Running Bear's November 2025 Coffee Shop

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Afternoon all,

Catching up on some Laundry as we got some new sheets and they need to be washed before use, if only to keep them from turning me color when I sweat at night.

Got a CPAP this morning, I think I'll be OK with it. Just gotta get used to it. Then we ran errands and i got the wife into the store for the first time in several years. She has bad knees and uses a walker, so she doesn't usually like to go in. She took Tylenol when she got home. I'm trying to get he out more as I can.

I have a procedure on Monday that involves a lot of drinking the day before, so we'll see what Sunday brings. So no work on Monday!!! That should catch me up on my tests for now.l.

Got into the 70's today, so it was rather nice.

David (marlin): sorry to hear about your brother-in-law.

Have a great evening all
 
David, best thoughts to your family on losing the family member

We are in St Cloud, Mn waiting in the hotel room to leave for a hockey game. Drove around to find the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. It’s on the very edge of the St Cloud St campus. Wikipedia says 68,000+ live in the city. Downtown was barren and no architecture stood out to me. Campus was ok, older but wooded and on either a river or lake. Of the top 15 things to do were 6 parks, a Botanical Garden and a quarry closed for the season! No biggie just another place we came to for a reason, Hockey.

Drive up was uneventful in under 5 hours. 2 stops with the 1st one just 45 minutes out from home because someone had to bring her coffee along. Than at the 2.5 hours it was time for a sit down lunch

Delivery folks. USPS I have no local issues with, good guy is our regular delivery specialist. Amazon has been the most polite and personable people. In good weather I will sit on the front porch, they have all been great. UPS the regular guy is nice but his replacements are an interesting collection is the best I can say. FedEx

Enjoy your day
 


trailrider said:
Alright, decaling/decorating modelers, what can you come up with for the UP/CSX railroad, now that the merger has been approved, pending approval by the STA? UPX? CSP? Black and yellow paint scheme for their road switchers? What's next, BNSFCP?
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As Terry mentioned, the UP bought out the NS, so da Hoss is being put out to pasture, in favor of Uncle Pete's Yellow - Grey.

Maybe they will run a Coast to Coast special with the Big Boy?
 


Ripped up all my HO and N track. Will be applying the no-ox id to all of the joints where it was designed to be used (applied to prevent corrosion), as well as cleaning the rails and redesigning the layout to put the stowage yard on the outside of the loop vice inside like it was. I want to have a two track system to take advantage of the DCC system that I spent all that money and time on.

For the N, want to make that a little bit longer if I can.

So, no trains for a while...
 
Good morning, Everybody!

The biggest differences between Amazon's van drivers and UPS
1. UPS drivers make as much as $20-$30/hour more.
2. UPS drivers have union protection from exploitation.
The bottom line is that UPS drivers are focused on keeping their jobs.

Nationwide it is reported that Amazon has as much as a 100% turnover rate overall.

If I weren’t an independent contractor, there’s no way I’d work for Amazon.

Enjoy your day Everybody!
 
chadbag said:
Amazon uses everyone.
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True, but UPS plans to cut about 50% of its deliveries for Amazon in 2026 because of low profits.
chadbag said:
Some of their stuff are their own but some are contracted out to companies who have a half dozen vehicles. They’re the ones who tend to rent Penske etc to add new routes.
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Amazon provides branded vans and rentals through Amazon’s fleet program. These vehicles are leased to DSP (Delivery Service Partners) owners and come equipped with safety features and integrated delivery technology.

Amazon partners with DSPs to handle leasing, maintenance, and collision management for vehicles Along with vans, DSPs receive Amazon uniforms and handheld devices for routing and package scanning.

DSPs pay a monthly fee for vehicle use that covers only leasing and fleet services. They’re responsible for costs like fuel, parking or toll violations, and other expenses, including but not limited to vehicle damage and liability.

DSPs, hire drivers, handle route management, and take care of all operating costs. Most DSPs handle around 20 to 40 drivers, though some start with just 10 to 15, often covering limited routes in rural areas. In busy metro regions, they typically employ anywhere from 50 to over 100 drivers.

Since its launch in 2018, the DSP program has expanded to include more than 4,500 small business owners across the globe, together employing tens of thousands of drivers.

In 2018, I was offered a chance to join the DSP program with a startup running 50 vans. After wrestling with the details, I decided to pass. I just couldn’t justify paying drivers so little for doing so much.

I can’t share more details because of a confidentiality agreement I signed just to review the offer. Everything I’ve shared has been reviewed with Microsoft’s AI Copilot, and it’s all available online.
 
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Good morning! It's Saturday, 59°F and partly cloudy :cool: Have a good day!;)
 


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