UPS Handling of USGS Environmental Samples

Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 13:36:59 -0700
From: "Patricia J. Timme" <pjtimme>
To: "E  - All WRD Employees"<distribution@usgs.gov>
Subject: UPS Handling of USGS Environmental Samples

This e-mail concerns the shipping charges assessed by United Parcel
Service (UPS) to handle USGS environmental samples. Personnel involved
in sending samples to the NWQL are aware that we have been using UPS to
return shipping coolers to the districts for more than five years.
However, during a recent routine audit of a shipment originating from
the NWQL, UPS determined that the USGS should be assessed an additional
handling charge on each cooler. According to UPS requirements, all
nonstandard packages are to be charged an additional $3.00 handling fee.
The following rules regarding additional handling are quoted from the
UPS Web Site http://www.ups.com on the Internet. 

"Additional Handling Service

Certain shipments require additional handling in the UPS system due to
their size or the packaging of the products.

For those articles defined below, an Additional Handling Charge as
stated in the current rate chart, applies.

Indicate Additional Handling service in the appropriate field of your
shipping system.

· Any article not fully encased in an outside shipping container.
· Any article encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or
  wood.
· Cans or pails not fully encased in a shipping container made of
  corrugated cardboard.
· Any package that exceeds 60 inches in length."

According to the first rule, a cooler is not fully encased in an outside
shipping container; therefore, an additional handling charge should be
assessed. 

We plan to perform a review of alternative modes of transportation to
determine if shipping charges can be reduced. In the meantime we have no
option but to assess the $3.00 additional charge on each cooler being
returned to district and field offices. If we are successful in reducing
charges by changing services, new shipping information will be
disseminated as soon as possible. 

Please contact Will Lanier at 303-467-8065 or e-mail WDLANIER if you
have questions regarding this subject.

Sent by Pat Timme for Will Lanier