Delivery routes are built on very precise and strategic data. The schedule consists of all automatic deliveries due and those that have called within the previous 10 days to request an on-route delivery. That route is then assembled to be the most efficient to meet the needs of all customers to be served on that particular route. Any disruption to that schedule, including adding a new delivery - even if in the same area, means that the end customer is bumped out of the schedule. Because that customer is an automatic delivery customer or previously requested their delivery with proper notice, we have an obligation to that customer. To fulfill that obligation we may now need to pay our driver overtime or if that driver cannot accommodate extra hours due to a personal obligation or DOT limitations, we must now send another driver “on call”. We typically receive multiple requests for special deliveries on any given route each day. With each request that we accommodate, this means another customer is bumped out of the end of the schedule. To get to them in time, this means significant additional cost. Because special trips can be avoided with timely payment and/or automatic delivery, that cost must be absorbed by the customer making the request for a special trip.
To avoid unnecessary delivery fees, we recommend that you sign up for Eastern's Automatic Delivery Service.
