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What do you mean USPS doesn't ship by truck? They may use airmail for some, but they have to be transported place to place by trucks...it's cold in those trucks. Sometimes they will put the dibs in the front, but not all will do those. Also, fyi, those bashing USPS, the truckers going from the facilities to the post offices are normally contracted by USPS, but are not actually USPS employees. (Hope that makes sense.)
I just got started, fully feathered chicks shipped to me, but even then, we waited until the temps were above freezing for two days. There was a can full of corn in with them and I wasn't AS worried about the temps b/c they were fully feathered and had been without a light already. Day old dibs are a whole `nother story b/c they have no heat source and they do need it.
The drivers hauling mail in 18 wheelers are almost always OTR or regional sub-contracted drivers.
USPS very much DOES ship chicks by truck. I PERSONALLY hauled several crates of chicks from Harrisburg, PA to Several places in sout-west VA. They came from a hatchery in centrel PA when I was working for a subcontractor of the USPS last spring.
It is common practice to ship by truck. The chicks are in boxes, on trays on wheeled carts. They come in from p/u at the hatchery - ON A TRUCK. They sit on the un-heated/air-conditioned dock at the DC until they are put ON A TRUCK to where they are going. Usually another DC or postal mail center where they sit on another dock til they are sorted and put on another TRUCK and sent to the local PO.
Granted, USPS routes run 24/7 in most areas and they have drivers who shag the loads so they get delivered, but it's done by un-heated/airconditioned, un-insulated 48' and 53' trailers in all weather. I know, I've done it.
Ordering chicks in winter is a risk the person ordering takes upon themselves. If your chicks all arrive dead, the only fault on the shipper is they took your money. You ordered them. Hatcheries wouldn't ship in winter if people wouldn't buy them in the winter. Customers really should educate themselves on how companies - including the USPS and hatcheries operate.
Truck drivers are just doing their job. Hauling your freight, your orders, your wants and needs to you. If it doesn't arrive how you want it.....well, we don't get to pick and choose what freight we haul.
I also like to wait until spring because I brood my chicks outside. I won't have them in the house. By waiting later to order them and having them outside, couple weeks under the heat lamp and they're good to go.
