Six fewer shipping days till Christmas puts pressure on UPS, FedEx and USPS

Dec 5, 2019
This year's late Thanksgiving has put shippers on alert. They're reminding customers to send their gifts early.
UPS has sent emails and social media messages about shipping deadlines. Above, a UPS worker sorts packages in San Francisco.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Record number of returns expected this holiday season

Nov 29, 2019
Online returns are costing retailers more than ever. In-store returns, however, create an opportunity for a shopper to buy something else.
Retailers are feeling pressure to have a smooth returns process, in addition to fast shipping.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Holiday hiring is up despite economic uncertainties

Nov 15, 2019
But striking the right balance to meet demand is tricky this year.
Companies are offering higher wages, deeper merchandise discounts and more perks to attract seasonal workers.
Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

UPS is using new technology to solve an old problem — delivering holiday packages on time

Dec 21, 2018
UPS expects to deliver more than 800 million packages on time this holiday season with the help of new super hubs.
UPS employees sort out packages for delivery on May 9, 2017 in New York. This holiday season, "super hubs," like the one in Atlanta, will help the company deliver 800 million packages on time. Last year, 3 million were late.
DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images

National Returns Day peaks for the first time before Christmas

Dec 20, 2018
UPS estimates it will process a record 1.5 million Black Friday returns before Dec. 25.
Christmas came early this year ... for the returns department, that is.
PRImageFactory/Getty Images

UPS workers vote to authorize strike

Jun 7, 2018
UPS Inc. workers, who belong to the Teamster’s Union, voted by more than 90 percent earlier this week to authorize a strike if there’s no agreement on issues around pay and expanding delivery days. The current five-year contract expires on July 31. Negotiations are ongoing. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

For public good, not for profit.

For online retailers, packaging is all about economics

Mar 6, 2018
Online retailers are trying to cut down on package waste. But designing a new box for everything a company ships takes a lot of time.
Anton Cotaj at ANAMA Package and Container Testing tests boxes on a machine that simulates road conditions.
Kristin Schwab/ for Marketplace

Amazon will pilot package carrier service in Los Angeles

Feb 9, 2018
As Amazon expands its logistics operations, it’s inching closer to developing a service that competes with FedEx and UPS. Shares of both package carriers fell today after news of Amazon’s new Shipping with Amazon service was reported in the Wall Street Journal. The company is piloting that service in Los Angeles, delivering some goods sold […]

When it comes to public transportation, that last mile to get home can be an issue

Jan 30, 2018
Getting people to their front door can sometimes make for a tricky problem for public transit. It turns out that’s a big challenge for package delivery too.
Atlanta’s Relay Bike Share lets people rent bikes by the hour or by the day. Drop off points near transit hubs and popular destinations give MARTA riders a last mile option.
Photo courtesy of MARTA