This, IMO, is a clear example of corporate profits over public safety. The company knows that people trust delivery drivers, they also know that delivery drivers are given access to people and their homes in a way that others are not.
By going to independent contractors, who then can hire the lowest cost delivery driver, without regard to background checks or criminal convictions they are recklessly endangering the public. If they were still color differentiating Ground from Express maybe they would be believed that this was not them (Express) but they want to give the impression that it is all the same when it is not. This time I think it may hurt them, if the average person can't see a difference between FedEx Corporate Drivers and subcontractor drivers, the corporation will be liable for the acts of the contractor and the contractors employee.
I would be hopeful that this might change their practices but as we know, PPP in now just Profit Profit Profit.
How many of you poor delivery drivers are going to catch the brunt of public outrage...woulden't supriise me if an angry public takes it's anger out on some unsuspecting innocent driver...