Fired for misloads

LKLND3380 · 10-03-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paidslave

I would have to say that you can get fired for misloads. You will probably get your job back because we have a contract and getting firred for misloads is not a reason for termination. Ups will make your life miserable.

Read the lable and put it in the right truck. That is what your job entails.

If you have to slow down a bit then you need to slow down. Mistakes will bite you and make you look stupid!

If they make your life miserable just smile at them and work safe following proper methods. That may include slowing down to avoid slips and falls. An optimum carry may be only two boxes as you can not see/be aware of your surroundings.

Safety first!

rossco · 10-03-2008, 06:04 PM

my truck has probably 10 misloads a week, worse when they put someone on who doesnt know my truck

LKLND3380 · 10-03-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaidDriveTime?

wow your guys' building is harsh. We have a guy that gets 10-15 misloads a week, and sometimes more. Plus the majority of our building almost everyone has one a day. I am actually on a roll right now, ive had 3 the last month. But being fired for 3 a week or even getting threatened seems crazy to me

I have heard that misloads are such a problem in South Florida that they are giving away Mp3 players, DVD players and other rewards. Maybe your building needs to implement such incentives.

westsideworma · 10-03-2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKLND3380

I have heard that misloads are such a problem in South Florida that they are giving away Mp3 players, DVD players and other rewards. Maybe your building needs to implement such incentives.

whatever happened to "the beatings will continue until morale improves!" This whole idea of rewarding employees seems fishy to me...pshhhh

btw I do my own preloader of the month thing for my area so I do believe in rewarding a good job. Its nothing much ($25 gift card or something) but its all I can really afford being in school and such. My guys seem to appreciate it.

UpstateNYUPSer · 10-04-2008, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossco

my truck has probably 10 misloads a week, worse when they put someone on who doesnt know my truck

"Knowing the truck" shouldn't matter.

Read the PAL, find the shelf. Repeat 800-1200 times.

over9five · 10-04-2008, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

"Knowing the truck" shouldn't matter.

Read the PAL, find the shelf. Repeat 800-1200 times.

Agreed.
Isn't that one of the perks of PAS? Any preloader can load any package car?

UpstateNYUPSer · 10-04-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by over9five

Agreed.
Isn't that one of the perks of PAS? Any preloader can load any package car?

Exactly--you don't have to "know the truck".

Mike Hawk · 10-04-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

Read the PAL, find the shelf. Repeat 800-1200 times.

I could simplify driving to, Read EDD, find address, give/take box to/from person at address. Repeat 100-150 times a day.

But that would be a gross oversimplification and inaccurate way of describing a job I have never done.

rossco · 10-04-2008, 06:51 PM

apparently knowing my truck does help cause anytime they put someone else on my truck my misloads jump up cause they cant handle the bulk in my truck

Mike Hawk · 10-04-2008, 07:34 PM

Knowing the trucks does help, you can more accurately predict bulk and be ready, instead of being screwed. Most misloads happen when your in the "oh shi7" mode and desperately trying to fit everything.

UpstateNYUPSer · 10-05-2008, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Hawk

I could simplify driving to, Read EDD, find address, give/take box to/from person at address. Repeat 100-150 times a day.

But that would be a gross oversimplification and inaccurate way of describing a job I have never done.

No, that's a fairly accurate description. Can't believe I get $28.55/hr to do it.

dudebro · 10-05-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paidslave

I would have to say that you can get fired for misloads. You will probably get your job back because we have a contract and getting firred for misloads is not a reason for termination. Ups will make your life miserable.

Read the lable and put it in the right truck. That is what your job entails.

If you have to slow down a bit then you need to slow down. Mistakes will bite you and make you look stupid!

The fact is you CAN get fired for misloads. "Following the proper methods" means you check every package, every day, and put them in the correct package car.
Here's the thing though. There IS an acceptable misload frequency. Generally 1/2500 is acceptable, which means most preloaders can have 1 a week (some preloaders, 2) and you're still within the guidelines we set forth for doing a good job.
Moreover, there's the contract and then real life. More than a few other people pointed it out: who do you take the time to move through progressive discipline? The preloader who had 4 misloads last week or the one who's been absent 33 times this year and late an additional 41. Contrary to popular belief, we sups don't have all the time in the world. If we're going to take time to do discipline, there are generally bigger fish to fry, as the saying goes.
The other thread of advice I saw here was also correct: Come in every day, do your job, check the packages carefully, don't get hurt, and you won't have a problem. You may be asked for greater productivity, but quite honestly, I've proven to plenty of people that if you use the methods and move at a smooth, steady pace, the productivity will be there. Misloads and injuries cost far more than 15 minutes of your time. Stay safe.

BigBrownSanta · 10-05-2008, 03:29 PM

It's been a while since I was a preloader and some things may have changed since then. But, my advice is to get into a habit of verifying. Make it part of your routine.

Verify the PAL address and the package address are the same before you stack it for an optimal carry.

Verify that you are going into the right truck when you carry your optimal load into the truck.

Verify the truck again when you search for the HIN number to put the package on the right shelf.

I had to learn the hard way not to take shortcuts and it forced me to always check the address. I used to have a bulk stop that got alot of consignee billing packages. The shortcut was to key on the green tracking label and I'd load every one of them in the bulk stop. Well, it didn't take long to find out that there was more than one JC Penneys in town. I had to force myself to read each address to verify that it was supposed to be on my truck. Eventually it became a habit to always verify the address and after time, it didn't take as long to do.

westsideworma · 10-05-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

Exactly--you don't have to "know the truck".

actually if you want some of these trucks looking good you better know the truck....otherwise you'll end up with some sorry looking loads and lots of unused space. Hey thats just me.

UpstateNYUPSer · 10-05-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westsideworma

actually if you want some of these trucks looking good you better know the truck....otherwise you'll end up with some sorry looking loads and some unused space. Hey thats just me.

There is no argument that the load would indeed be better if the loader "knew the truck" but, with PAS/EDD, it really should not make a difference, although we both know that it does.

westsideworma · 10-05-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

There is no argument that the load would indeed be better if the loader "knew the truck" but, with PAS/EDD, it really should not make a difference, although we both know that it does.

yeah I know what you were saying. I agree, it shouldn't make a difference now considering that was what was supposed to be so great about PAS etc. Its just sad that it still does. A lot of my loaders know their trucks as I trained them that way (check shipping labels, know your bulkstops, etc). The problem is said unused space often shifts depending on what plan we use...making it hard to plan ahead. Though I check out my heavier trucks' dispatch so I can give the preloaders a heads up. It seems to help a bit.

PaidDriveTime? · 10-05-2008, 06:55 PM

I dont know how other loaders do it, but this is the way I load my trucks, regardless of where I am. I take the two or three or four biggest stops, that arent say an RDR, RDL, FL1, 2, 3, 4, and I put those on the floor in order of sequence. So the big stop that is supposed to be in the 3000 section is on the floor directly behind the driver, and then the 4000 stop will be behind that close to the wheel well etc. So each day I come in and write down on my forecasts which numbers these are and I load those on the floor. This makes it much easier to keep all of them together, and put the rest of the packages on the shelf in order because there is more room.

evilleace · 10-06-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upsgrunt

It sure is good terminology- sometimes the system puts anything it wants on the pal label; nothing close to what the shipping label reads. And no, it is not an out of sync. If the tracking numbers match, how does that happen?

this happens to me all the time when I am spa-ing and the sups tell me to let it go, funny though seems like I always end up getting those packages back when I do run backs from the belt at the end of the day.

stevetheupsguy · 10-06-2008, 06:13 PM

It would be nice, and I know I'm dreaming, if mgmt would have a building wide rap session with the preload and drivers. Afterward mgmt should let the drivers and their respective preloaders go over the structure of a good load and how it gets delivered. The preloaders would also have the opportunity to express whatever needs they have. Yes, it would be paid time! After this we could all stand around in a big circle, holding hands and singing Kumba ya my Lord. Had to end it with a funny, sorry. All of the above would be good, aside from the love circle, I guess.

moontheloon1982 · 10-06-2008, 07:29 PM

I load about 12-1300 packages a day and average about 1 misload per day. Thats not really too bad when you are loading 250 pieces an hour. I defiantly respond to supervisors "talking tos" because I know I put more effort into the quality of my work then anybody else I see around me. The problem is in the system itself and management insisting upon operating with the bare minimum of people on the clock. I tell them that if they want me to move at such a ridiculously fast pace then they must also expect and be prepared for an error every 1300 packages or so. What they expect preloaders to do flawlessly is simply unrealisic, people make mistakes, especially when they are moving with that "sense of urgency" we hear so much about. Yet, you don't see anyone trying to come up with any kind of real solution to the misload problem. So I guess it isn't really even an issue.
Just say, "oh well, I'm doing my best" , but offer no apologies.

moontheloon1982 · 10-06-2008, 07:37 PM

they should color-code the pals. Send the loader packages with 4 colors of pal , one color for each car he's loading. this would obviously eliminate misloads altogether ...but is it feasible?