Western Railroad Discussion > Amazon new railroad intermodal containers

Amazon is buying new railroad intermodal containers. Check photo in link posted below. The link to article is gone off their home page.

gmojim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/19 08:23 by gmojim.

Amazon has been dealing directly with railroads shipping intermodal trailers by rail for many months. Article seems to miss that fact.

​gmojim

LOL, I see UP has killed it's plan to fine truckers who missed appointments at the intermodal ramps.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Try this way, via google photo. https://images.app.goo.gl/72Gn9KycxkRDkYyR7

Hookdragkick Wrote:
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> Try this way, via google
> photo. https://images.app.goo.gl/72Gn9KycxkRDkYyR
> 7
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Good deal, thanks

gmojim

I guess I know why half my prime orders are a day late, they switched to rail.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

webmaster Wrote:
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> I guess I know why half my prime orders are a day late, they switched to rail.

I would expect the rail shipment would be used to get stuff to the distribution warehouses.  

Wouldn't the shipment from the distribution warehouses to your door be handled by USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon's local delivery subcontractors?

Brian

choodude Wrote:
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>
> I would expect the rail shipment would be used to
> get stuff to the distribution warehouses.  
>
> Wouldn't the shipment from the distribution
> warehouses to your door be handled by USPS, UPS,
> FedEx, or Amazon's local delivery subcontractors?
>
> Brian
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Correct on the rail shipments to warehouses only.

UPS and FedEx have quit doing business with Amazon. Only Amazon contractors and USPS deliver for Amazon now.

gmojim

gmojim Wrote:
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> UPS and FedEx have quit doing business with
> Amazon. Only Amazon contractors and USPS deliver
> for Amazon now.
>
> gmojim

Not true. I received an order from Amazon via UPS last week.

I have gotten USPS, Amazon, UPS and Fedex Amazon packages in the last 2 weeks.     The Amazon guy is the only one who seems to refuse to use the parcel bin on my porch.   

jst3751 Wrote:
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> gmojim Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > UPS and FedEx have quit doing business with
> > Amazon. Only Amazon contractors and USPS
> deliver
> > for Amazon now.
> >
> > gmojim
>
> Not true. I received an order from Amazon via UPS
> last week.

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OK, FedEx Express quit Amazon and UPS cut back on Amazon business. Read article that UPS was dropping them, but checking they just cut back volume. Guess FedEX Ground still delivers some Amazon.

https://www.businessinsider.com/fedex-amazon-one-day-delivery-2019-6

gmojim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/19 11:11 by gmojim.

gmojim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Not true. I received an order from Amazon via
> UPS
> > last week.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> ---------
>
> OK, FedEx Express quit Amazon and UPS cut back on
> Amazon business. Read article that UPS was
> dropping them, but checking they just cut back
> volume. Guess FedEX Ground still delivers some
> Amazon.
>
> https://www.businessinsider.com/fedex-amazon-one-d
> ay-delivery-2019-6
>
> gmojim

That businessinsider link is old news (June). FedEx is completely out of the Amazon contract - talk to your driver, he should know. FedEx can still ship Amazon packages, but they charge Amazon the full cost of shipping, not some "contractural" price discount that USPS and UPS got suckered into to subsidize the "Free Shipping" bait to kill retail.

So your original speculation was correct, at least for FedEx, including Ground.

sixaxlecentury Wrote:
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> I have gotten USPS, Amazon, UPS and Fedex Amazon
> packages in the last 2 weeks.     The Amazon
> guy is the only one who seems to refuse to use the
> parcel bin on my porch. 

That's what happens when the Amazon guy operates on a commission-like model. His income is based on how much he delivers per given time. He has no time to walk to the porch, because he's rushing to make his quota.

webmaster Wrote:
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> I guess I know why half my prime orders are a day
> late, they switched to rail.

Haha.

Actually, Amazon may have removed their "schedule padding" on their delivery estimates after marketing their "quicker" delivery times to protect their marketshare from e-commerce competitiors and retailers trying to invade their space. Fundamentally, the shipping times haven't changed that much in my opinion, but the perception has.

gmojim Wrote:
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> UPS and FedEx have quit doing business with
> Amazon. 

My UPS driver has more than 10 years seniority, and is quite perceptive to what's going on within the organization. Hopefully, your driver is not a newbie employee and can offer you some insights as well - talk to him, and don't rely on the media alone to get the information, especially when Amazon owns a major newspaper for a reason (narrative control).

Anyway, my driver is worried that UPS is becoming too dependent on Amazon. FedEx figured it out, and bailed for that reason. Wal-Mart is mentioned in the container article, and it's no coincidence that Amazon hired some Wal-Mart strategists during their "Phase I" expansion several years ago. It's well-documented how Wal-Mart has crushed small businesses and rural downtowns with their tactics, and Amazon plans to do the same with retail and logistic businesses.