]

What you are talking about is called Telematics.

Look at the last Inside UPS issue issue. There is a short blurb on it on page 11.

1500 drivers have it installed right now in 10 centers.

P-Man

Right, but many drivers have the impression now that we have their coordinates down to the meter at any time of day. I just wanted to clarify.

We have your coordinates down to a meter at any time of the day. +1. There seemed to mb e some confusion on it, so I tried to clarify.

 

[rod]

So in all reallity you still don't know "exactly" where the driver is?-------------What a relief!!!

 

[Work right slow and safe]

are hub got that last year it does not work all the time some times it will not give you option to find the 1z number its a bummer but for the most part its great

gardena ,ca

 

[browniehound]

Where I work, the map shows exactly where the all the drivers are within 10 minutes. It refreshes every 10 minutes. It also tell the dispatch how many done and how many left with a good degree of accuracy. It also shows if you enter your lunch in the DIAD yet.

Also, it can show how you sheeted certain stops. I know this because I got a message from dispatch to void the stop I sheeted as closed between 12 and 1 by mistake about 1 hour later!

I still think the system is somewhat behind "real time" because I still get the messages :"Where can driver meet you in 20 min?"

I know this, it will show your last stop delivered within 10 minutes of accuracy.

Do you want to know what I think about this new technology? Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.

I like it. Now dispatch and management know what kind of shape I'm in. I don't send the message by 3pm stating how many done and how many left because dispatch already has this information and I understand UPS is trying to cut down on DIAD messages to save money?

I could continue here but I want to make this last point. They want to save money by reducing ODS messages? They tell us its 5 cents a pop. The cell carrier I use has unlimited texting for 9.99 a month!.

Seriously though, I think this is another example of UPS being penny wise and pound foolish. I understand the company wants to control costs. It makes wonderful business sense to get what they can out of the hourlies and do what they can about its operation.

The reason I find the message 'thing' laughable is the extent UPS will go to to make service on a 1lb misloaded ground package. When I call in a ML early, management will send an air driver to get the package from me, then meet the driver it belongs to, and then have THAT driver deliver it after he had already been there!

Just think of the cost involved in that! You pay the air driver his wage for .5 hours, then you pay me 5-10 minutes for waiting, then you pay the other driver 5-10 minutes for waiting, then he has to break route to deliver it wasting more time. Add the fuel involved in all this and packaged just cost about $28 to deliver with the revenue from this package being about $5!!!!!

Now, we are worried about a 5 cents text message, go figure????

 

[looper804]

If you are not cheating, yes, an On-car can call up the center and ask where a driver is (or last was, in reality) in order to be able to find a driver.

If this is so then why am I always getting this message:"where can (insert name) find you?".

 

[DiadDude]

I'm new here, and this is an old post, but to clear up a myth that most of my own drivers still believe....

What DIAD 4 does, insofar as GPS, is tell us where you SAY you are. You can be at 4 Main St, but if you sheet a package for 12000 Main St, what the OMS' see is a blip for a delivery at 12000. If you are not cheating, yes, an On-car can call up the center and ask where a driver is (or last was, in reality) in order to be able to find a driver.

The GPS function, which is now only present in minimal places, (the only place I know of is Atlanta, but I am sure there are more) but which will very soon be implemented everywhere (that uses DIAD 4) is the ability to see, the following day, where you were, what you travel path was, when you backed, when your bulk head is open when in motion, how far you backed, at what speed you backed, etc. It is too costly to relay all that info instantaneously. The info is stored both in the vehicle and DIAD, and is uploaded each night.

I know this thread is a year old, but I'm just wading into this sight, and came across this and thought I'd clarify the myths reported here in case no one else had. Please excuse the bump.

UPS has more than one GPS-based technology in use. browniehound's post is pretty close to how the DIAD based GPS system works.