beentheredonethat said:
To a large extent I agree with dannyboy and tooner on this. I think going heavy on the pd day and cutting a driver is definitely cheaper in the short run. But, I think it is probably more expensive in the long run. There's a point of diminishing returns where fatigue sets in. Not just fatigue from one day of a heavy dispatch but day after day of it. Also, more importantly once a driver gets tired, he\she is more prone to get injured which isn't good for either the driver or the company. It does make sense to have some routes in the center to be known as heavy dispatch routes. Let's face it, in every center there are always going to be some drivers that want the extra hours. Also, it also makes sense for centers that have routes that have a huge to\fr to get on area. It makes sense to have those routes planned at a higher paid day, since if you add a driver in an area like that you add another driver having a huge to\fr which is nothing but cost to UPS. Area's that are tight and have a small to\fr should be planned to be a lower paid day, drivers wanting a lower paid day should bid on those routes so everyone comes out happier. That's my 2 cents.
Very nicely put btdt... Sounds like you've actually been there and done that
I have to say that getting the drivers in and out on time makes for a much better operation. Morale improves dramatically!! In California where I worked many years as both hourly and management we once had a District Manager that made this happen. His initials are R.R. and he had his sh-- together. Management and hourly were starting to live and enjoy his plan, a plan that he used successfully in other districts prior to coming to our larger one. It was unbelievable and was called the
Total Service Plan...
Basically, get the drivers in on time thus assuring on time feeder departures and in turn getting the loads to the preload on time so the drivers can leave on time. It actually worked!!
It took a lot of work and R.R. was a no nonsense kinda guy. As a management person you either did your job or you weren't around long. However, in the long run many of us grew to respect his style and effort and we eventually saw the results. Results that found us home with our families both hourly and management alike.
In my 27 year career with UPS things never ran better. Too bad he left and another district manager came in and dropped his plan. Now from what I hear (retired early or quit as they say at 45 in 2003) things in the operations are difficult and it really doesn't have to be that way.
Hopefully they'll make R.R. King and he'll insist on doing things the right way, the Total Service Plan way.
