Seasonal UPS drivers using own rigs

SANDPOINT — It is that holiday time of year when people are ordering gifts online or packaging up gifts for loved ones and sending them off.

Due to the amount of packages UPS delivers this time of year, temporary seasonal drivers have been hired to deliver the parcels. Some of those drivers will be using their personal vehicles, said UPS Spokesman Matt O'Connor, as is the case in North Idaho.

"They will be in the brown UPS uniform and will otherwise carry on business just as if they were driving the brown truck," O'Connor said.

The local UPS branch covers approximately 600 miles in Bonner, Boundary and Pend Oreille counties, with eight to 10 seasonal drivers covering the area.

Some things to be aware of, O'Connor said, is the drivers will be in uniform and will go to the door and knock or ring the bell, announcing themselves as UPS. Unless the package requires a signature, they can do a "driver release," meaning they can leave the package on the porch or somewhere where it is not in direct view of the street if possible, O'Connor said. They will scan that the package was left at the home, go back to their vehicle and move on to the next stop.

"If (someone) is concerned, they do not need to engage with the driver," O'Connor said. "The only reason they would need to engage with the driver is if a signature was required, and that is required from the shipper at the point of origin."

Lisa Gates, who runs the North Idaho Community Watch Network on Facebook, said people have contacted her that they are receiving their packages from drivers in personal vehicles in the area. She said it is important for people to know their packages may be delivered by someone in a personal vehicle, especially with recent news coverage of holiday package thefts.

With the number of packages being shipped, O'Connor said UPS doesn't necessarily see an uptick in thefts across the country this time of year. There is, however, more news and social media coverage regarding the thefts during the holidays, he said. Because of the technology available to people, such as security cameras, O'Connor said footage is shared easily on social media.

Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon said while package thefts are not common in the area, they do happen. He said SPD typically sees an increase in reports of package theft around the holidays.

"These thefts happen within seconds," he said.

Coon offered a few tips for anyone having packages delivered.

- Have your package delivered to a UPS store or another business that you can trust.

- Have your package delivered to a neighbor that you trust or have them watch for your delivery.

- Speak with your employer and see if you can have your packages delivered to your place of work for the holiday season.

- Install smart cameras at your front door that will alert you when someone is there or a packages is being left.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.