Re: NDA committed areas (Yo! P-man)
P-man, I have a question (and anyone else that might have info).
I was talking to my sup this morning about the issue of NDA's being committed in rural areas and how certain drivers are allowed to change zip codes or sheet as NI. We have 2 particular areas that cause major problems.
We have 3 zip codes that are committed. Is it possible to take specific areas out of a single zip code and 'un'commit them?
Hello Dill,
I know you asked a simple question, but I'm afraid my answer will be complicated. Sorry... First, a couple of disclosures...
UPS' system for handling commits is not great. Its open to many issues as you have shown. I'm sure someone will think its because of a conspriracy or stupidity, but it really is a complicated problem.
Also, my information on this is a little dated, so some of my details may be wrong but generally I think I'm accurate.
What you say (changing the commit for specific areas) can be done. It has been, but in limited cases and for good reason.
Commit times are first by ZIP code and then by city. The combination of the two determines the commit time (generally)... So, if a portion of a zip code needs a different commit, the commit can be made by city. Of course, the problem still remains. What if you want to change a portion of a city? By the way, using the city causes other problems I will try to explain later.
If a portion of a ZIP or City needs a different commit, there is an In City / Out of City indicator in the Loop Detail. If its tagged as out of city, then a later commit time can be given. This feature is used sparingly.
By the way, commit times are also based (at least for saver) on Commercial / Residential.
As you indicated originally, there are holes in this system. One is that someone can edit the Zip or C/R indicator. We would then be thinking the commit is different than what the service guide says.
This is a very bad thing to do. Corporate is aware that this can happen, and I'm sure it won't be long before there is a way to catch it.
The other side of the coin is also true and happens a lot. A customer can ship a package with a wrong zip code or C/R indicator. Sometimes purposefully I believe. When you get down the the city, its even harder. When they ship the package, the service guide will show a certain commit time. When the driver gets it, the commit time is different. I have seen this a lot on Saturday. The customer can ship a package to a location that is not even available for Saturday delivery just by putting in a close zip code.
For international packages its even a harder situation.
So, the answer is that what you say can be done, but it would then require the customer to provide more accurate PLD than they do today. Its easier to just get to a zip code level.
Finally, I strongly believe that we have NDA commit times that are just too agressive. From what I've seen, these are costing a lot of miles for very few packages. I've heard corporate talk a lot about revisiting this.
Sorry for being long. If I was unclear on things let me know.
P-Man