UPS makes additions to its Worldwide Express Freight Service

UPS said this week it has expanded its UPS Worldwide Express Freight Service in 12 new origin and nine new destination countries.

This service, which functions as an express freight service geared towards urgent, time-sensitive, and high-value international shipments, was initially launched by Big Brown in January 2013. And it is an extension of the UPS Worldwide Express package portfolio, providing what UPS describes as a “seamless” experience between shipping express package and express freight.

With this week’s announcement, UPS explained that this guaranteed service can be utilized for product launches, inventory shortages or equipment failure replacement parts and is now available in 50 origin and 51 destination countries and territories.

UPS said the following countries have added origin service: Chile, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Turkey and Vietnam. And these countries have added destination service: Chile, Indonesia, Israel, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Vietnam.

It added that the service offers faster guaranteed palletized shipments, over 150 lbs. (70 kg.), in more lanes than any other carrier, with door-to-door delivery and day-definite, and customs brokerage service included, and Saturday deliveries available to select U.S. and Canadian postal codes.

“UPS expanded the global footprint of this service to be customer responsive,” UPS spokesman Justin Luther said in an interview. “We are in important geographic markets and this expansion helps with that based on sales and customer feedback we have received.”

The biggest competitive advantage of this service, according to Luther, is guaranteed palletized freight is faster in more lanes than any other shipper, including top lanes.

“Speed is the primary need when shippers use an express freight service because it’s an urgent need,” he added. “How fast? We are talking speeds of 1-3 days to most locations globally. Cost is not as much of a consideration because the business need justifies the cost.

Other notable benefits of the service cited by Luther include:
-guaranteed palletized service, which moves primarily within the UPS network. Brokerage is included and customers have one salesperson to work with for packages and freight;
-reliable, guaranteed delivery when needed most for emergencies (for example: retail and distributor stock-outs, parts to repair a critical machine or healthcare shipments) – even on Saturdays in some US/Canadian postal codes) and expected shipments (for example: product launches);
-shipments can be booked online through some of the same systems. Worldship customers, for example, are already users, making it even easier; and
-integration with UPS international tools (for example: UPS Import Control, Quantum View Manage, UPS TradeAbility, UPS Paperless Invoice, WorldShip, and international billing options)

“UPS can help make growing internationally easier with solutions like this urgent air freight offering,” said Nick Basford, UPS vice president of international marketing, in a statement. “Worldwide Express Freight helps customers get everything, from parts to finished goods, to more destinations fast, enabling businesses of all sizes to better compete on a global scale.”