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USPS Small Flat Rate Box Weight Limit???

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  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 34,155 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The density of a black hole is off the charts....of course, the damned cheap USPS material won't hold up under that

  • AzurescensAzurescens Posts: 2,744 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 9, 2018 5:20PM

    @Cameonut said:

    @BAJJERFAN said:

    @Cameonut said:
    FWIW, I believe the 70 lb weight limit comes from Occupational Ergonomics studies for occasional lifting. Does not specify the size of the container, but obviously smaller is more manageable.
    IIRC, the limit used to be 100 lb, but with further study it was lowered to 70 lb to help protect workers. Been in place a long time.

    Well you can ship packages up to 150 pounds by UPS.

    This is true - but there is a HUGE difference between how often you should lift different weights. I was told by my UPS driver that for 150# items, they either have to use two people or have appropriate lifts and dollys to deliver.

    Then again, maybe they grow 'em tough up there in Iowa and everyone can toss around 150# boxes like toothpicks.. :)

    See below for what the ergonomics people have to sort out.

    Technically we can refuse to touch a 70lb or heavier box without a team lift. Mandated by OSHA and the union are the >149lb "absolutely two people" lifts.

    We had some giant gear come off a trailer once. No idea what for. Never seen one so big ("that's what she said"). We had a laugh watching six members of management walk the thing around back, only for the driver to refuse to deliver it unless they sent more people. It ended up sent back to freight.

    I don't think a lot of people realize that when you move 1400 packages in 4.5 hours, and 5% are over 70s, it can get pretty exhausting.

    After a few months though you'll be quickly picking up a Bowflex by yourself on your new 8000 calorie / day diet.

    Only reason I mention UPS in this thread is the USPS has almost no infrastructure or sort facilities or air facilities. Ever have USPS parcels arrive late after hearing UPS is behind?

    If the post office had half as many sort centers or airplanes as they did contracts with other delivery services, they might make some money once in awhile.

  • AzurescensAzurescens Posts: 2,744 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @JBK said:

    @airplanenut said:
    you will rarely if ever find padded flat rate mailers, but you can order them free from the USPS online).

    Those things are gold. I did order some myself after the local PO said they weren't allowed to order them, for some reason (they do have some now, however). The PO sells generic padded envelopes and I don't think they wanted to compete with themselves.

    You can order mailers for free from the usps. The ones that you see at the post office are leftovers that people who previously ordered have brought in.

  • VanHalenVanHalen Posts: 3,975 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @1630Boston said:
    There is a 70 pound limit for the small flat rate priority box at USPS.
    My question is ....is it possible to put 70 pounds into one of those boxes ? :smile:

    The box is 8 5/8 x 5 3/8 x 1 5/8 = 72.7 cubic inches.

    72.7 ci of the following materials is this many pounds :smile
    copper 23.5 pounds
    gold 51#
    steel 21#
    silver 35#
    platinum 56#
    osmium 59#

    How can you put 70 pounds of something into this box ? :smile:

    Your point is well taken however there is a problem with the math: 8.625" x 5.375" x 1.625" = 75.334 cubic inches = 1234.5 cubic centimeters.

    Osmium = 22.59 g/cm3 so 1234.5 x 22.59 = 27,887.355 grams or 61.48 pounds assuming "0" bulging of the package. It's pretty easy to squeeze 1/8" of an inch out of each linear dimension and then?

    68.7 pounds of osmium.

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