View source for United Parcel Service

{{Short description|American package delivery company}}
{{About|the courier company|the mailing service operated by the U.S. federal government|United States Postal Service}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = United Parcel Service, Inc.
| logo = United Parcel Service logo 2014.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| former_name = {{Unbulleted list|American Messenger Company (1907–1913)|Merchants Parcel Delivery (1913–1919)}}
| type = [[Public company]]
| traded_as = {{Unbulleted list|{{NYSE|UPS}} (Class B)|[[Dow Jones Transportation Average|DJTA]] component|[[S&P 100]] component|[[S&P 500]] component}}
| founded = {{start date and age|1907|8|28}} in [[Seattle]], Washington, U.S. as the American Messenger Company
| hq_location = [[Sandy Springs, Georgia]], U.S.
| founder = [[James E. Casey]]
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|[[Carol Tomé|Carol B. Tomé]] (CEO)|[[William R. Johnson]] (chairman)}}
| industry = [[Courier]]
| products = 
| services = {{ubl|[[Courier]] express services|[[Freight]] forwarding services|Logistics services}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|91.07 billion|link=yes}} (2024)
| operating_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|8.468 billion}} (2024)
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|5.782 billion}} (2024)
| assets = {{decrease}} {{US$|70.07 billion}} (2024)
| equity = {{decrease}} {{US$|16.74 billion}} (2024)
| num_employees = {{circa|490,000}} (2024)
| subsid = {{Unbulleted list|[[UPS Airlines]]|Nightline Group|Marken|UPS Logistics|UPS Mail Innovations|UPS Professional Solutions|Roadie|UPS i-parcel}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.ups.com/|ups.com}}
| footnotes = <ref name=10K>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1090727/000109072725000019/ups-20241231.htm |title=United Parcel Service, Inc. 2024 Annual Report |date=February 18, 2025 |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |access-date=February 19, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Charlie |title=Parcel Motel owner Nightline acquired by delivery firm UPS |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/parcel-motel-owner-nightline-acquired-by-delivery-firm-ups-1.3069858 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=August 7, 2018 |date=May 3, 2017 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504070311/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/parcel-motel-owner-nightline-acquired-by-delivery-firm-ups-1.3069858 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UPS to Acquire Ireland-based Nightline Logistics GROUP |url=http://www.nightline.ie/news/item/ups-to-acquire-ireland-based-nightline-logistics-group/ |publisher=nightline.ie |access-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-date=May 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521202400/http://www.nightline.ie/news/item/ups-to-acquire-ireland-based-nightline-logistics-group/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Exhibit 21 - Subsidiaries Of United Parcel Service, Inc. As of December 31, 2017 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090727/000109072718000009/ups-12312017xexhibit21.htm |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |access-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807125133/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1090727/000109072718000009/ups-12312017xexhibit21.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UPS Completes Acquisition Of Marken |url=https://www.marken.com/ups-completes-acquisition-of-marken/ |publisher=Marken.com |date=December 22, 2016 |access-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807125305/https://www.marken.com/ups-completes-acquisition-of-marken/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

'''United Parcel Service, Inc.''' ('''UPS''') is an American [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[package delivery|shipping & receiving]] and [[supply chain management]] company founded in 1907.<ref name=10K /> Originally known as the '''American Messenger Company''' specializing in telegraphs, UPS has expanded to become a [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] company<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS {{!}} 2020 Fortune 500 |url=https://fortune.com/company/ups/fortune500/ |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=Fortune |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317150431/https://fortune.com/company/ups/fortune500/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and one of the world's largest shipping [[couriers]]. UPS today is primarily known for its ground shipping services as well as [[the UPS Store]], a retail chain which assists UPS shipments and provides tools for small businesses. UPS offers [[Air cargo|air shipping]] on an overnight or two-day basis and delivers to [[post office box]]es through UPS Mail Innovations and UPS SurePost.

UPS is the largest courier company in the world by revenue, with annual revenues around US$85 billion in 2020, ahead of competitors [[DHL]] and [[FedEx]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Top Courier Companies by Market Value as on 2020 |url=https://www.value.today/world-top-companies/courier |access-date=May 24, 2021 |publisher=www.value.today |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228163738/https://www.value.today/world-top-companies/courier |url-status=live }}</ref> UPS's main international hub, [[UPS Worldport]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], is the [[List of busiest airports by cargo traffic|fifth busiest airport in the world by cargo traffic]] based on preliminary statistics from [[Airports Council International|ACI]], and the third busiest in the U.S. The company is one of the [[List of largest employers in the United States|largest private employers in the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/22/ten-largest-employers/2680249/ |title=The 10 largest employers in America |first=Alexander E. M. |last=Hess |website=USA TODAY |access-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218013923/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/22/ten-largest-employers/2680249/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2023, UPS is third in U.S. parcel volumes shipped since 2015, trailing the [[United States Postal Service]] and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon leapfrogs UPS and 4 other takeaways from a top shipping index {{!}} Supply Chain Dive |url=https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/amazon-ups-4-other-takeaways-from-shipping-index-pitney-bowes/713329/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.supplychaindive.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Charted: The Largest Courier Companies in the World |url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/largest-courier-companies-in-the-world/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430034928/https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/largest-courier-companies-in-the-world/ |archive-date=April 30, 2025 |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.visualcapitalist.com |date=August 4, 2024 |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
===Foundation===
[[Image:MPD1916UPS.jpg|thumb|300px|Merchants Parcel Delivery delivery vehicles, 1916]]

On August 28, 1907, [[James E. Casey]] founded the American Messenger Company with Claude Ryan<ref name="cnn">{{Cite news |author=Paul Lukas Reporting by Maggie Overfelt |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2003/04/01/341024/index.htm |publisher=CNN |title=UPS United Parcel Service James Casey transformed a tiny messenger service into the world's largest shipper by getting all wrapped up in the details of package delivery |date=April 1, 2003 |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029082642/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2003/04/01/341024/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Seattle]], Washington,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1929.html |title=UPS: 1907–1929 |work=ups.com |access-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815114401/https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1929.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> capitalized with $100 in debt.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Warren |first=James R. |date=September 20, 1999 |title=United Parcel Service (UPS) |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=1679 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821194120/http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=1679 |url-status=live }}</ref> Most deliveries at this time were made on foot and bicycles were used for longer trips.

The American Messenger Company focused primarily on package delivery to retail stores with special delivery mail delivered for its largest client, the [[United States Post Office Department]]—the predecessor of today's [[United States Postal Service]]. In 1913, the company acquired a [[Ford Model T]] as its first delivery vehicle. Casey and Ryan merged with a competitor, Evert McCabe, and formed '''Merchants Parcel Delivery'''. Consolidated delivery was also introduced, combining packages addressed to a certain neighborhood onto one delivery vehicle.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

In 1916, Charlie Soderstrom joined Merchants Parcel Delivery bringing in more vehicles for the growing delivery business. In 1919, the company expanded for the first time outside of Seattle to [[Oakland, California]], and changed its name to United Parcel Service.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |title=1907–1929 |url=https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1929.html |website=ups.com |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815114401/https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1929.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[common carrier]] service was acquired in 1922 from a company in Los Angeles, California. UPS became one of the only companies in the United States to offer common carrier service. At first, common carrier was only limited to a small area around Los Angeles but by 1927 expanded to areas up to 125 miles outside the city. In 1924, a conveyor belt system was debuted for the handling of packages for UPS operations.<ref name="auto1"/>

In 1930, a consolidated carrier service began in New York City; soon after, the company expanded its services to include other major cities in the [[Eastern United States|East]] and the [[Midwest]].<ref name="UPS">{{cite press release |url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/The+UPS+Logo+-+A+Brief+History |title=The UPS Logo – A Brief History |access-date=February 15, 2010 |publisher=UPS Pressroom |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405092313/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Fact%2BSheets/The%2BUPS%2BLogo%2B-%2BA%2BBrief%2BHistory |archive-date=April 5, 2010 }}</ref> The use of a common carrier for delivery between all customers placed UPS in direct competition with USPS, and delivering parcels beyond the California border brought it under the jurisdiction of the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]]. The first city for UPS to use common carrier status outside California was Chicago, Illinois, in 1953.<ref>{{cite web |title=Company History 1930–1980 |url=https://www.ups.com/content/aw/en/about/history/1980.html |website=UPS |access-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112042753/http://www.ups.com/content/aw/en/about/history/1980.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Image:UPSModelT1921.jpg|thumb|330px|[[Ford Model T]] UPS delivery vehicle in 1921]]

Air service through UPS was first used in 1929 through private airlines. However, the [[Great Depression]] and a lack of volume ended the service. In 1953, UPS resumed air service called UPS Blue Label Air with two-day service to major cities along the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] and [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Air Service |url=https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1980.html |website=UPS.com |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213001418/https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1980.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Bomb explosion===
Shortly before 3:00 a.m, on the morning of December 5, 1974, a package bomb exploded at UPS's Northside center on Beaver Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killing one man and injuring 10 others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 9, 1974 |title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Front page, Column 3 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19741209&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=news.google.com |page=1 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 1974 |title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Front Page, Column 1 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19741206&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=news.google.com |page=1 }}</ref> The murder case was initially investigated by Robert Coll, Assistant Superintendent of City Detectives, and later the FBI. The package originated in Erie, Pennsylvania and its destination was the Spectrum Cycle Shop, Forks Church, Armstrong Co.

===Expansion and diversification===
In 1975, UPS moved its headquarters to [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], and began serving all of the 48 [[Contiguous United States|contiguous states]] of the United States. This expansion of operations made UPS the first package delivery company to serve every address in the contiguous United States. Additionally in 1975, UPS went international by establishing operations in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United Parcel Service {{!}} History & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Parcel-Service |access-date=November 27, 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105180237/https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Parcel-Service |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1976, UPS established a domestic operation in West Germany.<ref name="UPS Pressroom">{{cite web |url=https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/about/HistoryStackList.page |title=History Timeline |website=www.pressroom.ups.com |access-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203144905/https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/about/HistoryStackList.page |url-status=live }}</ref>

UPS Next Day Air Service was launched in 1985 for all 48 contiguous states plus Puerto Rico. In 1988, [[UPS Airlines]] was launched with authorization from the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and became the fastest-growing airline in FAA history – currently the 10th largest airline in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=UPS History Timeline |url=https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/about/HistoryStackList.page |publisher=UPS |access-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203144905/https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/about/HistoryStackList.page |url-status=live }}</ref> Domestic air service was added to Germany in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |title=UPS Airlines |url=https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1990.html?WT.svl=SubNav |website=UPS.com |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213002240/https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1990.html?WT.svl=SubNav |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1991, UPS relocated its headquarters to [[Sandy Springs, Georgia]], a suburb of [[Atlanta]]. Following this in 1992, UPS acquired both Haulfast and Carryfast and rebranded them into UPS Supply Chain Solutions. Haulfast provided the pallet haulage and trucking network for the CarryFast group of companies. By 1993, UPS was delivering up to 11.5 million packages and documents per day.

In order for the company to service the large volume of customers in 1991, UPS developed technologies to improve efficiency. A handheld device named the "Delivery Information Acquisition Device" (DIAD) was created to record and upload delivery information to the UPS network immediately upon pickup by every UPS driver.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=February 29, 2012 |title=Smaller, faster UPS handheld computer coming to drivers today |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/29/2833318/ups-diad-v-handheld-shipping-computer-launched |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727193623/https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/29/2833318/ups-diad-v-handheld-shipping-computer-launched |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1992, UPS began tracking all ground shipments electronically. In 1994, UPS.com debuted, and provided an [[Interface (computing)|interface]] to make what was primarily internal operational information available for customer access.

In 1995, UPS acquired [[SonicAir]] to offer service parts logistics and compete with Choice Logistics.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 5, 1995 |title=COMPANY NEWS; UNITED PARCEL SERVICE TO ACQUIRE SONICAIR (Published 1995) |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/05/business/company-news-united-parcel-service-to-acquire-sonicair.html |access-date=July 27, 2023 |last1=Jones |first1=Dow }}</ref> In the same year, UPS launched the UPS Logistics Group to facilitate global supply chain management services and consulting for customer needs. In 1997, a [[United Parcel Service strike of 1997|walkout]] by the 185,000 members of the [[Teamsters]] shut down UPS for 16 days.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/20/ups.update.early/ |publisher=CNN |date=August 20, 1997 |title=It's official: Teamsters end UPS strike |access-date=December 4, 2013 |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516164058/http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/20/ups.update.early/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, UPS Capital was established to enable companies to grow their business through a comprehensive menu of integrated financial services through UPS.<ref>{{cite web |title=1991–1999 |url=https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1999.html?WT.svl=SubNav |website=UPS.com |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213002219/https://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/history/1999.html?WT.svl=SubNav |url-status=dead }}</ref> UPS acquired [[Challenge Air Cargo|Challenge Air]] in 1999 to expand its operations in Latin America.<ref>{{Cite news |title=UPS Agrees to Buy Challenge Air Cargo Assets |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-29-nc-51218-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 29, 1999 |access-date=December 23, 2015 |issn=0458-3035 |language=en-US |last=Bloomberg News |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235612/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/29/news/nc-51218 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:The UPS Store in Tanasbourne - Hillsboro, Oregon.JPG|thumb|right|220px|[[Mail Boxes Etc.|Mail Boxes Etc., Inc.]] was re-branded as The UPS Store in 2001.]]
[[File:UPS street locker 11 Av jeh.jpg|thumb|UPS Access Point on [[Eleventh Avenue (Manhattan)|11th Avenue]] in New York City]]
On November 10, 1999, UPS became a public company<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isidore |first1=Chris |title=UPS soars past record IPO |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/11/10/companies/ups/ |access-date=February 12, 2017 |publisher=CNN Money |date=November 10, 1999 |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110143920/https://money.cnn.com/1999/11/10/companies/ups/ |url-status=live }}</ref> in the largest [[initial public offering]] of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/11/business/workers-ready-to-cash-in-as-ups-goes-public.html |title=Workers Ready to Cash In as U.P.S. Goes Public |last=Gilpin |first=Kenneth N. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 11, 1999 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111164332/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/11/business/workers-ready-to-cash-in-as-ups-goes-public.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===21st century===
In 2001, UPS acquired [[Mail Boxes Etc.|Mail Boxes Etc., Inc.]], a franchised network of packing and shipping retail centers across the United States and Canada.<ref>{{cite news |author=Amy Doan |url=https://www.forbes.com/2001/03/05/0305ups.html |title=UPS Picks Up Mail Boxes Etc. |work=[[Forbes]] |date=March 5, 2001 |access-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028070919/https://www.forbes.com/2001/03/05/0305ups.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2003, the company rebranded the Mail Boxes, Etc. network as [[The UPS Store]].

In 2004, UPS entered the [[freight|heavy freight]] business with the purchase of [[Menlo Worldwide|Menlo Worldwide Forwarding]], a former subsidiary of Menlo Worldwide; UPS rebranded it as UPS Supply Chain Solutions. The purchase price was US$150&nbsp;million and the assumption of US$110&nbsp;million in long-term debt.

On August 5, 2005, UPS announced that it had completed its acquisition of [[less-than-truckload]] (LTL) trucking company Overnite Transportation for US$1.25&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4589,00.html |title=UPS Completes Acquisition of Overnite |access-date=August 17, 2007 |work=UPS Press Release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010504/http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0%2C1363%2C4589%2C00.html |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was approved by the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] and Overnite shareholders on August 4, 2005. On April 28, 2006, Overnite officially became [[UPS Freight]].

In 2005, UPS offered non-stop delivery service between [[Guangzhou]] and the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Campanelli |first1=Melissa |title=UPS Starts Nonstop Flights to Guangzhou |url=http://www.dmnews.com/direct-mail/ups-starts-nonstop-flights-to-guangzhou/article/87241/ |access-date=February 12, 2017 |publisher=DM News |date=April 7, 2005 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213001939/http://www.dmnews.com/direct-mail/ups-starts-nonstop-flights-to-guangzhou/article/87241/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On October 3, 2005, UPS completed the purchase of [[Lynx Express (parcels)|Lynx Express]], one of the largest independent parcel carriers in the United Kingdom, for [[Pound sterling|£]]55.5&nbsp;million (US$97.1&nbsp;million) after receiving approval for the transaction from the [[European Commission]]. The first joint package car center operation in [[Dartford]], Kent, was opened in 2006.

On August 28, 2007, United Parcel Service celebrated its 100th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Harry |title=UPS celebrates its 100-year anniversary |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-08-04-615980571_x.htm |access-date=February 12, 2017 |publisher=USA Today |date=August 4, 2007 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929051209/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-08-04-615980571_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[All Nippon Airways]], a [[Star Alliance]] member, and UPS formed a cargo alliance and [[codeshare agreement]] to transport member cargo in 2008, similarly to an [[airline alliance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/All-Nippon-Airways-UPS-work/story.aspx?guid={C217C64D-897F-421D-B04D-093357133808} |title=All Nippon Airways and UPS to work together amid cargo slump |date=October 29, 2008 |access-date=December 18, 2010 }}</ref>

On March 19, 2012, UPS announced that it intended to acquire [[TNT Express]] for $6.8 billion, in a move to help expand its presence in European and Asian markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-18/ups-said-to-reach-deal-to-buy-tnt-express |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318223116/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-18/ups-said-to-reach-deal-to-buy-tnt-express |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |title=UPS to Purchase TNT Express for $6.8 Billion |publisher=Businessweek |date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2012 }}</ref> However, the deal fell through in January 2013, after it was announced that UPS had failed to obtain permission from the European Commission and as such had been blocked on competition grounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Major Express Freight and Logistics Merger Torpedoed by European Commission |url=http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/major-express-freight-and-logistics-merger-torpedoed-by-european-commission_4284 |publisher=Handy Shipping Guide |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130103131/http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/major-express-freight-and-logistics-merger-torpedoed-by-european-commission_4284 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2012, UPS acquired [[Brussels]]-based company Kiala that provides e-commerce retailers the option to have goods delivered to a conventional retail location.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Jeff |title=UPS expands B2C presence with Kiala acquisition |url=http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/ups_expands_b2c_presence_with_kiala_acquisition |access-date=February 12, 2017 |publisher=Logistics Management |date=February 16, 2012 |archive-date=April 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083814/http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/ups_expands_b2c_presence_with_kiala_acquisition |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that UPS's operations were hampered by its outdated 20th-century technology, lagging behind its competitors.<ref name="WSJ technology">{{cite news |last1=Ziobro |first1=Paul |title=UPS's $20 Billion Problem: Operations Stuck in the 20th Century |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/upss-20-billion-problem-operations-stuck-in-the-20th-century-1529072397 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=June 15, 2018 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111104755/https://www.wsj.com/articles/upss-20-billion-problem-operations-stuck-in-the-20th-century-1529072397 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2019, UPS launched a partnership with autonomous trucking startup TuSimple to carry cargo across [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], Arizona, and [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]], Arizona.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/15/20805994/ups-self-driving-trucks-autonomous-delivery-tusimple |title=UPS has been quietly delivering cargo using self-driving trucks |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |date=August 15, 2019 |website=The Verge |access-date=August 29, 2019 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207221558/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/15/20805994/ups-self-driving-trucks-autonomous-delivery-tusimple |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2019, UPS won the approval of the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] to fly drones.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/ups-gets-government-approval-to-fly-drones |title=UPS gets government approval to fly drones |last=Martin |first=Ken |date=October 2, 2019 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US |access-date=October 2, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003225220/https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/ups-gets-government-approval-to-fly-drones |url-status=live }}</ref> The certification will allow UPS to deliver health care supplies using a fleet of drones.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/us/UPS-drone-deliveries.html |title=F.A.A. Allows U.P.S. to Deliver Medical Packages Using Drones |last=Garcia |first=Sandra E. |date=October 2, 2019 |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 6, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231034847/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/us/UPS-drone-deliveries.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 29, 2020, UPS announced it was investing in UK start-up [[Arrival (company)|Arrival]] and ordering 10,000 Generation 2 electric vehicles as a step towards a cleaner, more high-tech fleet. The deal runs from 2020 until 2024 and was reported to be worth more than $400 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2020/01/29/ups-jumps-into-the-future-with-plan-to-buy-10000-electric-vans-and-a-waymo-self-driving-delivery-pilot/#60424b3e5aa5 |title=UPS Jumps Into The Future With Plan To Buy 10,000 Electric Vans And A Waymo Self-Driving Delivery Pilot |author=Alan Ohnsman |work=Forbes |date=January 29, 2021 |access-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113182452/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2020/01/29/ups-jumps-into-the-future-with-plan-to-buy-10000-electric-vans-and-a-waymo-self-driving-delivery-pilot/#60424b3e5aa5 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2020, the company appointed [[Carol Tomé]] to succeed David Abney as its chief executive officer. It was viewed as a move to steer the parcel delivery company through the turbulence of trade wars, technological disruption and the risk of a pandemic-induced recession.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/35ca87f6-6463-11ea-b3f3-fe4680ea68b5 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/35ca87f6-6463-11ea-b3f3-fe4680ea68b5 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Become an FT subscriber to read &#124; Financial Times |newspaper=Financial Times |date=March 12, 2020 |last1=Edgecliffe-Johnson |first1=Andrew }}</ref>

In March 2020, UPS expanded its autonomous trips with TuSimple by adding an extra route between Phoenix and [[El Paso, Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2020 |title=TuSimple revs up Texas with new UPS autonomous trucking routes |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tusimple-revs-up-texas-with-new-ups-autonomous-trucking-routes |first1=Linda |last1=Baker |access-date=November 19, 2020 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203234131/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tusimple-revs-up-texas-with-new-ups-autonomous-trucking-routes |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2021, UPS announced it had agreed to sell UPS Freight, its less-than-truckload freight business, to [[TFI International]], a Canadian transport and logistics company, for $800 million. UPS said the move would allow it to focus on small-package delivery. At the time of the sale, UPS Freight had about 14,500 employees, approximately 11,000 of them represented by the Teamsters union, and generated an estimated $3.15 billion in revenue in 2020 offering services across the US, Canada, and Mexico. TFI had reported $4.1 billion in revenue in 2019 and already operated truckload and LTL services in Canada.<ref name="TFITOBUYUPSF">{{cite web |url-access=subscription |first1=Jennifer |last1=Smith |first2=Paul |last2=Ziobro |title=UPS to Sell Freight Trucking Business to TFI for $800 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-to-sell-freight-trucking-business-to-tfi-for-800-million-11611592797 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=August 12, 2021 |date=January 25, 2021 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125171330/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-to-sell-freight-trucking-business-to-tfi-for-800-million-11611592797 |url-status=live }}</ref> The acquisition was completed in April and UPS Freight was renamed [[TForce Freight]].<ref name="TFIBUYSUPSF">{{cite web |title=TFI International Completes Previously Announced UPS Freight Acquisition |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2021-04-30/tfi-international-completes-previously-announced-ups-freight-acquisition |website=Bloomberg |access-date=August 12, 2021 |date=April 30, 2021 |archive-date=May 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503005303/https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2021-04-30/tfi-international-completes-previously-announced-ups-freight-acquisition |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2021, following the company's shift to target smaller customers to boost profits during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], UPS reported a 21% jump in their fourth quarter sales to $24.9 billion. CEO Carol Tomé reported that [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] paid UPS $11.3 billion in shipping in 2020, accounting for 13.3% of the company's revenue.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ziobro |first=Paul |date=February 2, 2021 |title=UPS, Delivering Amazon's Surge, Posts Record Revenue |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/upss-revenue-jumps-21-on-online-shopping-surge-11612266696 |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 3, 2021 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220143445/https://www.wsj.com/articles/upss-revenue-jumps-21-on-online-shopping-surge-11612266696 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2021, UPS entered into an agreement to acquire [[Roadie (app)|Roadie]] for an undisclosed amount with the transaction expected to be closed in the fourth quarter.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ziobro |first1=Paul |last2=Grossman |first2=Matt |date=September 10, 2021 |title=UPS to Buy Delivery Platform Roadie |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-to-buy-delivery-platform-roadie-11631285459 |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913190643/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-to-buy-delivery-platform-roadie-11631285459 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2022, UPS acquired logistics company [[Delivery Solutions]], a key partner for Walmart's GoLocal network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cosgrove |first=Emma |date=May 31, 2022 |title=UPS has acquired logistics startup Delivery Solutions, a major partner for Walmart's GoLocal delivery network |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ups-acquires-delivery-solutions-walmart-partner-2022-5 |website=[[Business Insider]] }}</ref>

In November 2022, it was announced UPS had acquired the healthcare focused, Europe-based warehousing and temperature-controlled transport company, Bomi Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardy |first=Edward |date=November 17, 2022 |title=UPS completes acquisition of Bomi Group |url=https://www.aircargoweek.com/ups-completes-acquisition-of-bomi-group/ |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=Air Cargo Week |language=en-GB |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117102727/https://www.aircargoweek.com/ups-completes-acquisition-of-bomi-group/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2023, it was announced UPS had acquired the [[Long Beach, California]]-headquartered time-critical, health care logistics company, MNX for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Mark |date=September 28, 2023 |title=UPS acquires health care logistics specialist MNX |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-acquires-health-care-logistics-specialist-mnx |access-date=September 29, 2023 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011022727/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-acquires-health-care-logistics-specialist-mnx |archive-date=October 11, 2023 }}</ref>

In October 2023, it was announced UPS had acquired the Los Angeles-headquartered [[reverse logistics]] company, [[Happy Returns (company)|Happy Returns]] from [[PayPal]] for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2023 |title=UPS Acquires Happy Returns |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/retail/ups-acquires-happy-returns/ |first1=Malique |last1=Morris |access-date=October 26, 2023 |website=The Business of Fashion |language=en |archive-date=October 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026003830/https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/retail/ups-acquires-happy-returns/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2024, UPS announced that it planned to cut 12,000 jobs and mandate that staff return to the office five days a week. Chief Executive Carol Tomé blamed the move on a "difficult and disappointing year" in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68144738 |title=UPS to cut 12,000 jobs after 'disappointing' year |website=BBC |date=January 30, 2024 |access-date=January 30, 2024 }}</ref>

In July 2024, UPS announced that it had entered in to an agreement to acquire Mexican logistics company Estafeta Mexicana. It is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS to Acquire Estafeta, Providing Powerful Global Logistics Solutions and Trade Opportunities for Customers in Mexico and Beyond |url=https://about.ups.com/us/en/newsroom/press-releases/our-strategy/ups-to-acquire-estafeta--providing-powerful-global-logistics-sol |access-date=July 28, 2024 |website=About UPS-US |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS en acuerdo para adquirir a Estafeta, proporcionando potentes soluciones logísticas globales y oportunidades de comercio para clientes dentro y fuera de México |url=https://www.estafeta.com/b/ups-en-acuerdo-para-adquirir-a-estafeta-proporcionando-potentes-soluciones-logisticas-globales-y-oportunidades-de-comercio-para-clientes-dentro-y-fuera-de-mexico-1 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=Estafeta |language=es }}</ref>

In October 2025, the company announced it had reduced its workforce by 48,000 jobs in 2025, with 14,000 positions cut in management and 34,000 positions across its operations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Connor |date=2025-10-28 |title=UPS Cuts 48,000 Jobs in Management and Operations |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/united-parcel-service-ups-q3-earnings-report-2025-stock-jobs-layoffs-1d954f75 |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Operational facilities ==
=== United States ===

==== Louisville UPS Worldport ====
[[File:Ups worldport.jpg|thumb|450x450px|Panorama of UPS Worldport Air Hub at Louisville International Airport in 2004]]

UPS’ global hub for air shipments is the [[WorldPort (UPS air hub)|Worldport]], located at [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport]]. The facility contributes to the airport's status of the second-busiest cargo airport in the United States and the fourth-busiest worldwide.<ref>{{Citation |title=Cargo Restraint on Aircraft Passenger Seats - Main Passenger Cabin |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/arp4049 |access-date=July 5, 2023 |publisher=SAE International |doi=10.4271/arp4049 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Citation |title=Louisville International Airport |date=June 21, 2023 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louisville_International_Airport&oldid=1161164198 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=July 5, 2023 |language=en }}</ref>

The Worldport consists of:

* 290 aircraft; 
* more than 20,000 employees; 
* 5.2 million square feet of building space (about 90 football fields).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Reddy |first=Frank |title=A world of packages flows through UPS air hub: ISEs play key logistics roles at Worldport facility in Louisville |journal=ISE Magazine }}</ref><ref name="auto"/>
* the capacity to handle 115 packages per second (equivalent to 416,000 packages flowing through its facilities every hour);

==== Regional air hubs ====
UPS has five large regional air hubs in the United States, located in [[Ontario, California]]; [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]]; [[Rockford, Illinois]]; [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]; and [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]]. These hubs serve as centers for sorting, transfer and delivery of packages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2016 |title=10-K |url=https://investors.ups.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings/content/0001090727-16-000053/ups-12312015x10k.htm |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=investors.ups.com |archive-date=October 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011022730/https://investors.ups.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings/content/0001090727-16-000053/ups-12312015x10k.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Europe ===

==== Poland ====
UPS has established a 11,000 square meter package center in [[Mysłowice]]. The facility is equipped with a conveyor belt system capable of sorting up to 6,000 packages per hour. It also offers parking for 170 package cars and houses a customer call center. The size of the Mysłowice facility is more than three times larger than the one in [[Katowice]]. Mysłowice was chosen as the location for the new facility in 2017 due to its proximity to various business distribution centers and Katowice airport, where UPS has invested in additional air cargo capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |first2= |date=May 24, 2017 |title=UPS opens new parcel facility in Poland |url=https://postandparcel.info/80112/news/parcel/ups-opens-new-parcel-facility-in-poland/ |access-date=September 18, 2023 |website=Post & Parcel |language=en-US |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327061615/https://postandparcel.info/80112/news/parcel/ups-opens-new-parcel-facility-in-poland/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Turkey ====
UPS has 15 small package and four SCS operating facilities in Turkey, located in various cities such as [[Istanbul]], [[Ankara]], [[İzmir|Izmir]], [[Bursa]], and [[Antalya]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2021 |title=UPS Turkey Fact Sheet 2021 |url=https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/fact-sheets/europe/TR_2021_fact_sheet.pdf |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=UPS fact sheet |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222021601/https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/fact-sheets/europe/TR_2021_fact_sheet.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Asia-Pacific Region ===

==== Asia-Pacific Air Hub ====
UPS's Asia-Pacific Air Hub is located at [[Changi Airport|Singapore Changi Airport]]. It is the company's largest hub outside of the United States, and handles over 1.1 million packages per day.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Damian |date=March 3, 2023 |title=UPS expands at Changi Airport as it targets e-commerce |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/sectors/express/ups-expands-at-changi-airport-as-it-targets-e-commerce/ |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=CHANGI PHARMA HUB |url=https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/partnerships/cargo/changi-pharma-hub.html |access-date=September 18, 2023 |website=Changi Airport |archive-date=October 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011022728/https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/partnerships/cargo/changi-pharma-hub.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The hub has been expanded by 25% in 2023 to meet the growing [[e-commerce]] demand following the [[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]]. After the upgrade, it can process 40% more import packages and 45% more export packages, enabling extended pick-up cut-off times for all export services.<ref name=":4" />

The hub also features [[refrigerator]]s and [[Refrigerator|freezers]] that can maintain temperatures between {{cvt|-20|and|25|Celsius}} to facilitate the temporary storage of shipments, especially for critical healthcare deliveries such as COVID-19 [[vaccine]]s. It is part of Changi's [[cold chain]] infrastructure, which ensures an unbroken cold chain for [[Pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical manufacturers]].<ref name=":5" />

==== Regional hubs ====
UPS has five regional hubs in the Asia-Pacific region, located in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. These hubs serve as major sorting and distribution centers for packages moving within and between regions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smyth |first=Danielle |date=April 1, 2020 |title=List of United Parcel Service Hubs |url=https://bizfluent.com/info-8452377-list-united-parcel-service-hubs.html |access-date=September 19, 2023 |website=Bizfluent |language=en }}</ref>

== Finances ==
{{Overly detailed|section|date=January 2021}}
For the fiscal year 2023, UPS reported earnings of US$6.71{{nbsp}}billion, with an annual revenue of US$90.96{{nbsp}}billion, a 9{{nbsp}}percent decrease over the previous fiscal cycle.<ref name=10K /> UPS ranked {{Numero|34}} on the 2022 [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fortune 500 US List for 2022 |url=https://fortune.com/company/ups/fortune500/ |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=Fortune |language=en-US |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317150431/https://fortune.com/company/ups/fortune500/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable float-left" style="text-align: right;"
!Year
!Revenue<br />in mil. USD
!Net income<br />in mil. USD
!Total Assets<br />in mil. USD
!Employees
|-
|2005
|42,581
|3,870
|34,947
|407,000
|-
|2006
|47,547
|4,202
|33,210
|428,000
|-
|2007
|49,692
|382
|39,042
|425,300
|-
|2008
|51,486
|3,003
|31,879
|426,000
|-
|2009
|45,297
| 1,968
|31,883
|408,000
|-
|2010
|49,545
| 3,338
|33,597
|400,600
|-
|2011
|53,105
|3,804
|34,701
|398,000
|-
|2012
|54,127
|807
|38,863
|399,000
|-
|2013
|55,438
|4,372
|36,212
|395,000
|-
|2014
|58,232
|3,032
|35,440
|435,000
|-
|2015
|58,363
| 4,844
|38,311
|444,000
|-
|2016
|60,906
|3,431
|40,377
|434,000
|-
|2017
|65,872
|4,910
|45,403
|454,000
|-
|2018
|71,861
|4,791
|50,016
|481,000
|-
|2019
|74,094
|4,440
|57,857
|495,000
|-
|2020
|84,628
|1,343
|62,408
|458,000
|-
|2021
|97,287
|12,890
|69,405
|534,000
|-
|2022
|100,338
|11,548
|71,124
|536,000
|-
|2023
|90,958
|6,708
|70,857
|500,000
|}

==Operations==
UPS's primary business is the time-definite delivery of packages and documents worldwide. In recent years, UPS has extended its service portfolio to include less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation and [[supply chain]] services, primarily in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Topics |first=Transport |date=2025-04-08 |title=UPS Targets LTL, E-Commerce With New Delivery Options - TT |url=https://www.ttnews.com/articles/ups-expands-ground-options |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=Transport Topics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cassidy |first=William |date= |title=UPS seeks reentry into LTL space as LTL costs climb higher {{!}} Journal of Commerce |url=https://joc.com/article/ups-seeks-reentry-into-ltl-space-as-ltl-costs-climb-higher-5998091 |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=joc.com |language=en}}</ref>

UPS reports its operations in three segments:

* U.S. Domestic Package operations, 
* International Package operations, and 
* Supply Chain & Freight operations.

===United States domestic shipping===
UPS services for consumers include:

* '''UPS Ground''' for day-definite delivery. Can take up to 5 days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ground Shipping Services - Rates & Delivery Times {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/ground.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143948/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/ground.page |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''UPS 3-Day Select''' for less-sensitive express shipments. This service may use either air or ground transportation depending on distance, demand, and weather conditions, and as noted by its name, can take up to three days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS 3 Day Select® {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/3-day-select.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143955/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/3-day-select.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''UPS 2nd Day Air''' for packages that must arrive within two days. UPS also offers a 2nd Day Air AM service which offers morning delivery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.® {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/2nd-day-air-am.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143950/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/2nd-day-air-am.page |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2nd Day Air Shipping - Quotes {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/2nd-day-air.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143951/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/2nd-day-air.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''UPS Next Day Air''' for shipments that require overnight service. UPS splits Next Day Air into three tiers:
** '''Next Day Air Saver:''' guaranteed overnight shipping with afternoon delivery<ref>{{Cite web |title=Next Day Air Saver Delivery - Options & Rates {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/next-day-air-saver.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143948/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/next-day-air-saver.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** '''Next Day Air''': guaranteed overnight delivery between 10:30 AM and noon<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS Next Day Air Shipping - Options & Rates {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/next-day-air.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143950/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/next-day-air.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** '''Next Day Air Early''': guaranteed overnight shipping by 8:30 AM for major US cities and 9:30 AM to most other destinations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Next Day Air Early Shipping - Options & Rates {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/next-day-air-early.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143950/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/next-day-air-early.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''UPS Express Critical:''' UPS' fastest service. Delivers to all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico by end of day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Express Critical Domestic Shipping - Options & Rates {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/express-critical.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143952/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/services/domestic/express-critical.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>

UPS also offers UPS SurePost, in which packages are handled by UPS in intermodal transit, and delivered last-mile by USPS.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2018 |title=How Does UPS SurePost Work? |url=https://shipware.com/blog/how-does-ups-surepost-work/ |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=Shipware |language=en-US |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143949/https://shipware.com/blog/how-does-ups-surepost-work/ |url-status=live }}</ref>[[Image:HTS Systems UPS Ground.jpg|thumb|right|280px|UPS delivery van with packages in 2013]]

===International Package===
[[File:Natbagg012.jpg|thumb|UPS has service worldwide, including at Israel's [[Ben Gurion International Airport]].]]

International Package operations include delivery to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide,<ref name="UPS Fact Sheet">{{cite web |url=https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193 |title=UPS Fact Sheet |access-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130120256/https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193 |url-status=live }}</ref> including shipments wholly outside the United States, as well as shipments with either origin or distribution outside the United States.

UPS splits its international shipping into a few services:

* '''UPS Standard''' for shipments to Mexico and Canada<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS Standard Shipping - Options & Rates {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/standard.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143948/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/standard.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''UPS Worldwide Expedited''' for all international shipments usually delivered within 2-5 business days<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS Worldwide Expedited Shipping Services & Quotes {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/worldwide-expedited.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143954/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/worldwide-expedited.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''UPS Worldwide Saver''', also for all international shipments usually delivered overnight to Canada, 2 Days to Mexico, Latin America, and Europe, and 3 or more days to the rest of the world, all by the end of the day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS Worldwide Saver {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/worldwide-saver.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143952/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/worldwide-saver.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''UPS Worldwide Express''' for more critical international shipments with similar time frames to Worldwide Saver. Delivers around 10:30 AM to Noon.
* '''UPS Worldwide Express Plus''' for Worldwide Express shipments that need to arrive to their destination earlier in the morning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS Worldwide Express Plus® {{!}} UPS - United States |url=https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/worldwide-express-plus.page |access-date=May 24, 2021 |website=www.ups.com |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524143953/https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/international/services/worldwide-express-plus.page |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Supply Chain & Freight===
Supply Chain & Freight (UPS-SCS for UPS Supply Chain Solutions) includes UPS' [[Freight forwarder|forwarding]] and [[contract logistics]] operations and other related business units. UPS' forwarding and logistics business provides services in more than 175 countries and territories worldwide and includes worldwide supply chain design, execution and management, freight forwarding and distribution, customs brokerage, mail and consulting services.

Other business units within this segment include [[The UPS Store]] and UPS Capital.<ref>The former name for The UPS Store was [[Mail Boxes Etc.]], which continues to operate outside the United States and Canada. The UPS Store, Inc. is the franchisor for The UPS Store in the U.S. and Canada. {{cite web |url=http://www.bluemaumau.org/7292/ups_sells_off_mbe_brand_outside_us_canada_and_india |title=UPS Sells Off MBE Brand outside US, Canada and India |access-date=November 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506012521/http://www.bluemaumau.org/7292/ups_sells_off_mbe_brand_outside_us_canada_and_india |archive-date=May 6, 2012 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

* Trailer / railroad [[reporting marks]]: UPGX, UPGZ, UPOZ, UPSZ, UPWZ, UPSC, UPSU, NONZ <ref name="CTG09">{{Cite book |title=Canadian Trackside Guide |last1=Roberts |first1=Earl W. |last2=Stremes |first2=David P. |year=2009 |page=Chapter 18 Page 27 |publisher=Bytown Railway Society |location=Ottawa, Ontario }}</ref>
* [[National Motor Freight Traffic Association|NMFTA]] [[Standard Carrier Alpha Codes|SCAC code]]: UPSS, UPSN, UPSC

Until 2021, this segment also included UPS Freight which offered a variety of less than truckload ("LTL") and truckload ("TL") services to customers in North America. UPS Freight was sold to TFI International in April 2021 and was renamed [[TForce Freight]].<ref name="TFITOBUYUPSF" /><ref name="TFIBUYSUPSF" />

===Personnel structure===
In 2016, UPS employed approximately 444,000 staff: 362,000 in the U.S. and 82,000 internationally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193 |title=UPS Fact Sheet |work=ups.com |access-date=June 24, 2016 |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815111813/https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, approximately 330,000 UPS drivers, package handlers, and clerks are represented by the [[International Brotherhood of Teamsters]] with more than 50% of those being part-time workers.{{r |WSJ_2023-07-05 }}<ref name=NPR_2023-07-25 >{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/25/1189956641/ups-union-calls-off-strike-threat-after-securing-pay-raises-for-workers |title=UPS union calls off strike threat after securing pay raises for workers |last=Kaye |first=Danielle |newspaper=[[NPR]] |date=July 25, 2023 |quote=It is the largest private-sector contract in North America, covering roughly 340,000 UPS workers. ... Contract negotiations stalled in early July over wages for part-time workers, who make up more than half of the unionized workforce at UPS. }}</ref> In 2023, the average UPS full-time package delivery worker with more than four years experience was paid $95,000 per year.<ref name=WSJ_2023-07-05 >{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-teamsters-hit-roadblock-in-labor-talks-fb1e5962 |title=UPS, Teamsters Hit Roadblock in Labor Talks as Strike Looms |last=Fung |first=Esther |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |date=July 5, 2023 }}</ref>

During the [[United Parcel Service strike of 1997]], the company's only nationwide strike in its history, which lasted 16 days, Teamster President [[Ron Carey (labor leader)|Ron Carey]] negotiated a new contract for workers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/20/ups.update.early/ |title=It's official: Teamsters end UPS strike |access-date=August 19, 2007 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516164058/http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/20/ups.update.early/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2023, before their contract was set to expire, a strike was threatened over union demands of increases in wages, benefits, and air conditioning in delivery vans.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deliso |first=Meredith |date=July 8, 2023 |title=What to know about the potential UPS Teamsters strike |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/potential-ups-teamsters-strike/story?id=100793059 |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=ABC News |language=en }}</ref>{{r |CNN_2023-06-12 }}<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS to train nonunion employees as talks stall with union for 340,000 workers and deadline nears {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/news/683594/b92dc20b095d1a62958b8c6a11d061bb |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en }}</ref> A 10-day strike would have been the largest single-employer strike in US history and would have cost the US economy more than $7 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=July 14, 2023 |title=A 10-day UPS strike could be the costliest in US history {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/14/economy/ups-strike-economic-impact/index.html |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en }}</ref><ref name=CNN_2023-06-12>{{Cite web |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=June 12, 2023 |title=A massive UPS strike could devastate the economy. It could be just eight weeks away {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/12/business/teamsters-ups-strike-possibility/index.html |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en }}</ref>{{r |NPR_2023-07-25 }} The strike was called off after UPS agreed to increase starting pay for part-time workers to $21 per hour, in addition to other concessions.{{r |NPR_2023-07-25 }}
UPS had previously announced the non-economic portions of the agreement had been settled, including to equip new delivery vans with air conditioning starting January 2024 combined with retrofitting existing vehicles with 2 fans, additional ventilation of the cargo area and shielding to reduce heat from the exhaust being transmitted to the cargo area of delivery vehicles. All tractor trailers are already equipped with AC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/teamsters-ups-come-to-terms-on-all-noneconomic-issues#:~:text=The%20Teamsters%20and%20UPS%20Inc.%20came%20to%20terms,UPS%2C%20and%20we%20did%20it%20as%20a%20team |title=Teamsters, UPS come to terms on all noneconomic issues |date=June 21, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ups-teamsters-agree-55-noneconomic-145829959.html |title=UPS, Teamsters agree to 55 noneconomic contract issues |work=Yahoo Finance |date=June 23, 2023 }}</ref>

===Chief executives===
* 1907–1962, [[James E. Casey|James E. "Jim" Casey]]
* 1962–1972, George D. Smith
* 1972–1973, Paul Oberkotter
* 1973–1980, Harold Oberkotter
* 1980–1984, George Lamb
* 1984–1989, [[Jack Rogers (UPS)|John W. Rogers]]
* 1989–1996, [[Kent C. Nelson|Kent C. "Oz" Nelson]]
* 1997–2001, James P. Kelly
* 2002–2007, [[Mike Eskew|Michael L. "Mike" Eskew]]
* 2008–2014, [[Scott Davis (businessman)|Scott Davis]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://investor.shareholder.com/ups/news/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=269116 |title=UPS Chairman & CEO Mike Eskew to Retire; Scott Davis Named as Successor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017093100/http://investor.shareholder.com/ups/news/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=269116 |archive-date=October 17, 2007 }}</ref>
* 2014–2020, David Abney
* 2020–current, [[Carol Tomé|Carol B. Tomé]]

==Competitors==
Major competitors in the United States include the [[United States Postal Service]] (USPS), [[FedEx]], and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon Logistics]], along with regional carriers such as [[OnTrac]], and [[LSO (company)|LSO]] (formerly Lonestar Overnight).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon leapfrogs UPS and 4 other takeaways from a top shipping index {{!}} Supply Chain Dive |url=https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/amazon-ups-4-other-takeaways-from-shipping-index-pitney-bowes/713329/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.supplychaindive.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to these domestic carriers, UPS competes with a variety of international operators, including [[SF Express]], [[Canada Post]] (and its subsidiary [[Purolator Inc.|Purolator]]), [[TransForce]], [[Deutsche Post]] (and its subsidiary [[DHL Express|DHL]]), [[La Poste (France)]] (and its subsidiary [[Chronopost]]), [[Royal Mail]], [[Japan Post Service]], and many other regional carriers, national postal services and air cargo handlers.

Historically, the bulk of competition for UPS came from inexpensive ground-based delivery services, such as [[Parcel post|Parcel Post]] (USPS) or Choice Logistics. In 1998, FedEx expanded into ground parcel delivery through its acquisition of [[Roadway Package System|RPS]] (formerly Roadway Package System), rebranding it as [[FedEx Ground]] in 2000. In 2003, DHL acquired [[Airborne Express]], expanding its operations in the United States.

In response to the expansion of FedEx and DHL, UPS partnered with the US Postal Service to offer UPS Mail Innovations,<ref>[http://www.upsmailinnovations.com/ UPSmailinnovations.com] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119082328/https://www.upsmailinnovations.com/ |date=January 19, 2021 }}. UPSmailinnovations.com. Retrieved on July 12, 2011.</ref> a program that allows UPS to pick up mail and packages weighing under one pound separately from the main ground network and transfer them to a USPS center, or destination delivery unit (DDU),<ref>[http://pe.usps.gov/Archive/HTML/DMMArchive1209/E250.htm PE.usps.gov] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705155849/http://pe.usps.gov/Archive/HTML/DMMArchive1209/E250.htm |date=July 5, 2007 }}. PE.usps.gov. Retrieved on July 12, 2011.</ref> for final distribution. This process is also known as zone skipping,<ref>[http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/advisor/zone_skipping/ Multichannelmerchant.com] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529230855/http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/advisor/zone_skipping/ |date=May 29, 2012 }}. Multichannelmerchant.com (January 18, 2006). Retrieved on July 12, 2011.</ref> long used by parcel consolidators.<ref>[https://www.usps.com/business/shipping-consolidators.htm Shipping Consolidators] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221111942/https://www.usps.com/business/shipping-consolidators.htm |date=February 21, 2021 }}. USPS.com. Retrieved on January 2, 2013.</ref> UPS also has a separate product called "SurePost" which uses the UPS Ground network to deliver packages weighing under 10 pounds to the nearest UPS Package Center, which transfers them to the USPS DDU for "final mile" delivery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/ups_rolls_out_new_economy_ground_service_for_delivery_to_residential_locati/ |title=UPS rolls out new economy ground service for delivery to residential locations |date=April 11, 2011 |work=logisticsmgmt.com |access-date=December 5, 2012 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920230248/https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/ups_rolls_out_new_economy_ground_service_for_delivery_to_residential_locati |url-status=live }}</ref>

More recently, the continued growth of [[online shopping]], combined with increasing awareness of the role of transportation (including package delivery) on the [[Natural environment|environment]], has contributed to the rise of emerging competition from niche carriers or rebranded incumbents. For instance, the US Postal Service claims "greener delivery" of parcels on the assumption that USPS letter carriers deliver to each US address, six days a week anyway, and therefore offer the industry's lowest fuel consumption per delivery. Other carriers, like ParcelPool.com,<ref>[http://www.parcelpool.com/ Parcelpool.com] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302063122/http://www.parcelpool.com/ |date=March 2, 2015 }}. Parcelpool.com. Retrieved on July 12, 2011.</ref> which specializes in residential package delivery to [[APO/FPO]] addresses, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and other US Territories, arose in response to increased demand from catalog retailers and online e-tailers for low-cost residential delivery services closely matching service standards normally associated with more expensive expedited parcel delivery.

In 2019, UPS sued in an attempt to force USPS to raise their prices, but was rejected by the Supreme Court.<ref name="Sue raise rates">{{cite news |last1=Stohr |first1=Greg |title=Supreme Court Rejects UPS on Postal Service Delivery Prices |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-20/ups-rejected-by-supreme-court-on-postal-service-delivery-prices |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |date=May 20, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111100649/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-20/ups-rejected-by-supreme-court-on-postal-service-delivery-prices |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Transportation==
UPS operates over 119,000 delivery vehicles worldwide, ranging from bicycles to tractor-trailer trucks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193 |title=UPS Fact Sheet |work=UPS Pressroom |access-date=September 11, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815111813/https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a long-running company policy to avoid advertisement or endorsement of a vehicle manufacturer, all external manufacturer emblems and badging are removed when a vehicle enters service (whenever possible).

The typical lifespan of a UPS ground vehicle is 20–25 years (or more), lasting until the structural integrity is compromised. The company does not re-sell any of its ground vehicles. As such, retired vehicles are almost always stripped of reusable parts before being sent to be crushed/broken up. Prior to scrapping, UPS trucks and trailers have all company branding painted over and are assigned an ADA (Automotive Destruction Authorization) number and must be crushed under the supervision of UPS Automotive personnel, which records the vehicle's destruction. The only exception to this policy are vehicles taken off the road for internal company use; package cars (repainted white) are used for various purposes (typically at large hubs); older semi tractors sometimes see use as [[terminal tractor]]s.

===Delivery vans===
UPS refers to its [[Multi-stop truck|delivery van]] as a "package car". Several designs and sizes are used by the company, dependent on routes and package volume; the distinct design of the rounded "bubble-nose" front hood and upper roofline was introduced in 1965. The bodies of the package cars are manufactured by [[Morgan Olson]] (Grumman Olson), [[Utilimaster Corporation|Union City Body]], and [[Utilimaster Corporation|Utilimaster]]; while older vehicles were based on Ford or General Motors P-chassis, vehicles manufactured in the 21st century use [[Freightliner Trucks|Freightliner]] or [[Workhorse Group|Workhorse]] chassis.

Until the end of the 20th century, UPS delivery vehicles were equipped with manual transmissions and steering, with automatic transmissions and power steering adopted by newer vehicles.

For lower-volume delivery routes, UPS utilizes production-based vehicles, including minivans (including the [[Ford Transit Connect]] or the [[Ford Transit]], and [[Dodge Caravan|Dodge Grand Caravan C/V]]) and [[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter|Mercedes-Benz (Dodge/Freightliner) Sprinter]] box vans. UPS has ordered [[Modec]] [[electric van]]s for its UK and German fleets. Energy costs play a huge part in the potential profitability of package delivery companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.4evriders.org/2008/11/europe-ups-orders-modec-electric-vans-for-uk-and-german-fleets/ |title=Europe: UPS Orders Modec Electric Vans for UK and German Fleets |date=November 20, 2008 |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=October 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004214701/http://www.4evriders.org/2008/11/europe-ups-orders-modec-electric-vans-for-uk-and-german-fleets/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:UPS truck (3550005149).jpg|1990s Grumman Olson/Navistar package car, showing 1965-design rounded nose and upper fascia
File:UPS package car.jpg|2000s propane-fueled package car in Montreal, Quebec
File:UPSvanOntario.JPG|Early 2010s package car in Ontario
File:2012 Isuzu Reach (UPS), NYC.jpg|[[Utilimaster Corporation|Utilimaster]]-body package car on [[Isuzu Reach]] chassis in New York City
File:57th St Bway td (2018-08-16) 16.jpg|[[Ram ProMaster]] package car
File:Neuesupsfahrzeug.jpeg|[[Modec]] electric-powered van in Germany
File:2012 Iveco Daily 70C15 UPS Box Van 3.0.jpg|[[Iveco Daily]] package car in [[Leamington Spa]], United Kingdom
</gallery>
Most UPS Ground vehicles have no air conditioning, with the exception of tractor-trailers. This has been considered to be a contributing factor to heatstroke and other heat-related health problems in drivers who work in these vehicles for the entire shift.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Visram |first1=Talib |title=UPS doesn't air condition its trucks. This petition aims to change that |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/02/news/companies/ups-air-conditioning/index.html |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=CNNMoney |date=August 2, 2018 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125030233/https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/02/news/companies/ups-air-conditioning/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UPS Workers Push For Air-Conditioned Trucks, More Regulations on Heat Exposure - |url=https://ohsonline.com/articles/2019/07/22/ups-workers-push-for-air-conditioned-trucks-more-regulations-on-heat-exposure.aspx |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=Occupational Health & Safety |language=en |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202190411/https://ohsonline.com/articles/2019/07/22/ups-workers-push-for-air-conditioned-trucks-more-regulations-on-heat-exposure.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UPS delivery drivers at risk of heat-related illnesses |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/hot-seat-ups-delivery-drivers-are-risk-heat-stroke-kidney-n1031321 |access-date=August 21, 2019 |work=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131041053/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/hot-seat-ups-delivery-drivers-are-risk-heat-stroke-kidney-n1031321 |url-status=live }}</ref> Modern vehicles have improved ventilation systems.

On January 29, 2020, UPS invested in [[Arrival (company)|Arrival]] and ordered 10,000 Generation 2 Electric Vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://arrival.com/news/ups-invests-in-arrival-and-orders-10000-generation-2-electric-vehicles |title=UPS invests in Arrival and orders 10,000 Generation 2 Electric Vehicles |access-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202120357/https://arrival.com/news/ups-invests-in-arrival-and-orders-10000-generation-2-electric-vehicles |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:UPS Ford Conventional (7392935116).jpg|UPS 1990 [[Ford L-Series|Ford LN8000]] in Seattle, Washington
File:Ford F-650 UPS truck 2.jpg|2017 Ford F-650 in New York City
File:UPS Truck in Beatty Nevada (1).jpg|UPS [[International 9000]] towing triple trailers in Beatty, Nevada
File:UPS-PN05UPR 127530.jpg|UPS [[DAF LF]] cabover straight truck in Plymouth, United Kingdom
File:UPS MAN TGL COE truck Denmark.jpg|UPS MAN TGL truck in Denmark
</gallery>

===Bicycles===
In 2008, UPS started hiring bicycle delivery personnel in [[Vancouver, Washington]], and in several cities in Oregon ([[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]], [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]], [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]], and [[Medford, Oregon|Medford]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bikeportland.org/2008/11/14/ups-gears-up-for-holidays-with-bike-delivery/ |title=UPS gears up for holidays with bike delivery |first=Jonathan |last=Maus |date=November 14, 2008 |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626104525/http://bikeportland.org/2008/11/14/ups-gears-up-for-holidays-with-bike-delivery/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In fall of 2018, UPS announced a new program in Seattle, Washington using pedal-assist electric cargo bikes (made by Portland-based Truck Trike) around [[Pike Place Market|Pike Place]] and other congested downtown areas.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90254825/ups-is-experimenting-with-delivering-packages-by-e-bike |title=UPS is experimenting with delivering packages by e-bike |date=October 25, 2018 |work=Fast Company |access-date=October 28, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216020034/https://www.fastcompany.com/90254825/ups-is-experimenting-with-delivering-packages-by-e-bike |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://bikeportland.org/2018/10/25/portland-made-truck-trike-stars-in-ups-cargo-delivery-pilot-program-in-seattle-291451 |title=Portland-made Truck Trike stars in UPS cargo delivery pilot program in Seattle - BikePortland.org |date=October 25, 2018 |work=BikePortland.org |access-date=October 28, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021170854/https://bikeportland.org/2018/10/25/portland-made-truck-trike-stars-in-ups-cargo-delivery-pilot-program-in-seattle-291451 |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Amsterdam]] UPS also uses Urban Arrow delivery bicycles for delivery via a granted [[concession (contract)|concession]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://parcls.com/en/ |title=Home |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209042010/https://parcls.com/en/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:UPS Lastenfahrrad in Hamburg.jpg|UPS e-drive electric-assisted cargo tricycle in Hamburg, Germany
File:UPS Lastenfahrrad in Köln 02.jpg|UPS e-drive electric-assisted cargo tricycle in Cologne, Germany
</gallery>

=== Cargo airline ===
{{Main|UPS Airlines}}
[[File:UPS B763-ER N358UP (14668119305).jpg|left|thumb|280x280px|A Boeing 767-34AF/ER aircraft (N358UP) of United Parcel Service (UPS) at [[Helsinki-Vantaa Airport]]]]
[[File:UPS MD-11.jpg|thumb|280x280px|UPS [[McDonnell-Douglas MD-11]] taking off at [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport]]]]
[[File:N578UP - United Parcel Service (UPS) - Boeing 747-45E(BCF) - HKG (13219958434).jpg|alt=|thumb|280x280px|UPS Boeing 747-400BCF landing at [[Hong Kong International Airport]] in 2014]]
The fourth-largest cargo airline worldwide, UPS Airlines flies to over 800 destinations worldwide (the most of any airline, cargo or passenger). Formed in 1988, the airline is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky (home to [[WorldPort (UPS air hub)|Worldport]], its worldwide air hub) with additional hubs in the United States located in [[Ontario, California]], [[Dallas]], Texas, [[Rockford, Illinois]] and [[Philadelphia]].<ref name=":0" /> Outside of North America, a hub in [[Cologne|Cologne, Germany]] services Europe;<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8286775 |title=UPS Airlines, Inc.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=February 14, 2017 |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214002300/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=8286775 |archive-date=February 14, 2017 }}</ref> in Asia, UPS Airlines operates a facility in Hong Kong and two hubs in mainland China.<ref name=":0" />

Consisting of a fleet of nearly 300 aircraft (as of 2025),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beresnevicius |first=Rytis |date=2023-03-23 |title=UPS to introduce second-hand Boeing 747-8Fs in 2024 - AeroTime |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/ups-to-introduce-second-hand-boeing-747-8fs-in-2024 |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=www.aerotime.aero |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=STAT |date=2025-06-10 |title=Additional UPS flight boosts India-Europe air cargo capacity |url=https://www.stattimes.com/air-cargo/additional-ups-flight-boosts-india-europe-air-cargo-capacity-1355529 |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=www.stattimes.com |language=en}}</ref> the airline competes directly against [[FedEx Express]], facilitating air shipments by the company in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.<ref name=":1" />

=== Cargo drone airline ===
{{Main|UPS Flight Forward}}
UPS Flight Forward is a subsidiary which was formed in July 2019<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/23/ups-forms-a-new-subsidiary-for-drone-delivery-and-seeks-faa-approval-to-fly/ |title=UPS forms a new subsidiary for drone delivery and seeks FAA approval to fly |website=TechCrunch |date=July 23, 2019 |language=en-US |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029214901/https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/23/ups-forms-a-new-subsidiary-for-drone-delivery-and-seeks-faa-approval-to-fly/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and approved by FAA for Part 135 Standard certification, first ever to receive this specific type of certification. The FAA's Part 135 Standard certification allows company to operate an unlimited number of drones of any size (even allowing the cargo to exceed 55 pounds) even with an unlimited number of remote operators in command.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/01/ups-gets-faa-approval-to-operate-an-entire-drone-delivery-airline/ |title=UPS gets FAA approval to operate an entire drone delivery airline |website=TechCrunch |date=October 2019 |language=en-US |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704044753/https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/01/ups-gets-faa-approval-to-operate-an-entire-drone-delivery-airline/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Company brand==
{{multiple image
| direction = horizontal
| width1 = 135
| width2 = 151
| width3 = 118
| width4 = 129
| align = right
| footer = Versions of the UPS shield logo (''left to right''), the 1916 eagle logo, the {{Circa|1937}} logo, [[Paul Rand]]'s 1961 version, and the modern 2003 rendering
| image1 = UPS logo (c 1916 1937).svg
| image2 = UPS logo (c 1937 1961).svg
| image3 = UPS logo (1961-2003).svg
| image4 = United Parcel Service logo 2014.svg}}

===Brown===
The brown color that UPS uses on its vehicles and uniforms is called ''[[Pullman brown]]''. Company founder James E. Casey originally wanted company vehicles to use a yellow paint scheme, but one of his partners, Charlie Soderstrom, stated that a yellow vehicle would be hard to keep clean and that [[Pullman (car or coach)|Pullman railroad cars]] were brown for just that reason.<ref name="cnn" />

During the 2000s, the company used the familiarity of its color scheme in an advertising slogan: ''"What can Brown do for you?"''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,3917,00.html |title=UPS Launches Biggest, "Brownest" Ad Campaign Ever |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021102082746/http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0%2C1363%2C3917%2C00.html |archive-date=November 2, 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Font===
UPS commissioned brand consultancy FutureBrand to develop its own font, ''UPS Sans'', for use in marketing and communication material. ''UPS Sans'' was created by slightly altering certain parts of [[FSI FontShop International]]'s font ''[[FF Dax]]'' without permission. This has resulted in an agreement between FSI FontShop International and FutureBrand to avoid litigation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://typophile.com/node/17362 |title=FontShop and Unnamed Firm Reach Agreement |access-date=May 22, 2008 |work=FSI Press Release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704154822/http://www.typophile.com/node/17362 |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Reputation===
[[File:UPS truck in bike lane in Philadelphia (cropped).jpg|thumb|UPS truck illegally parked in a bike lane in Philadelphia]]
UPS has been criticized for its treatment of its workforce, including providing inadequate protections and [[sick leave]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="NYT terrified">{{cite news |last1=Abrams |first1=Rachel |last2=Silver-Greenberg |first2=Jessica |title='Terrified' Package Delivery Employees Are Going to Work Sick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/business/coronavirus-ups-fedex-xpo-workers.html |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 21, 2020 |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218110714/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/business/coronavirus-ups-fedex-xpo-workers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The company has also been subject to perennial criticism for damaged, late, or otherwise mishandled packages.<ref name="Kicking">{{cite news |last1=Dolan |first1=Jim |title=Video: UPS driver seen kicking expensive package |url=http://7online.com/news/video-ups-driver-seen-kicking-expensive-package/370695/ |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[WABC-TV|ABC7 New York]] |date=October 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231044145/http://7online.com/news/video-ups-driver-seen-kicking-expensive-package/370695/ |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |language=en }}</ref><ref name="Throwing KMOV">{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=Alexis Zotos |title=Video shows UPS drivers throwing packages all over woman's front yard |url=https://www.kmov.com/news/video-shows-ups-drivers-throwing-packages-all-over-womans-front-yard/article_405c9ba1-b854-5b2a-a804-5581e5d3cdc7.html |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[KMOV]] |date=December 18, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111092857/https://www.kmov.com/news/video-shows-ups-drivers-throwing-packages-all-over-womans-front-yard/article_405c9ba1-b854-5b2a-a804-5581e5d3cdc7.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Late 2013">{{cite news |last1=Levs |first1=Josh |title=There yet? UPS, FedEx moving Christmas packages late |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/12/26/us/christmas-shipping-delays/index.html |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[CNN]] |date=December 26, 2013 |language=en |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220110752/https://www.cnn.com/2013/12/26/us/christmas-shipping-delays/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Safe streets movement|Safe streets]] activists have attacked UPS, along with other parcel delivery services, for frequently illegally parking their vehicles in bike lanes while making deliveries, a practice that endangers cyclists.<ref name="NYT clog">{{cite news |last1=Haag |first1=Matthew |last2=Hu |first2=Winnie |title=1.5 Million Packages a Day: The Internet Brings Chaos to N.Y. Streets (Published 2019) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/nyregion/nyc-amazon-delivery.html |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 27, 2019 |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128210832/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/27/nyregion/nyc-amazon-delivery.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Streetsblog Denver">{{cite news |last1=Sachs |first1=David |title=FedEx, UPS Don't Seem to Care About Blocking Denver Bike Lanes. What Can Be Done? |url=https://denver.streetsblog.org/2018/03/05/fedex-ups-dont-seem-to-care-about-blocking-denver-bike-lanes-what-can-be-done/ |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[Streetsblog]] Denver |date=March 5, 2018 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123030447/https://denver.streetsblog.org/2018/03/05/fedex-ups-dont-seem-to-care-about-blocking-denver-bike-lanes-what-can-be-done/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Streetsblog NYC">{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=David |title=Just Another Day in New York City's Perpetually Blocked Bike Lanes |url=https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2018/08/01/just-another-day-in-new-york-citys-perpetually-blocked-bike-lanes/ |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[Streetsblog]] New York City |date=August 1, 2018 |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208004133/https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2018/08/01/just-another-day-in-new-york-citys-perpetually-blocked-bike-lanes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They were sued over it in New York in 2015,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fanelli |first1=James |title=Harlem Bicyclist Sues UPS for Repeatedly Blocking Bike Lanes |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151002/central-harlem/harlem-bicyclist-sues-ups-for-routinely-parking-trucks-bike-lanes/ |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[DNAinfo]] |date=October 2, 2015 |archive-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123201109/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20151002/central-harlem/harlem-bicyclist-sues-ups-for-routinely-parking-trucks-bike-lanes/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="CNBC sue">{{cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |title=New York man sues UPS for blocking bicycle lanes |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/02/ups-sued-for-repeatedly-blocking-new-york-bike-lanes.html |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[CNBC]] |date=October 2, 2015 |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111071209/https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/02/ups-sued-for-repeatedly-blocking-new-york-bike-lanes.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Bus lane blocked NYT">{{cite news |last1=Nir |first1=Sarah Maslin |title=Bus Lane Blocked, He Trained His Computer to Catch Scofflaws (Published 2018) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/nyregion/bike-lane-blocked-new-york.html |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 15, 2018 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111105936/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/nyregion/bike-lane-blocked-new-york.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and criticized alongside peers in a letter from [[District Department of Transportation|Washington, D.C.'s transportation agency]] in 2018.<ref name="Curbed parking">{{cite news |last1=Giambrone |first1=Andrew |title=Don't park in bike lanes, D.C. officials tell major mail carriers |url=https://dc.curbed.com/2018/11/5/18065202/dc-bike-lanes-mail-carriers-vision-zero |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[Curbed DC]] |date=November 5, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111115557/https://dc.curbed.com/2018/11/5/18065202/dc-bike-lanes-mail-carriers-vision-zero |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Environmental record==
As of 2013, UPS has over 104,900 vehicles in operation worldwide including nearly 7,000 [[alternative fuel]] vehicles.<ref name="About">{{cite web |url=http://www.investors.ups.com/static-files/36277c15-d055-4147-b150-f3d0d8f35996 |title=UPS Fact Sheet |publisher=Globenewswire |access-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320050337/http://www.investors.ups.com/static-files/36277c15-d055-4147-b150-f3d0d8f35996 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2008, UPS placed an order for 200 [[hybrid electric vehicle]]s (adding to the 50 it had at that point) and 300 [[compressed natural gas]] (which are 20% more fuel efficient, and add to the 800 it already has) vehicles from [[Daimler Trucks North America]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenews/2008/05/14/ups-orders-500-vehicles-for-%22green-fleet%22.htm |title=UPS orders 500 vehicles for green fleet |publisher=Canadian Driver |date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=February 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221155727/http://autos.ca/thenews/2008/05/14/ups-orders-500-vehicles-for-%22green-fleet%22.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12630&Itemid=14 |title=UPS Places Largest Order for "Green" Trucks Ever with Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) |date=May 15, 2010 |publisher=finchannel.com |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019160454/https://finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12630&Itemid=14 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/05/12/daily38.html |title=UPS orders more hybrid electric trucks |publisher=East Bay Business Times |date=May 13, 2008 |access-date=May 16, 2008 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812094847/http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/05/12/daily38.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The company added 200 hybrid electric vehicles to its fleet in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=PressReleases&id=1476126670812-578 |title=UPS Adds 200 Hybrid Electric Vehicles To Alternative Fuel Fleet |work=UPS Pressroom |access-date=May 16, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020230716/https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=PressReleases&id=1476126670812-578 |url-status=live }}</ref>

UPS received a "striding" rating of 80 points out of 100 totals on the environmental scorecard by the Climate Counts Group for its efforts to lessen the company's impact on the environment.<ref>[http://www.climatecounts.org/scorecard_score.php?co=70 UPS Score] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022015327/http://www.climatecounts.org/scorecard_score.php?co=70 |date=October 22, 2016 }} Climate Counts. Retrieved on August 8, 2018.</ref> UPS has also been awarded the Clean Air Excellence Award by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] because of the alternative fuel program it has developed.<ref>[http://www.csrwire.com/News/5355.html UPS Environmental Achievements Recognized by EPA; UPS Improves Air Quality through Environmental Programs] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426114440/http://www.csrwire.com/News/5355.html |date=April 26, 2009 }}. CSRwire.com (April 6, 2006). Retrieved on July 12, 2011.</ref> A few years later, the Environmental Protection Agency fined the UPS for not following environmental laws.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fortune.com/2022/10/20/ups-agrees-pay-epa-million-fix-hazardous-waste-violations-1160-locations/ |title=UPS to pay EPA $5.3m, fix hazardous waste violations at 1,160 locations &#124; Fortune |date=October 20, 2022 |access-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201122452/https://fortune.com/2022/10/20/ups-agrees-pay-epa-million-fix-hazardous-waste-violations-1160-locations/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2009, UPS became the first small-package carrier to offer customers the chance to buy [[carbon offset]]s to neutralize the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the transport of their packages. Although initially only available on ups.com and to high-volume shippers, they are now widely available through UPS shipping systems and UPS Ready third-party shipping systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carbonoffsetsdaily.com/carbonindustryinterviews/interview-scott-wicker-vp-sustainability-ups-on-ups%E2%80%99s-per-package-carbon-offsets-service-19424.htm |title=Interview: Scott Wicker, VP Sustainability, UPS on UPS's Per-Package Carbon Offsets Service |publisher=CarbonOffsetsDaily.com |date=October 13, 2009 |access-date=October 17, 2009 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003210610/http://www.carbonoffsetsdaily.com/carbonindustryinterviews/interview-scott-wicker-vp-sustainability-ups-on-ups%E2%80%99s-per-package-carbon-offsets-service-19424.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/carbonneutral/shipping.html Shipping carbon neutral with UPS] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816115007/http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/carbonneutral/shipping.html |date=August 16, 2011 }} UPS. Retrieved on July 12, 2011.</ref>

===Carbon footprint===
UPS reported Total [[carbon footprint|CO<sub>2</sub>e emissions]] (Direct + Indirect) for the twelve months ending December 31, 2020, at 16,500 Kt (+1,546/+10% y-o-y).<ref name ="UPS Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q4">{{Cite web |title=UPS's ESG Datasheet for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828230517/https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/reporting/sustainability-2021/2020_UPS_GRI_Content_Index_081921v2.pdf |url=https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/reporting/sustainability-2021/2020_UPS_GRI_Content_Index_081921v2.pdf |archive-date=August 28, 2021}} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2020Q4/12 Alt URL] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109174946/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202/2020Q4/12 |date=November 9, 2021 }}</ref> UPS aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS aims to become carbon neutral by 2050 |date=June 11, 2021 |url=https://www.edie.net/news/6/UPS-aims-for-carbon-neutral-by-2050/ |access-date=November 9, 2021 |archive-date=November 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109174948/https://www.edie.net/news/6/UPS-aims-for-carbon-neutral-by-2050/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ UPS's annual Total CO2e Emissions - Market-Based Scope 1 + Scope 2 (in kilotonnes)
|-
! Dec 2016 !! Dec 2017 !! Dec 2018 !! Dec 2019 !! Dec 2020
|-
| 13,263<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS's ESG Datasheet for 2017Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919055233/https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2017-gri-index.pdf |url=https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2017-gri-index.pdf |archive-date=September 19, 2020}} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2016Q4/12 Alt URL] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109174946/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202/2016Q4/12 |date=November 9, 2021 }}</ref> || 13,792<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS's ESG Datasheet for 2018Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319030053/https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2018-gri-index.pdf |url=https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2018-gri-index.pdf |archive-date=March 19, 2021}} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2017Q4/12 Alt URL] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109174952/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202/2017Q4/12 |date=November 9, 2021 }}</ref> || 14,635<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS's ESG Datasheet for 2019Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321185649/https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2019-gri-index.pdf |url=https://sustainability.ups.com/media/2019-gri-index.pdf |archive-date=March 21, 2021}} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2018Q4/12 Alt URL] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109174950/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202/2018Q4/12 |date=November 9, 2021 }}</ref> || 14,954<ref>{{Cite web |title=UPS's ESG Datasheet for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828230517/https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/reporting/sustainability-2021/2020_UPS_GRI_Content_Index_081921v2.pdf |url=https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/reporting/sustainability-2021/2020_UPS_GRI_Content_Index_081921v2.pdf |archive-date=August 28, 2021}} [https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20%2b%20Scope%202/2019Q4/12 Alt URL] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109174948/https://analytics.exerica.com/App/Name/UPS/Total%20CO2e%20Emissions%20-%20Market-Based%20Scope%201%20+%20Scope%202/2019Q4/12 |date=November 9, 2021 }}</ref> || 16,500<ref name="UPS Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q4"/>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia|Companies}}
* [[Big Brown (horse)|Big Brown]] – 2008 [[Kentucky Derby]] and [[Preakness Stakes]] winner; named after the company
* [[MaxiCode]] – A UPS developed and utilized square barcode-like symbol that appears on their package label

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Joe |title=The Package King: A Rank-and-File History of UPS |date=April 7, 2020 |publisher=[[Haymarket Books]] |location=Chicago, Illinois |isbn=9781642592177}}
* Brewster, Mike and Frederick Dalzell. ''Driving Change: The UPS Approach to Business'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/Driving-Change-UPS-Approach-Business/dp/1401302882 excerpt and text search]
* [[Thomas Friedman|Thomas L. Friedman]], "Insourcing," in ''The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century'', New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, updated and expanded, 2006, pp.&nbsp;167–176.
* Minchin, Timothy J. "Shutting Down 'Big Brown': Reassessing the 1997 UPS Strike and the Fate of American Labor," ''Labor History'', 53 (Nov. 2012), 541–60.
* Niemann, Greg. ''Big Brown: The Untold Story of UPS.'' New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
{{Finance links
| name = United Parcel Service, Inc.
| symbol = UPS
| sec_cik = 1090727
| yahoo = UPS
| google = UPS:NYSE
}}

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