UPS picks up and delivers over 13.3 million packages everyday, equating to over 3.4 billion packages and documents annually. To accomplish this task, UPS relies on an extensive distribution network, consisting of over 1,700 different operating facilities, 88,000 delivery vehicles and 257 owned and operated UPS Jet Aircraft.

This paper will focus on the distribution network used to meet the pick-up and deliver needs of over 1.7 million daily customers. We will give an inside look at the technology, systems and equipment used to pick-up, handle, sort, transport and deliver these 13.3 million daily packages.

The paper will also discuss how the properties and characteristics of packaging will influence the handing and sorting process of the small parcel distribution environment and how “smart” labels are used to automate and facilitate the movement of packages.

From a package design and engineering perspective, this paper will help give packaging professionals a better understanding of the small parcel distribution environment and how it influences the development and validation of protective packaging solutions.