[Kaslin]

My question is why didn’t they go after UPS? The guy clearly marked ground but they ignored his request and shipped it per air anyway, knowing probably what was in it.

[IC Ken]

re>My question is why didn’t they go after UPS? The guy clearly marked ground but they ignored his request and shipped it per air anyway, knowing probably what was in it.

Just checking the box for ground in this case not enough. Did UPS know what was in it? Special labels are required on the package (by the shipper/not UPS) and I would bet there is regulations on the packaging of such a material. Also a special permit and trainings required BY UPS and Fed x.

[sharkhawk]

My question is why didn’t they go after UPS? The guy clearly marked ground but they ignored his request and shipped it per air anyway, knowing probably what was in it.

The question is did he mark it as hazardous material? I'm sure UPS would charge more for that, vs. just a ground package. If he just asked for ground delivery, than UPS might ship it by air if it was more convenient.

[Alberta's Child]

In freight transportation it's amazing how much responsibility the shipper has, and how little responsibility (comparatively speaking) the carrier has. Here in New Jersey some years ago there was a wooden bridge over a railroad line that got ripped apart when a freight train passed underneath it with an oversized load. It was a piece of machinery of some kind, loaded on a flatcar. When all was said and done, the railroad was absolved of any responsibility and the shipper had to file an insurance claim for the damage.

From what I understand, the UPS process for air vs. ground transportation has more to do with pricing than anything else. If you mark a package for air transportation and UPS can get it there faster on a truck due to airport schedules or other factors, they'll send it on a truck. And for Alaska, it works the other way around (since UPS probably ships almost nothing by truck out of Alaska even if the customer pays the truck rate).

I believe UPS requires shippers to complete a specific form if the package absolutely requires ground transportation for aircraft safety reasons.