Tag: UPS

FedEx & UPS give peak day package forecasts

Posted by | Nov 1, 2007 | |

FedEx expects 11.3 million packages to move through its FedEx Express and FedEx Ground networks on Dec 17, compared with an average daily volume of 7 million packages, the company said in a press release.

Last year, FedEx predicted 9.8 million packages would pass through its network on its peak day.

Spokesman Howard Clabo said last year’s figure did not include FedEx SmartPost packages — a lower cost service in which packages are dropped off at the nearest post office and then taken the last few miles to customers by the U.S. Postal Service.

Excluding SmartPost packages from this year’s prediction, the comparable forecast would be 10.4 million, a gain of 6.1 percent.

UPS spokesman Norman Black said the Atlanta-based company expects package volumes in its network to reach 22 million on its peak day on Dec. 19.

On average day the world’s largest package delivery company moves around 15 million packages through its network.

Company officials said in early 2007 that during the 2006 peak season the company moved more than 22 million packages on three separate days.

Both companies have warned recently that slowing U.S. economic growth will have an impact on their business.

In September FedEx reported a 4 percent increase in fiscal first-quarter profit but warned that slower growth would act as a drag on earnings in coming quarters.

In a conference call with analysts last week after it also posted a 4 percent increase in quarterly net profit, UPS officials said the company still expects package growth in the crucial fourth quarter but added that growth would be slower than in the past four years.

As in previous years, online retail sales are expected to be a boost for both package delivery companies.

Retail consultant TNS Retail Forward predicted in September that fourth-quarter online sales this year would grow 20 percent to USD 42 billion from USD 35 billion in 2006.

Overall retail sales should grow by just 3.3 percent as the credit crunch is expected to hurt consumer confidence, TNS Retail Forward said.

Read More

Cabinet considers FDI cap in couriers

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

This is one mail courier companies would be praying is returned to the sender. A Cabinet note circulated by the department of posts has mooted 49 pct cap on FDI in courier business.

If the proposal goes through, multinationals like Fedex, DHL, UPS and TNT who hold more than 49 pct in Indian ventures will have to pare stake. The draft of the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Bill has another whammy in store for the private sector.

It proposes to make letters, parcels and packets weighing up to 150 gm the exclusive preserve of India Post. Private players will have to charge 2.5 times the tariff specified by Speed Post to operate in this segment.

The proposal to amend the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Act has been revived despite opposition from other government departments and the courier industry. A source said posts secretary I M G Khan has sent a communication on the proposed changes to department of industrial policy & promotion (Dipp) secretary Ajay Shankar.

The proposals specify that a person eligible to seek registration for operating in the mail sector has to be a company in which not less than 51 pct of the paid-up share capital is held by the citizens of India.

The draft Bill has been sent to the Cabinet and, once approved, the government can introduce the Bill in Parliament, source added.

The private courier companies had vehemently opposed the amendments earlier too. “In an era of free economy, if the country is embracing any legislation of such nature, it would send a wrong image internationally and it would also wipe out a vibrant part of our economy,” EICI had said in a communication to telecom minister A Raja.

Read More

UPS marks 100th birthday with USD 1 million for micro-lending

Posted by | Oct 31, 2007 | |

In honour of its 100th birthday, UPS has created a Centennial Grants Fund and awarded USD 1 million to three global micro-lending organizations. The funds will be used to support programs for entrepreneurs on three continents, including loans to grow small businesses.

“In this year of UPS’s Centennial, there could be no better way to celebrate founder Jim Casey’s entrepreneurial spirit than to award grants to foster opportunities for entrepreneurs around the world,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of The UPS Foundation. “UPS was founded in 1907 by a 19-year-old Casey, who borrowed $100 to start a bicycle messenger business. Today, his company is the largest package delivery firm in the world.”

Grant recipients include:

– Opportunity International: USD 390,000
– ACCION International: USD 400,000
– FINCA International: USD 210,000

According to Hamilton, creation of the Centennial Grants Fund marks the first time UPS has concentrated such a large portion of its giving on micro-lending.

UPS chose FINCA, Opportunity International and ACCION because of their proven success record as micro-lenders, their ability to measure the impact of their programs and their presence in global markets. The organizations also are well-recognized for the financial literacy and business training that goes along with their loans, ensuring that the businesses they fund are successful.

Read More

UPS board ok's USD 2 billion stock buyback

Posted by | Oct 30, 2007 | |

United Parcel Service Inc., the world’s largest shipping carrier, said Tuesday in a regulatory filing its board authorized the company to buy back up to $2 billion in stock.
The authorization replaces the about USD 50 million that remains available under the February share repurchase authorization of USD 2 billion, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

UPSsaid it will purchase stock from time to time on the open market or in private transactions. The program has no time limit.

The Atlanta company has about 1.06 billion shares outstanding.

Shares of UPS have traded between USD 68.66 and USD 79.72 over the past 52 weeks and closed down 35 cents at USD 74.75.

Read More

Small Business Leaders Say Economy, Healthcare Should Be Top Priorities

Posted by | Oct 30, 2007 | |

The leaders of America’s small- and mid-sized businesses work long hours, worry about keeping up with the latest technology and aren’t sure whether they should be concerned about the future supply of skilled workers. A new survey shows they also think the economy and healthcare reform are the nation’s most pressing problems.

The inaugural “UPS Business Monitor – United States,” a survey sponsored by UPS and conducted by the marketing insight firm TNS, interviewed 600 managers and owners of small- and mid-sized enterprises (SME) around the country. The Monitor’s first report earlier this month focused on business and trade issues, finding most SMEs have failed to explore sales opportunities outside the United States.

The latest results focus on technology and political issues. More than half of those surveyed want to see stricter immigration laws – even though they say such laws wouldn’t have much impact on their own business. Almost 40 pct say they believe the shift in congressional control to the Democrats will have a “negative impact” on their business. Those surveyed also said they don’t think America’s image in the world would be helped much by electing either a woman or African-American president.

And while they’re bullish on their own individual businesses, only one-third say they expect to add more employees over the coming year.

Among the findings of the wide-ranging survey:

– SME decision-makers work an average of 53 hours a week, with one-third (34 pct) working 60 hours or more.
– Some 59 pct say their top technology worry is just keeping up with the pace of technological change, although 53 pct also worry about Internet security breaches.
– Cell phones are clearly considered the most-needed technology device.
– The respondents are evenly split – 49 pct ‘no,’ 46 pct ‘yes’ – when asked if they expect difficulty in the future finding skilled employees.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

Have you noticed a decrease of non-EU inbound parcel volumes since the implementation of the new €3 charge?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!


View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest