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Serious Hours reduction coming after June 1.
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<blockquote data-quote="Ricochet1a" data-source="post: 974081" data-attributes="member: 22880"><p>Express still doesn't have this capability. Pick up manifests are on the powerpad, but all delivery routing is still done by Couriers placing their truck in stop order by looking at the address and making a decision based upon their experience as to what order to deliver their volume. Couriers report a stop count number to their manager prior to departure, they scan every piece they load, but they have no way to pull up a manifest of what they are carrying after they scan everything - and no way for the powerpad to indicate number of pieces to be delivered at a particular stop - or even the address of the "next stop". It is still done the old fashioned way with the Courier looking at their freight as they pull one stop, to know what the next stop address is going to be. </p><p></p><p>If the cargo area of the truck gets "tossed" going across a gully, the Courier either has to reorganize their freight (losing time and having their SPH drop), or hope that nothing got tossed so bad that it gets misplaced with other freight. </p><p></p><p>Express has been working on this for almost 2 years now, working out the issues in the ROADS system. Part of the problem is due to the rapid rate of packages entering then exiting (being delivered) by the Express system. There literally isn't enough time from the time overnight volume is accepted to the time it is to be loaded onto a truck for delivery to have 100% accurate addresses enabling precision stop ordering to be generated by ROADS software. There is a not inconsiderable amount of time spent every AM in pulling Couriers off the AM sorts and working "address corrections", trying to get correct data into the system. Part of solving this problem has been the requirement for CSAs to manually type in shipping label information into the POS when they accept packages over the counter, bypassing the need for airbills to have the information to be entered later that evening. When Couriers pickup manual airbills on the road, they still don't generate full shipping labels (just routing labels), and this is causing some of the problems with bad addresses going into the system. The other part is the customers inputting incorrect address information while they generate their own shipping labels. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Express is working as fast as possible to get the capability Ground has taken for granted, implemented within Express. Once Express has fully implemented the capabilities of ROADS, the need for experienced and "adaptable" Couriers will be gone. As packages are scanned into a truck, the software will constantly generate an optimized delivery pattern. Once all packages are scanned, then a final delivery pattern is chosen, and the powerpad will then generate both a delivery manifest along with piece count for each stop. The Courier will have the option to "bypass" certain stops if they feel the need (change in road conditions, traffic accidents, etc.), but the software will literally tell the Courier where to drive, where to enter the customer's site and possibly a regular point of contact to seek out for a signature. The need for a "thinking" Courier will be eliminated. </p><p></p><p>What most Couriers don't realize, is that when this capability is fully implemented, the need for experienced Couriers (or Couriers paid over $17/hr) will no longer be needed. This is where Express is going to get all their cost savings by implementing this - not through minor increases in productivity (it will probably actually drop a bit), but through savings in labor costs. Someone can be taken off the street, put through the 2 week training school, given a week or so of familiarization with the job - then be capable of being assigned to any route and have the software do all the "thinking". This capability is already taken for granted within Ground - but for some reason, most Express Couriers have their head in the sand thinking that the way things have been and currently are, is the way it will continue to be. Not so. </p><p></p><p>Since they refused to get union representation, they have absolutely no protection for their "careers" (which are really jobs now) - Express hasn't been a career for almost 10 years now, most still don't realize that. Ground has proven that temps can be brought in, given some quick training and cut loose with a truck full of freight and get it off. Most Express Couriers simply don't believe that can happen in Express. With the current method of doing things, it can't. If Express does manage to pull this off by their September goal, it will be possible. </p><p></p><p>Once they do port this capability to Express, does anyone think Express will be fearful of Couriers organizing, or worried about paying someone $20-25/hr to get volume delivered? They'll be able to get someone for $14/hr to have nearly the same productivity to replace that $21/hr Courier. Say bye-bye to that 15 year Courier...</p><p></p><p>If there was union protection in place, this would be a great job aid to the existing Couriers. With no protection and employment at will - this is going to be the death knell for the Courier making over $17/hr. With all those drivers in Ground who are already familiar with this system, they could be enticed to come over to Express if the need arose, given a pay raise (from their point of view) and drive a truck with an orange FedEx logo instead of green.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ricochet1a, post: 974081, member: 22880"] Express still doesn't have this capability. Pick up manifests are on the powerpad, but all delivery routing is still done by Couriers placing their truck in stop order by looking at the address and making a decision based upon their experience as to what order to deliver their volume. Couriers report a stop count number to their manager prior to departure, they scan every piece they load, but they have no way to pull up a manifest of what they are carrying after they scan everything - and no way for the powerpad to indicate number of pieces to be delivered at a particular stop - or even the address of the "next stop". It is still done the old fashioned way with the Courier looking at their freight as they pull one stop, to know what the next stop address is going to be. If the cargo area of the truck gets "tossed" going across a gully, the Courier either has to reorganize their freight (losing time and having their SPH drop), or hope that nothing got tossed so bad that it gets misplaced with other freight. Express has been working on this for almost 2 years now, working out the issues in the ROADS system. Part of the problem is due to the rapid rate of packages entering then exiting (being delivered) by the Express system. There literally isn't enough time from the time overnight volume is accepted to the time it is to be loaded onto a truck for delivery to have 100% accurate addresses enabling precision stop ordering to be generated by ROADS software. There is a not inconsiderable amount of time spent every AM in pulling Couriers off the AM sorts and working "address corrections", trying to get correct data into the system. Part of solving this problem has been the requirement for CSAs to manually type in shipping label information into the POS when they accept packages over the counter, bypassing the need for airbills to have the information to be entered later that evening. When Couriers pickup manual airbills on the road, they still don't generate full shipping labels (just routing labels), and this is causing some of the problems with bad addresses going into the system. The other part is the customers inputting incorrect address information while they generate their own shipping labels. Express is working as fast as possible to get the capability Ground has taken for granted, implemented within Express. Once Express has fully implemented the capabilities of ROADS, the need for experienced and "adaptable" Couriers will be gone. As packages are scanned into a truck, the software will constantly generate an optimized delivery pattern. Once all packages are scanned, then a final delivery pattern is chosen, and the powerpad will then generate both a delivery manifest along with piece count for each stop. The Courier will have the option to "bypass" certain stops if they feel the need (change in road conditions, traffic accidents, etc.), but the software will literally tell the Courier where to drive, where to enter the customer's site and possibly a regular point of contact to seek out for a signature. The need for a "thinking" Courier will be eliminated. What most Couriers don't realize, is that when this capability is fully implemented, the need for experienced Couriers (or Couriers paid over $17/hr) will no longer be needed. This is where Express is going to get all their cost savings by implementing this - not through minor increases in productivity (it will probably actually drop a bit), but through savings in labor costs. Someone can be taken off the street, put through the 2 week training school, given a week or so of familiarization with the job - then be capable of being assigned to any route and have the software do all the "thinking". This capability is already taken for granted within Ground - but for some reason, most Express Couriers have their head in the sand thinking that the way things have been and currently are, is the way it will continue to be. Not so. Since they refused to get union representation, they have absolutely no protection for their "careers" (which are really jobs now) - Express hasn't been a career for almost 10 years now, most still don't realize that. Ground has proven that temps can be brought in, given some quick training and cut loose with a truck full of freight and get it off. Most Express Couriers simply don't believe that can happen in Express. With the current method of doing things, it can't. If Express does manage to pull this off by their September goal, it will be possible. Once they do port this capability to Express, does anyone think Express will be fearful of Couriers organizing, or worried about paying someone $20-25/hr to get volume delivered? They'll be able to get someone for $14/hr to have nearly the same productivity to replace that $21/hr Courier. Say bye-bye to that 15 year Courier... If there was union protection in place, this would be a great job aid to the existing Couriers. With no protection and employment at will - this is going to be the death knell for the Courier making over $17/hr. With all those drivers in Ground who are already familiar with this system, they could be enticed to come over to Express if the need arose, given a pay raise (from their point of view) and drive a truck with an orange FedEx logo instead of green. [/QUOTE]
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