I just saw one of these in Portland, OR: a UPS delivery truck that had sliding windows in the side and seats (with passengers) in the back. Anyone know what it is? It didn’t seem likely that it was simply a 3rd-party re-use (as with ex-police cruisers or ex-U-Haul trucks that have been sold and turned to other purposes), as the UPS logo was still fully visible. (And I wouldn’t swear to it, but I think that the driver had a UPS uniform on.) Was it some sort of transport to move employees between different UPS facilities in town/the region? Something else I’m not imagining?
Here’s a page with a pic and a discussion:
Yeah, I saw that page; just didn’t see the second-tier discussion all the way at the bottom!
No cites for their assertions, but they seem likely.
Okay. It’s mentioned briefly in this article:
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-04-08/business/fl-ups-jobs-training-20100408_1_ups-driver-jobs-training
“On a recent day, UPS students at Integrad moved through “kinetic learning” modules. In one corner, they practiced loading and unloading packages from a UPS truck with clear sides, timed by instructors.”
That’s a valid cite that proves they are used, at least in part, for training.
Nice! Thanks.
The vehicle depicted in the link in post #2 hardly has clear sides, just little windows. You won’t be able to see much about how trainees are loading it through those.
Good save, consider my post retracted.
True, but it is more circumstantial evidence re: UPS’s apparently extensive training program…
So they’re not delivering people now?
My wife suggested they were delivering mail-order brides.
The first person with a Soylent Brown joke is getting kicked in the shins.
Just sayin’…
Probably is just that. Anyplace that has a decent # of employees like a good sized UPS distribution center is gonna have need to occasionally cart 5-10 of them off for drug tests, dmv stuff for drivers, classes, bringing out a small crew to transfer loads off a broken down truck, whatever. Since UPS trucks are not set up to legally transport more than 1-2 people, having a parade of UPS trucks go individually would be silly.
Looks like we have our answer but I thought I’d add that (it is my understanding) UPS doesn’t offer their used trucks for sale and re-use.
Several cites:
(Google search results)
“What can brown do for you?”
Umm, gimme a lift?