UPS Freight adding LTL on-time guarantee

Starting in 2008, UPS Freight – the trucking arm of United Parcel Service – will begin offering an on-time performance guarantee similar to that which has long been offered to its small package customers.

“We have so much confidence that our enhancements and investments have transformed the customer experience that we will guarantee our on-time delivery performance at no additional cost,” said Jack Holmes, president, UPS Freight. “It’s the next logical step in making UPS Freight the best in the business.”

The on-time service promise will be available starting Jan. 2 to LTL customers using the current UPS Freight 560 tariff in the continental U.S. It promises customers can request a waiver of their freight charges if their shipment doesn’t arrive on time.

UPS Freight – formerly Overnite Transportation Co., which UPS bought in 2005 – noted that it’s also adding other service enhancements in 2008, such as offering UPS WorldShip and UPS Internet Freight Shipping to freight shippers. UPS WorldShip is a software suite that integrates customers’ existing databases, eliminating the time-consuming task of re-entering names and addresses, while providing access to all the functions of UPS.com such as delivery verification and tracking.

Also in 2008, the carrier said customers will be able to create a Bill of Lading (BOL) for LTL shipments, using UPS WorldShip to send e-mail notifications, save BOLs for later completion, import commodities and view their negotiated rates.

“Now, with the addition of a new guarantee on our standard LTL service, we’re bringing the powerful combination of reliability, technology and convenience to the freight shipper,” added John Fain, UPS Freight senior vp of worldwide sales & marketing.