UPS Facts
United Parcel Service (UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery company, delivering over 14 million packages a day to over 200 countries around the world. It has recently expanded its operations to include logistics and other transportation-related areas. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
UPS is well-known for its brown trucks, also known as package cars (hence the company nickname “Big Brown”). The color brown that UPS uses on its vehicles and uniforms is called Pullman brown after the railroad sleeper cars created by George Pullman which used the same color. UPS also operates its own airline (IATA: 5X, ICAO: UPS, and Callsign: UPS ).
Major competitors include United States Postal Service (USPS), FedEx, and DHL. Historically UPS only faced competition from USPS for the inexpensive ground based delivery market. However, FedEx recently expanded into the ground market by acquiring RPS (originally Roadway Package System) and rebranded it as FedEx Ground.
In addition, DHL acquired Airborne Express. This acquisition significantly increases DHL’s presence in the U.S. which will add more competition to the ground delivery market.
Over the past two decades, UPS has aggressively erected a massive international transportation network, which is interconnected by one of the largest technological infrastructures in commercial history. In the process, it has dramatically expanded its portfolio of services into logistics and supply chain offerings.
For example, UPS today offers not only ground and air transportation, but ocean, rail and over-the-road freight products; international trade management; customs brokerage; consulting and supply chain design; e-commerce solutions; logistics and distribution capabilities, and a variety of financial services related to the supply chain.
UPS Supply Chain Solutions synchronizes the flow of goods, funds, and information for their customers. UPS Supply Chain Solutions provides service to Global 500 and growing companies alike with flexibility of modes and scheduling, scalability of design and resources and worldwide reach.
Transportation and Freight – One source, operating in over 120 countries and territories, with resources in air, ocean, rail and road.
Logistics – A single-source solution from worldwide distribution to post-sales service parts logistics.
International Trade – Customs-specific knowledge and expertise can help simplify the complexities of international trade management, from excellent customs brokerage to compliance consulting and managed services.
Consulting Services – Real-world strategic direction and counsel that help companies align their supply chain operations with their business strategies.
Industry Solutions – UPS Supply Chain Solutions can provide solutions to industry-specific problems including automotive, consumer goods, government, healthcare, high tech, industrial manufacturing, retail, and many other industries.
UPS Trivia
International Parcel Service is a fictional delivery company based loosely on UPS. It is featured on the television sitcom The King of Queens. Instead of brown, the IPS trucks and uniforms are green. Employees of the company include Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) and Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams).
NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett has appeared in UPS commercials, and his No. 88 Ford Taurus is sponsored by the company. In most of the commercials, UPS employees constantly ask Jarrett to race their trucks, and one new ad features all company trucks’ being replaced by copycats of his Ford, complete with the No. 88 and UPS logo.
UPS’s total United Way contribution of more than $57.3 million sets a new national record.
UPS Brown is a trademark of the company. The Pantone reference for the color is 0607298.
As holiday traditions go, UPS’s annual Peak Season is one of long standing. And that tradition will be extended in 2005 with a “Peak Day” that will see UPS deliver more than 20 million packages.That amounts to 230 packages delivered every second on Peak Day, which will occur this year on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
The next day brings another high: On Wednesday, Dec. 21, the delivery of air express packages will crest, with an anticipated global volume of more than 5 million. That checks in at 2.5 times the normal average. Procrastinators can ship holiday packages as late as Dec. 22 using UPS Air services.
