I’m Jay Kent, managing director of SLB Performance, a consulting firm that helps companies reduce supply chain costs, implement BI tools, and improve in-stock and customer service. After 25 years of leading some of the most complex supply chains in the industry, I began advising companies in multiple industries and verticals.
It’s important to understand the market to mitigate costs and improve efficiencies. So, twice a month, I’ll share parcel news and thoughts. Be sure to hit the subscribe button to receive the latest newsletter in your LinkedIn notifications.
In addition, on those weeks that Parcel Notes does not go out, we send a market update and analysis email to subscribers. ***If you would like to be added, please DM me***.
UPS
- UPS announced it would acquire Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc.
“Andlauer Healthcare Group will help us deliver expanded capability to our customers, driving best in class patient outcomes while contributing to our overall growth plans across the business. This acquisition marks another important step in our declaration to be the number one complex healthcare logistics and premium international logistics provider in the world.” – Kate Gutmann, EVP and president of International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions for UPS
- PYMNTS– UPS considering partnership with Robotics Startup Figure AI in which the robotics startup’s humanoid robots would perform some tasks in UPS’ operations.
- Forbes– UPS uses artificial intelligence for pricing. It is using a pricing solution from Zilliant. UPS participated in a Zilliant webinar where their pricing transformation director talked about how they worked with Zilliant to achieve significant results.
UPS Q1 Earnings
- UPS announced Q1 earnings on April 29. Its largest division, US Domestic, UPS announced a 1.4% increase due to a in revenue driven by increases in air cargo and a 4.5% improvement in revenue per piece, which partially offset a decline in volume.
- Supply Chain Dive– UPS plans 20K job cuts this year as Amazon pullback advances
- Transport Topics– UPS Earnings Rise 3.3% Amid Cost Cuts, Network Revamp
- Rethinking Supply Chains Substack– UPS Q1 Earnings: Continued Cost Cutting and Revenue Management Amid Market Uncertainty
- Teamsters’ responseto UPS’ Q1 earnings
FedEx
- FedEx is closing more U.S. ship centers in Massachusetts, Kansas, Louisianaand two in California on June 2 to streamline its network as it continues to merge its separate Express and Ground delivery operations.
- FedEx released its 2025 FedEx Small Business Trade Index, a survey providing insights into how U.S. small- and medium-sized business (SMB) leaders view and navigate global trade, with 95% of respondents calling global trade a good thing – important for economic growth, business expansion, and innovation despite barriers such as high fees, taxes, and regulatory complexity.
- An interview with FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniamon the importance of advanced data analytics and AI to navigate complex global trade disruptions.
“Things are changing by the minute,” Subramaniam said during a fireside chat at the Semafor World Economy Summit 2025 in Washington, D.C. “On the overall demand side, we will manage through. … So far, things are OK, but I can’t tell you what will happen next week.”
USPS
- American Postal Workers Union– Let’s Get to The Truth: Myths and Facts about Postal Privatization
- USPS reached a tentative agreement with the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, which represents more than 130,000 rural letter carriers. NRLCA members must vote to ratify the contract before it’s approved. Letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers voted against a tentative contract earlier this year.
- The law enforcement arm of the USPShas quietly begun cooperating with federal immigration officials to locate people suspected of being in the country illegally, according to two people familiar with the matter and documents obtained by The Washington Post.
More news….
- Veho introduced Veho Pulse– a platform that provides shippers with advanced analytics tooling
- Interesting read from Parcel Magazine– As US Import Tariff Policies Change Frequently, Focus Instead on Small Parcel Clearance Policies
- Another interesting read from PYMNTSin which it’s noted that Walmart announced an expansion of its delivery network that will add 12 million more U.S. households to its service coverage.
That’s it for now. Stay tuned for the next newsletter May 14. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to ensure you receive it in your LinkedIn notices. In addition, if you like what you’re reading, sign up to receive additional insights and analysis via emails twice a month – DM me for more info.
Most important though, reach out if you’d like to learn how to lower or even possibly eliminate any parcel fees. 📦
-Jay