ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 7

Measurement and Analysis of the United Parcel Service Ground Shipping Environment for Large and Heavy Packages

Singh, SP
School of Packaging, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Burgess, GJ
School of Packaging, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Hays, ZG
School of Packaging, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

(Received 19 April 2000; accepted 13 September 2000)

Abstract

This study investigated the United Parcel Shipping environment for shipping large and heavy packages weighing up to 150 lb. The data were collected using instrumented packages that contained triaxial recorders to measure acceleration levels produced by drops and impacts during shipping and handling. The study showed that the existing test methods used to design and evaluate such packages for this type of shipping environment in accordance with ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and ISTA (International Safe Transit Association) test methods do not replicate the levels of damage found in real shipments. The study recommends tests that would produce more realistic damage levels for this environment.

Keywords:
packaging, e-commerce, single parcel shipping, large packages

Paper ID: JTE12386J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE12386J
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