UPS

United Parcel Service (UPS) is one of the world's largest package delivery and supply chain management companies. Founded in Seattle in 1907 by 19-year-old James Casey with a $100 loan, UPS began as a messenger service and evolved over more than a century into a global logistics powerhouse with $91.1 billion in revenue in 2024.

Company Overview

UPS delivers packages to over 200 countries and territories, serving approximately 1.6 million shipping customers and 10.1 million delivery customers every business day. In a typical year, UPS handles more than 5 billion packages globally — averaging around 21 million shipments per day.

Its operational footprint is substantial:

• ~490,000 employees worldwide
• ~135,000 vehicles including package cars, vans, tractors, and motorcycles — over 19,000 of which are alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicles
• 534 aircraft (owned and operated or chartered), making UPS one of the world's largest airlines
• ~1,800 facilities globally including hubs, distribution centers, and customer access points

UPS's SuperHub in Louisville, Kentucky processes up to 416,000 packages per hour and is the central node of its overnight air network.

Service Portfolio

UPS offers a comprehensive range of shipping services:

• UPS Ground: The backbone of domestic US shipping, with day-definite delivery across all 50 states
• UPS Next Day Air / 2nd Day Air: Time-definite express services with guaranteed delivery windows
• UPS Worldwide Express: International express delivery to 220+ countries
• UPS Freight: LTL and truckload freight services for B2B shipments
• UPS Supply Chain Solutions: Contract logistics, customs brokerage, distribution, and fulfillment services
• UPS My Choice: Consumer-facing delivery management allowing recipients to reroute, reschedule, or redirect packages

Technology and Innovation

UPS has invested heavily in technology to improve efficiency and visibility. In 2024, the company equipped approximately 60,000 package cars with RFID sensors — eliminating over 12 million manual scans per day. During the 2024 holiday peak (Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday), UPS achieved a 98.9% on-time performance rate, leading all major US carriers.

UPS's ORION (On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation) route optimization system analyzes over 250 million data points daily to generate efficient driver routes, saving over 100 million miles per year.

Tracking

UPS tracking numbers are 18 characters long, typically starting with "1Z." Real-time tracking is available through ups.com, the UPS mobile app, and third-party platforms. The company also offers proactive delivery notifications via SMS and email through UPS My Choice.

For more information on how to track shipments and manage your deliveries, use our tracking form.