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How do you trace a UPS
Shipment?
We use our UPS Software to trace UPS Shipments.
You can use the UPS Web site at their web address of "www.ups.com" to
trace any shipment going to you, from us, or from anyone else, who uses UPS to
ship.
To trace a shipment, simply get the
UPS TRACKING NUMBER from the shipper who is sending you the package. Typically,
the shipper will not have the UPS TRACKING NUMBER until after they have entered
the package for shipment. However, it is quite simple for the shipper to e-mail
you the tracking number.
As a consumer, you can, and should, use the Internet
for package information.
You get almost instant tracking information using the "www.ups.com"
web site at any time.
The most important matter is for everyone using
either system is how to read and understand the information they get in the tracking
responses.
To give you an idea, we will use a sample shipment
by UPS GROUND from Reading to the San Francisco area.
We process the shipment in Reading and pass it on to
the UPS Driver who makes a daily pick up at our location.
There may, or may not be arrival scans as packages
arrive at the UPS Terminal.
UPS is getting better and better on doing all of the scanning since they want to
provide prompt delivery of all packages. It is always nice to remember that when one of
the packages makes a left turn and gets lost in the system.
Speaking of lost in the system, UPS does not figure
a package is lost for at least 8 days. The reason is understanding how a package may be
accidentally misdirected within the UPS System. As UPS gets better and better at all of
the scanning and reporting, we are sure delivery service will improve for the benefit of
everyone.
The driver brings the package back to the local UPS
facility. The local UPS facility is similar to most of the
smaller FEEDER locations. It is a long and narrow building so the UPS Trucks can all be
backed into a central location where they have at least one conveyer (and
occasionally two) that moves to the back of the
building to bring packages to the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER they are loading. In the mornings,
the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER they are UNLOADING is parked at the back and the conveyer moves
in the opposite direction.
As the driver gets back to the
local terminal, he automatically
separates the Hazardous Materials boxes from the rest of the shipment. This means that the
driver physically stops at a special door to drop off the HAZARDOUS MATERIALS packages for
INSPECTION.
If we were to have shipped you two packages, the
initial separation of the two packages would take place within an hour
or two from the time the driver picks up the packages.
At a minimum, it is not remotely logical that both
packages would go into the same trailer side by side, although it can happen.
Each UPS facility has a CHEMICAL SHIPPING SPECIALIST
to check that all of the proper information, labels, and the rest, are properly filled out
and are on the HAZARDOUS MATERIALS package. If one is missing, UPS will reject the
package. 3 problem packages in a 3 month period and UPS will stop accepting HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS packages from a shipper.
Plus, only one chemical per box is allowed by
D.O.T. regulations.
After the driver gets back into the UPS
"Package Car" they drive to the open spot for their truck and the balance of the
packages are eventually unloaded onto the conveyer and sorted. The
conveyer belt is typically moving at a slow pace towards the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER at the
back of the building they are loading to go to the next stop.
As the packages on the slow moving conveyer pass the
check point, a UPS staff member looks over the packages and scans the bar code on the
package.
If the package is going to a place they service out
of the local terminal, they will set the package aside for delivery the next delivery day out of the
local terminal facility.
If the package is for a destination they do not
serve out of the local terminal, the package goes into the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER.
At that point the package scan shows the package is
in the local terminal. However, as mentioned above, the package may actually be leaving
the local terminal and
going into a UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER on the way to the next stop.
The ONLY THING you learn from the package scan is
the package was processed by the local terminal location at a specific time. Or, the package was
scanned at the last known and scanned location as it was going to another place.
Typically, the next stop for packages from
local terminal is
the UPS Facility in a larger feeder location. The UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER is unloaded and the
packages are sorted again. The Hazardous Materials packages were in a special locations in
the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER and set aside in the next larger feeder location for a SECOND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INSPECTION.
So, even if both packages had gone in the same
initial trailer from the local terminal to the next larger feeder facility, they will clearly be separated
again in the next larger feeder facility. From
this point, it only makes sense to discuss how a single package would be shipped since any
shipment including Hazardous Materials would have been separated by now.
However, a HAZARDOUS MATERIALS package may, or may
not be inspected again at some point in the trip.
On our package going to California, the next place
it goes is CACH which is a large facility in a suburb of Chicago.
This particular UPS facility is
claimed to be the size of 37 football fields under one roof.
UPS also claims that a package
typically remains within this facility for only a few minutes.
UPS claims that they have the ability
to sort 500,000 packages an hour.
They would put our UPS
GROUND package into the conveyer that is going into the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER that is
heading to CACH. As the package goes into the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER, it is scanned showing
the package was in the larger feeder location, even though the package has gone
into a trailer on the way to CACH.
CACH, is a huge place. Our package for California is
now sorted again. UPS probably has several different facilities in northern California so
I do not know exactly which one it will go to.
The point is the package is still on the move as it
comes out of one UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER and is scanned again as it goes into the next UPS
TRANSPORT TRAILER that is going to go to the closest main UPS distribution facility in the
destination area.
As our package goes into the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER
on the way to California, a UPS staff member will scan the package for the last time it is
scanned for DAYS.
Transport time from Chicago to California can take
DAYS.
No one is going to open the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER
and rescan the packages in the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER anywhere between CACH and the
UPS facility in the destination area.
This means that you could check for a package every
day and see that UPS is saying the
package is in CACH. That could be an interpretation but
it is wrong.
UPS has addressed this by inserting
the text IN TRANSIT on package checks rather than give the detailed information
unless you ask to see the detailed information.
The different SCANS all take place as the package is
going into a UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER on the way to the next location.
UPS is beginning to enhance the scanning so
that we are learning more of the actual route of the package, which has recently included
arrival scans. This may be the way of the future. It will help everyone if that is the
case.
If the package was scanned in CACH, it means that
was when the package got into the UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER heading to the next location.
This does not mean that the package got into the
proper UPS TRANSPORT TRAILER headed to the next location where it was supposed to go. It
only means the package was just about to leave CACH.
UPS typically gets the packages to where they are
supposed to go in a timely manner. Plus, UPS openly states they have 7 business days
(which does not include weekends) to get the package to the destination.
However, there are times when the package was all
messed up, sent to a wrong destination location and or never arrives and is never seen
again.
With our Gold Plating Systems, we ship in 3 separate
packages. The three packages are separated in the UPS Shipping process. This means that
even though we ship them all on the same day, they may arrive on separate days. At times,
the equipment arrives first and the chemicals the following day. We have seen everything
arrive on the same day. Still, in other shipments, the chemicals arrive first. With the
ability to track your packages, you will know what is going on.
If you have questions on the delivery status of your
package, remember the information from above.
If you want to track your packages, you will need a
computer and an internet connection so you can communicate with UPS at www.ups.com. Also,
you will need to know the tracking numbers. If you want to track your packages, give us
your e-mail address and we will e-mail you the tracking numbers. Or, if you prefer, just
call us and we will be happy to help you trace a lost package that we shipped to you.
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