The upcoming lame duck session of Congress after the elections is the perfect time for lawmakers to consider legislation that would address the choking debt faced by the U.S. Postal Service caused by prefunding of retiree health benefits, said the head of a USPS advocacy group.
UPS has put in place tools and processes to handle an expected peak season volume of 800,000 packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas, up from 750,000 last year, announcing price increases in the form of over-max and special handling charges to offset the investments.
While most U.S. consumers still favor free shipping over fast shipping, the figure has dropped from last year, according to a new study from Pitney Bowes, driven by millennials’ greater willingness to pay for expedited delivery.
In the never-ending pursuit of Amazon and seeking separation from other foes like Walmart, Target has announced the availability of same-day delivery in 46 states ahead of the peak holiday season from Thanksgiving through Christmas, while also eliminating its $35 order threshold for free two-day shipping as of Nov. 1.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), a hitherto quiet backwater that sets global cross-border mail and parcel rates, now plans to fast-track review of rate changes after President Trump last week threatened to pull out of the UPU accord, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Trump administration has announced plans to withdraw the United States from the Universal Postal Union by January 2020. The move is an effort to counteract below-market parcel shipping rates that China has enjoyed for years to the competitive disadvantage of U.S. merchants.
Understanding the fuel surcharges from the major carriers can be a tricky proposition. While FedEx has yet to make a grand announcement, both carriers reserve the right to regularly review their fuel pricing. How much are your fuel charges increasing? Learn how the new rates from FedEx stack up vs. main rival UPS.
The USPS is proposing a number of rate changes that would be effective on Jan. 27 including an average 9.3% increase in its Parcel Select service for packages weighing more than 1 lb., as it looks to recover rising costs and deals with stiff competition from major carriers.
Given all the emphasis on the potential for voice assistants in commerce, it was inevitable that the capability would come to the ecommerce fulfillment center, and ShippingEasy has done so with a new Alexa skill that integrates with its shipping software.
While the majority of UPS workers represented by the Teamsters union voted against a new contract, negotiations will continue as turnout was low and the no votes didn’t meet the threshold for killing the deal.