Who is the Most Caring Shipping Company for Your Parcels?
In 2015, a fascinating experiment was conducted to shed light on the handling of packages by three major carriers - FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service (USPS). The data-logging device, created in collaboration with National Instruments, was designed to measure vibration, temperature, and orientation during transit.
The device, powered by an ARM microcontroller evaluation board, a three-axis accelerometer, and a large Energizer battery, was shipped around the United States, making stops at Popular Mechanics's home office, West Coast headquarters, and National Instruments' office.
Baseline g-force readings were collected before the first journey, setting a benchmark for the study. The device was capable of gathering data for 74 hours due to modifications in LabVIEW code.
Interestingly, the USPS had the most position changes per trip, with an average of 12.5, and the USPS also flipped over its Express Mail packages an awful lot, averaging 12.5 position changes per trip. However, the USPS had the gentlest touch, with an average of 0.5 acceleration spikes over 6 g's per trip.
On the other hand, UPS had the least position changes, with an average of 4, and an average temperature change of 26.8 degrees, slightly higher than FedEx. FedEx, in comparison, had the lowest average temperature change among the carriers, with an average of 26.01 degrees.
The carriers were also tested for their response to "Fragile" or "This Side Up" markings. Marking the package as such resulted in more abuse, with increased acceleration spikes and position changes during trips.
FedEx had the most acceleration spikes over 6 g's per trip, with an average of three, while UPS logged an average of two big drops per trip. Unfortunately, the USPS also registered a significant number of these incidents.
Several of the three-day deliveries arrived early, indicating that the packages were handled with urgency, albeit not always with care. The maximum temperatures experienced by the package were within 2 degrees, and never exceeded 80 degrees or dropped below 47 degrees.
In conclusion, while the USPS had the most position changes and the USPS and FedEx had the most acceleration spikes, UPS seemed to offer the most consistent handling in terms of position changes and temperature control. However, it's important to note that all carriers showed room for improvement in terms of handling fragile packages. The experiment serves as a reminder to always handle packages with care, especially those marked as fragile or needing special attention.
