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Fastest Ground Ever project takes one business day off millions of nationwide deliveries

UPS Inc. has reduced transit times by one business day on millions of parcels moving under its core U.S. ground delivery business, one of the most consequential service improvements the transport and logistics giant has implemented in years.

The initiative, Fastest Ground Ever, was launched during the first week of November. All lengths of haul are affected by the change. However, 63% of its ZIP code-to ZIP code lane improvements have been in what the company characterizes as “one- to three-day transit lanes,” according to a UPS spokesman. For millions of commercial and residential shipments, that means an original three-business-day transit time will be compressed to two, and two business days down to one. UPS moved 16.8 million packages each day through its ground network during the third quarter, according to company data.

Millions of doses of one or more forthcoming coronavirus vaccines are likely to be stored in Louisville, the home of UPS’ global air hub, before being shipped all over the world.

But it’s still too soon to say whether Louisville-area healthcare providers will have a logistical leg up in obtaining the vaccine because of proximity to the shipping giant’s hub.

“That would be great if we could get it faster because UPS is here,” said Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, on Tuesday. “I think the details on logistics are still being worked out as we don’t even have (a vaccine) that is FDA-(emergency use authorization) approved yet.”

A 41-year UPS driver felt the need to go the extra mile to help out disabled people and veterans, and regain their mobility and dignity.