Easter Parcel - Collection Times and Parcel Delivery Rates

Image c/o Microsoft

Easter is only a few days around the corner. Time to send your parcel but what if you are unsure about parcel delivery dates or low-cost rates? Since courier services do not deliver on the actual Easter bank holidays, there may be delays in your parcel delivery in case you leave it too late.

Easter Collection and Delivery Times

Collections times may vary according to your chosen courier service. 

• For DHL services such as the DHL Europlus it is possible to collect your parcel on the same day as long as you have made your booking before midday. In general, parcels may be collected from 9 am unitl 5.30 pm.

• UPS parcels can be collected between 2 and 5pm. 
• The same counts for DPD and TNT.

Enhanced Transit Liability – Are you insured?

If you are not just send an Easter bunny but larger, more valuable goods such as art works, mobile phones or else, you can insure yourself by paying as little as £5 extra for an enhanced transport liability insurance. In general, all items send via courier services such as DHL, UPS or TNT are covered up to a maximum value of £50. 

However, the enhanced transport liability insurance will cover your Easter parcel for up to a value of £250.

 

How much to pay for your Easter parcel delivery?

Third-party courier companies can often offer you considerably reduced rates with a range of high quality carriers. Most of them will let you generate free quotes and compare parcel services directly on their websites. 

Using these courier services can also be hugely beneficial especially if you are thinking about sending a parcel abroad. Below you will find a list with examples rates and transit times** for 5kg parcels.

Image c/o Microsoft

Send a 5kg parcel to …

• USA from £26.32 (1 to 6 days)
• Australia from £32.13 (3 to 7 days)
• Canada from £26.32 (2 to 6 days)
• For domestic parcel deliveries, you may send your Easter parcel from just £9.38 + VAT.

Lastly, always remember to check with the carriers directly if you are not sure whether your parcel will arrive on time.

** approximate time range in working days

UPS Store raises $2 million for Toys for Tots Literacy Program

In 2008, Toys for Tots Literacy Program, which provides economically disadvantaged children with educational resources, was launched and has ever since been supported by the international courier and logistics service provider, the UPS network. 

Over the last four years the programme has raised over $2 million. A large amount of this donation came from the sales of donation cards in the UPS Store locations in November and December. Beyond that, both, the UPS Store franchise, Mail Boxes Etc. Inc., and the UPS Foundation donated grants worth more than $150,000 in total. 

Image c/o Toys for Tots

Great courage and support towards this unique cause was also shown by UPS Store franchisees like Hal Berens or Larry Adler.

“It’s great to see first-hand the impact these donations make on my community. These schools and organisations need the funds now more than ever”, said Hel Berens from Reston, Va.

Larry Adler, a Hawaii-based franchisee, has been on the frontline of Toys for Tots supporters since it started. “This programme provides us with the unique opportunity to work with a nationally recognised organisation yet make a local impact.”

More info:

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defence to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

Source: UPS

Parcels to China and Vietnam: DHL launches new freighter flights

In future, it will be even easier to deliver parcels to China and Vietnam because of DHL’s latest joint venture with Yangtze River Express Ltd. The Chinese cargo airline will operate new direct flights from the DHL hub in Hong Kong to Chengdu in China and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

This is a result of the rising demand for express parcel services in busy economic centres such as Chengdu and South-western China. Each of the new five B737-300F freighters will carry a total load of 22 tons and fly out five times per week in order to deliver parcels to various parts of China and Vietnam.

Beyond that, the international courier, DHL, has promised to offer the following parcel services: evening pick-up and next-day delivery with 10pm being the latest collection time.

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UPS Parcel Service delivers reconstructed sailors' faces

Today, the UPS parcel service made and delivered history as it transported the reconstructed faces of two former sailors of the USS Monitor.

Reconstructed by the FACES lab at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, the global courier and logistics company flew the sculptures from Louisiana to Dulles airport before driving them to Washington, D.C. 

UPS said that its extensive preparations had paid off. The United Parcel Service used bespoke shock-proof containers, especially engineered for this event.

Image c/o sunherald.com

The sculptures are regarded as symbols marking the beginning of ironclad naval warfare. On 9th March 1862 the USS Monitor fought the CSS Virginia just off the coast of Hampton Roads, Va. Unfortunately, the USS Monitor including the mentioned two sailors sank in a terrible storm.

With the help of UPS parcel service and LSU Faces lab, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) aims to identify the two men whose sculptured faces are now on display at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Watch the video "UPS Delivers Maritime History" below.

Source: UPS

Send Baby Milk Powder / Follow-On Formula Milk

Since 1915 baby milk powder has been exported to various corners of the earth. For many years this special formula milk has been a popular nutritional replacement amongst mothers who decide not to, or are unable to breastfeed their babies.

One Century of Formula Milk

What all started off as a powdery formula made of cow’s milk, lactose and natural oils almost 100 years ago, has turned into an highly popular product. 

Since the early 20th century, formula milk has been improved immensely and has expanded into a range of follow-on formula milk. These days women can choose from protein, dried, soya or skimmed baby milk powder - only to name a few.

The international market share of baby formula milk powder has grown steadily and many traders have recognised the product’s high profit margins within the global markets. 

For this reason, many traders send baby milk powder to various international destinations including the USA and the Philippines.

Exporting Baby Milk Powder

In the USA more than 70% of all hospitals currently use follow-on formula milk. Beyond that, the Philippines report annual sales figures of $469 million.

Search interest for baby milk powder  (graph c/o Google)

If you wish to export baby milk powder or import it to the UK, generate your free quote online.

UPS introduces new handheld computer DIAD V to 100 countries

Lighter, smaller with an auto-focus flash camera and a microprocessor with expanded memory. These are  the main features of UPS' latest handheld computer, the DIAD V (5th gen. Delivery Information Acquisition Device).

 

Image c/o Computerworld.com

DIAD V vs DIAD IV

Unlike its predecessor, the DIAD IV, the new DIAD model incorporates a larger, bespoke display and appears to be lighter - with a weight of only 19 ounces and yet, it is said to be more durable. 

With its new high-tech computer UPS hopes to increase the delivery of tracking information as well as its drivers’ efficiency levels.

According to UPS, the DIAD V should make it possible to track more than 16 million daily deliveries. The new device is UPS' mobile response to “technology that powers logistics”. 

Its integrated camera can, for instance, be used to take pictures of damaged items and speed up customer claims.

 

DIAD V goes global

“What began 20 years ago as a bulky brown box with a monochrome screen has grown into a sleek, light-weight mobile device that allows UPS to be even more reliable for customers in 220 countries”, said David Barnes, chief information officer at UPS.

After initial tests back in September 2011, the parcel delivery company now decided to distribute the computer across 100 countries. By the end of 2013, 100,000 units should be used by UPS drivers worldwide.

Source: UPS

Related articles

• UPS honours 5,842 Circle of Honour drivers for decades of safe driving 
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UPS honours 5,842 Circle of Honour drivers for decades of safe driving

"It's an honour to lead this remarkable group of seasoned safe drivers. I'm proud of what I've accomplished but I'm also proud of all UPS drivers for they do every day. If I could give only one tip to motorists, it would be to leave a space cushion between you and the car ahead. Tailgating is a major cause of crashes and I it more every day".

Ron "Big Dog" Sowder (quote) is one of the 5,842 members of UPS "Circle of Honour" and the only UPS driver who has never had an accident in 50 years of service. UPS drivers like Sowder who form an integral part of the global parcel service provider's Circle of Honour have steered clear of accidents for at least 25 years.

If one adds up the figures, the UPS drivers have travelled more than 5,3 million miles. 36 of the recently inducted 1,235 drivers were women and 16 out of the 11 female Circle members maintain an impressive track record of 30 years of safe driving. 

John McDevitt, UPS senior vice president of HR and labour relations, is proud of the achievement and UPS renowned training programme:

"Our training and our drivers' attention to detail such as avoiding distractions while driving all play a part in their remarkable record. The annual expansion of the Circle of Honour is proof that our training works."

On an annual basis, UPS's drivers log over 3 billion miles. The probability of an accident involving a UPS driver is 1:1,000,000 miles.

Source: UPS

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TNT Express announces Building on Strength business strategy

Today, the global express parcel services provider, TNT Express, announced its new "Building on Strength" business strategy.

Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO TNT Express, took a confident stance when talking about the new plans: 

"Our leading market positions, together with management actions, make us confident we can realised our medium term growth and profit ambitions."

Building on Strength is going to focus on the following five main objectives:

1. TNT Express & European markets

• No more boarder-based pricing, instead distance-based charges to be implemented. 
• Traditional express parcel services for health care, lifestyle and related industries. 
• Aim to double market share for high-end business-to-customer parcel delivery services.
• Cost reduction by €150m  (end of 2013) - especially for European and MEA fixed costs.

2. EU and worldwide networking 

• Business deals with airline operators to expand customer range.

3. Partnerships with Brazil and China

• To increase profitability and meet short term targets with domestic TNT Express parcel services in Mercurio, Brazil and Hoau, China.

4. Cash flow & financial management

• To continue to optimise investments, working capital etc.

5. Corporate responsibility

• To maintain high levels of health and safety in order to protect employees.
• CO2 efficiency 
• Corporate responsibility and interconnected working environment with input from customers, suppliers etc. 

You can find the full press release on the TNT Express website. 

Source: TNT Express

TNT Express N.V. rejects UPS unsolicited offer

Image c/o TNT Express

In statement published last Friday, TNT Express N.V. confirmed its decision to reject an unsolicited proposal for share capital from UPS.

The Atlanta-based courier, UPS, offered an acquisition of the full issued share TNT capital for €9 per share. According to TNT Express, the worldwide parcel service had put down its offer on 11th February 2012.

Since then TNT Express N.V. Supervisory and Executive Boards had discussed the matter. The talks resulted in a rejection of UPS' initial proposal.

Nevertheless, the two courier companies have stated that they will continue their discussions. However, there is no certainty about a possible outcome yet.

Source: TNT Express & UPS

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Denmark’s EU Presidency GOGREEN with DHL

Image c/o DHL

The international logistics and parcel services provider, DHL, is going to become the official partner of Denmark’s EU presidency supplying all ministers with GOGREEN services and sustainable products.

As part of its initiative “Sustainable Products and CleanTech solutions”, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs was looking for a partner who could

• firstly,  help it reduce any environmental impacts cause by meeting activities
• and secondly, support its socio-economic engagement.

By joining forces with the parcel delivery service, DHL, and using not only GOGREEN, DHL Express but also DHL Freight services, the Danish government also hopes to implement the ISO20121 standard.

Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL, described the partnership as a “great honour for [DHL] to provide environmentally friendly services to the Danish Ministries. [DHL would be] convinced that [their] GOGREEN products are a perfect match to support the presidency to reach their sustainability goals.”

Source: DHL

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DHL CEO Frank Appel & the readiness to learn from the Eurozone Crisis

The television news channel, CNN, recently conducted an interview with Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL questioning the head of the world’s largest logistics company and parcel services provider about the collapse of the Eurozone.

When being asked about the current economic crisis, Appel stated that one could not prepare for  the collapse of the Euro. However, the DHL’s CEO also made clear that his 470,000 staff in over 220 countries has to be put first.

“At the end of the day a service company is nothing more than the employees who serve the customers”, said Frank Appel. It would be crucial to give [his employees] a long-term perspective.

Beyond that, he admitted “live more cautious about the predictability of the future”. Yet, Appel pointed out that he thinks little off scenario planning.

He said that “if you think your Excel spread-sheet will tell you what will happen in the future, it will only distract you from what is really important – to be ready to take action.”

With our without the Euro, Apple agrees that at the end of the day “somebody has to deliver parcels and somebody has to deliver or transport containers around the world.”

Appel emphasised the importance of showing “a readiness to learn” despite having to do "some hardship in the beginning" in order to enable success in the European economy.

Watch the CNN interview with the CEO of DHL Deutsche Post, Frank Appel, below.

Source: CNN

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UPS honours Ron “Big Dog” Sowder for 50 years of safe driving

Image c/o UPS

“A lot has changed in 50 years. When I started driving for UPS, folks in cars did a better job of keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road”, said Ron “Big Dog” Sowder. The Ohio-born is the first UPS driver to ever pass the 50-year mark for safe driving. 

After joining the parcel service and global logistics company in 1960 and delivering packages to businesses and private addresses, Ron Sowder drove tractor-trailers as a UPS feeder driver. He currently covers a distance of 306 miles each week between UPS head offices in Atlanta, Georgia and the UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky.

During his 50 years of service, Sowder reckons that he drove more than 4 million miles whilst delivering over 35 million UPS parcels. About 5,200 active UPS drivers have had a minimum of 25 years without any accidents making them members of UPS’s “Circle of Honour”.

Myron Gray, UPS president of U.S. operations, praised Sowder as an exemplary driver and role model for many UPS drivers. “Ron continues to set and reset the gold standard for our drivers. He is an asset to UPS, a great example for all of our drivers and a leader within his peer group of Circle of Honour members. It’s operator like Ron who help ensure UPS is able to keep its promises to its customers.”

UPS ensures that all drivers participate in the safety course “Space and Visibility” before climbing into a lorry. Additionally they have to take part in undergoing training session throughout their time at UPS ensuring that their driving skills are being kept up to UPS’s standards. 

Source: UPS

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UPS adds six cities to its Atlantic Canada expansion plan

Image c/o static.freepik.com

UPS, one of the world's largest global logistics and parcel service providers, has announced to add six further locations to its Atlantic Canada expansion. 

The network expansion is going to create 250 new jobs with the logistics company in Atlantic Canada. All in all, UPS' investment is going to exceed its initial figure of $215 million (2005). The parcel service provider has been working on its broad network expansion throughout the Canadian territories. 

UPS Canada President, Mike Tierney, expressed his excitement about the new locations: 

"This is a very exciting year for us. Adding six more cities to our expansion signifies the potential for growth we see in the Atlantic provinces."

The Atlantic Canada expansion is going to be continued in April 2012 when Monocton and Halifax will be added to the UPS network. In the second half 2012, UPS is then going to take the following cities onboard: 

• Saint John and Fredericton, New Brunswick; Sydney and New Glasgow, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

By expanding its network, UPS Canada also hopes to improve its general parcel delivery across Canada.

Halifax-born Shelley Gares, who will be responsible of Atlantic Canada operations, said that she appreciated the job opportunity given to her and could not "wait to see Brown package cars driving in each of the Atlantic provinces!"

If you are looking to send a parcel to Canada, check our quotation page and get a free, no-obligation offer for your parcel delivery. 

Source: UPS

SNP Concerned about Royal Mail's Commercial Pricing

Mike Weir MP and spokesperson for SNP Postal Affairs recently challenged the latest recommendations made by Ofcom with regards to the Royal Mail and its commercial pricing freedom.

Scotland’s governing political party warned about price increases for parcel deliveries into rural and remote areas such as the Highlands or Scottish Isles. Moreover, Mike Weir called upon people’s mutual understanding of the current one-price-policy which would ensure parcel deliveries to any area.

The MP also expressed strong concerns about the takeover of online parcel delivery services and disadvantages for SMBs or private customers.

“Ofcom’s attitude appears to be that Royal Mail could not raise the costs too high or large companies may simply go fully electronic and use email and the internet. That does not take account of the fact that the postal service serves both senders and recipients and many recipients, especially in more remote areas, do not have access to fast broadband, or indeed broadband at all."


The consultation on the future of the universal service obligation will close on 5^th January 2012.

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Source: SNP / Post & Parcel