Measurement and Analysis of International Air Parcel Shipping Environment for DHL and FedEx between Europe and United States

Manuel-Alfredo Garcia-Romeu-Martinez, Technological Institute of Packaging, Transportation and Logistics - Spain
S. Paul Singh, Michigan State University
Vicente-Agustin Cloquell-Ballester, Valencia University of Technology - Spain
Koushik Saha, Michigan State University

Article comments

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Measurement and Analysis of International Air Parcel Shipping Environment for DHL and FedEx between Europe and United States, Manuel-Alfredo Garcia-Romeu-Martinez, S. Paul Singh, Vicente-Agustin Cloquell-Ballester and Koushik Saha, Packaging Technology and Science, 20:6, Copyright © 2007 Wiley-Blackwell., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pts.775.

NOTE: At the time of publication, the author Koushik Saha was not yet affiliated with Cal Poly.

Abstract

Various studies have been conducted to determine the dynamics that single packages undergo during distribution between destinations as a function of package size and weight and carrier. Previous studies have normally focused on regional and domestic measurements of these environments in Europe and North America. However, no information is available to determine the international handling and shipping environment of single parcels between the two continents. This study used instrumented packages containing triaxial accelerometers. The measured shocks were analysed to determine the velocity change levels as a function of the events measured in the distribution environment and to develop data for drop heights that can be used for package testing. This study provides a comparison of DHL and FedEx, the two largest international parcel carriers.