United Parcel Service (UPS)
History
The UPS was founded on August 28, 1907, in Seattle, Washington, by two teenagers, James E. Casey and Claude Ryan. The original company, called American Messenger Company, was a bicycle messenger service. In 1913, the company merged with a local competitor, Merchants Parcel Delivery, and began using Ford Model T vehicles for deliveries. The company was renamed United Parcel Service in 1919, reflecting its nationwide operations.
Services
UPS offers a range of services including package delivery, freight transportation, logistics services, and retail services. The company'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 (primarily in the U.S.) and supply chain services.
Package Delivery
UPS's package delivery segment includes the delivery of letters, documents, and packages throughout the United States and in over 220 other countries and territories. The majority of items UPS handles fall within the package delivery segment. This includes the pick-up, transportation, and delivery of documents and packages.
Freight Transportation
The freight transportation services of UPS involve the movement of goods in bulk. This includes the transportation of palletized goods, containers, and other larger cargo. UPS's freight transportation services are primarily offered through three subsidiaries: UPS Freight, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and Coyote Logistics.
Logistics Services
UPS provides supply chain solutions through its subsidiary, UPS Supply Chain Solutions. The services offered by this subsidiary include freight forwarding, customs brokerage, fulfillment, returns, financial transactions, repair and engineering, and consulting. These services are designed to improve the flow of goods, information, and funds for multinational companies.
Retail Services
Through its subsidiary, The UPS Store, Inc., UPS provides a range of retail shipping, postal, printing, and business services. The UPS Store locations offer consumers and small businesses a wide range of products and services in one location. These include domestic and international shipping, packaging, postal services, printing, copying, mailbox services, and more.
Operations
UPS operates a vast, complex network to deliver packages and freight to more than 220 countries and territories. The company's operations include a ground fleet, an air fleet, sorting facilities, and a retail network.
Ground Fleet
UPS's ground fleet, known as Package Cars, is responsible for the majority of the company's deliveries. The fleet includes vehicles of various sizes to accommodate different delivery needs. UPS is also a leader in alternative fuel vehicles, with one of the largest private alternative fuel fleets in the U.S.
Air Fleet
UPS Airlines is a subsidiary of UPS and manages its air fleet, one of the largest in the world. The fleet includes a variety of aircraft types to meet different cargo needs, including Boeing 747s, 767s, and Airbus A300s. UPS Airlines operates out of its primary hub, Worldport, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Sorting Facilities
UPS operates numerous sorting facilities worldwide, where packages are sorted by destination and delivery route. The largest and most well-known of these is Worldport, the UPS global air hub located in Louisville, Kentucky. Other significant hubs are located in Cologne, Germany, and Shenzhen, China.
Retail Network
UPS's retail network includes The UPS Store locations, customer centers, and access points. These locations offer customers a place to drop off and pick up packages, as well as access other UPS services.
Corporate Affairs
UPS is headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. The company is governed by a board of directors and managed by a team of executive officers. UPS is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "UPS".
Sustainability
UPS is committed to sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. These include the use of alternative fuel vehicles, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable packaging. The company also participates in carbon offset programs and has set goals to reduce its carbon emissions.
Philanthropy
Through the UPS Foundation, the company supports various charitable causes. These include disaster relief, road safety, and educational programs. The foundation also encourages employee volunteerism and matches employee charitable contributions.