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Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Company today announced the first formal agreements in a broad alliance that positions the companies to boost competitiveness and better serve customers in an era of rapid change in the industry.

Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess and Ford CEO Jim Hackett confirmed that the companies intend to develop commercial vans and medium-sized pickups for global markets beginning as early as 2022. The alliance will drive significant scale and efficiencies and enable both companies to share investments in vehicle architectures that deliver distinct capabilities and technologies.

The companies estimate the commercial van and pickup cooperation will yield improved annual pre-tax operating results, starting in 2023.

In addition, Volkswagen and Ford have signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate collaboration on autonomous vehicles, mobility services and electric vehicles and have started to explore opportunities. Both companies also said they were open to considering additional vehicle programs in the future. The teams will continue working through details in the coming months.

“Over time, this alliance will help both companies create value and meet the needs of our customers and society,” Hackett said. “It will not only drive significant efficiencies and help both companies improve their fitness, but also gives us the opportunity to collaborate on shaping the next era of mobility.”

Diess added: “Volkswagen and Ford will harness our collective resources, innovation capabilities and complementary market positions to even better serve millions of customers around the world. At the same time, the alliance will be a cornerstone for our drive to improve competitiveness.”

The alliance, which does not entail cross-ownership between the two companies, will be governed by a joint committee. This committee will be led by Hackett and Diess and will include senior executives from both companies.

Commercial van and pickup collaboration
Ford and Volkswagen both have strong commercial van and pickup businesses around the globe, with popular nameplates such as the Ford Transit family and Ranger as well as the Volkswagen Transporter, Caddy and Amarok.

The companies’ collective light commercial vehicle volumes from 2018 totaled approximately 1.2 million units globally, which could represent the industry’s highest-volume collaboration as production scales.

Demand for both medium pickups and commercial vans is expected to grow globally in the next five years. The alliance will enable the companies to share development costs, leverage their respective manufacturing capacity, boost the capability and competitiveness of their vehicles and deliver cost efficiencies, while maintaining distinct brand characteristics.

Through the alliance, Ford will engineer and build medium-sized pickups for both companies which are expected to go to market as early as 2022. For both parties, Ford intends to engineer and build larger commercial vans for European customers, and Volkswagen intends to develop and build a city van.

UPS is pleased that the UPS Freight agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamster (IBT) has been ratified. It is an agreement that rewards our employees for their contributions to the success of the company, while enabling UPS to remain competitive. We will resume normal operations and will immediately begin accepting new volume from UPS Freight customers. Our teams began contacting customers immediately after ratification. We thank our customers for their patience and loyalty.

The UPS Small Package National Master Agreement (NMA) and UPS Freight Master Agreement have both now been ratified. Customers can remain confident UPS is ready to continue to serve its small package and UPS Freight customers throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Stagecoach Group plc (“Stagecoach”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to sell its North America Division to an affiliate of Variant Equity Advisors, LLC (“Variant”) (the “Disposal”), for an estimated enterprise valuation of US$271.4m. The cash proceeds will be used to reduce Stagecoach’s consolidated net debt. The Disposal is expected to complete by the end of the current financial year to 27 April 2019.

Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Chief Executive, commented:
“During our two decades in the North American transportation market, our success included reinvigorating the inter-city coach sector and delivering growth with our innovative megabus.com brand. We have a great team of people who have ensured we have played a leading role in the development of public transportation in the United States and Canada.

“The sale of our North American operations will allow management to focus more closely on the significant opportunities for growth in the UK. We have strong bus and rail operations in the UK where public transport has good prospects as the clear solution to the challenges of increasing road congestion and poor air quality.”

Information regarding Stagecoach’s North America Division

Stagecoach’s North America Division operates bus and coach services. It provides megabus.com inter-city coach services, commuter services, airport transportation, sightseeing tours, charters and contract services across North America. It is one of the largest ground transportation operators in North America with around 4,500 employees and more than 2,000 buses and coaches.

For the year to 27 October 2018, Stagecoach reported revenue of US$619.4m (£460.3m) and operating profit* of US$21.7m (£15.9m) for the North America Division. For the last full Stagecoach financial year to 28 April 2018, revenue for the North America Division was US$630.0m (£470.9m), operating profit was US$28.1m (£21.0m) and profit before tax was US$23.8m (£17.8m). The gross assets of the North America Division as at 27 October 2018 were US$478.6m (£373.3m).

Background to and reasons for the Disposal

The Stagecoach Board believes that the Disposal represents an opportunity to realise an attractive valuation for the business whilst refocusing Stagecoach’s portfolio on the UK.

The management of the North America Division are expected to remain with that business following the Disposal, while Stagecoach Group’s management will principally focus on its UK bus and rail operations, and growth opportunities in the UK.

Terms of the Disposal and use of proceeds

The North America Division is headed by Coach USA, Administration, Inc. Stagecoach subsidiary, Scusi Limited (“Scusi”), has agreed to sell 100% of the equity of Coach USA, Administration, Inc. to Project Kenwood Acquisition, LLC. Project Kenwood Acquisition, LLC. is an entity managed by Variant. Variant is a private equity firm that focuses on pursuing corporate divestitures and other operationally-intensive transactions.

The consideration for the Disposal has been agreed at US$207.0m, subject to a “Locked Box” arrangement. Based on the net debt of the North America Division as at 27 October 2018 of US$64.4m (after adjusting for US$20.0m of dividends paid in November 2018 and reflected in the
agreed price), that represents an enterprise value for the business of US$271.4m.

The consideration includes a Deferred Payment Instrument of US$65.0m, with the balance of the consideration being payable in cash on completion of the Disposal. The amounts that Scusi receives under the Deferred Payment Instrument might be affected by the future performance or subsequent sale of the North America business.

Under the agreed “Locked Box” arrangement, the cash consideration may be adjusted for certain “leakage” transactions, such as further dividends, prior to the completion of the Disposal. For a transitional period following the Disposal, Stagecoach will continue to support collateral arrangements for the ongoing operation of the North America Division, principally in relation to insurance.

The cash proceeds will be applied to reduce Stagecoach’s consolidated net debt.

Completion of the Disposal is subject to certain conditions, principally relating to the approval of the Surface Transportation Board, the removal of certain Stagecoach parent company guarantees, change of control consents and no material adverse events. Stagecoach expects the Disposal to
complete by the end of its current financial year to 27 April 2019.

RBC Capital Markets acted as Financial Adviser to Stagecoach on the Disposal. Covington & Burling LLP acted as Legal Adviser to Stagecoach on the Disposal. Sidley Austin LLP acted as Legal Adviser to Variant on the Disposal.

The person responsible for arranging the release of this announcement on behalf of Stagecoach Group plc is Ross Paterson, Finance Director.

*Operating profit for the North America Division refers to profit before net finance income/charges, taxation, non-software intangible asset amortisation, exceptional items and restructuring costs.

Attaining environmental benefits and lower cost of ownership are driving more commercial fleets to electrify, according to a UPS (NYSE: UPS) and GreenBiz study released today. In the “Curve Ahead: The Future of Fleet Electrification” report, industry leaders identify the main motivations and barriers to electrification, as well as strategies to move the commercial electric vehicle market from niche to mainstream.

The top motivation to go electric for 83 percent of large businesses surveyed is sustainability and environmental goals. A lower total cost of ownership – factoring in both direct and indirect costs and savings over the life of the vehicle – is the second biggest driver, cited by 64 percent of respondents. In addition to the fuel savings, electric vehicles (EVs) typically require less maintenance than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, which means lower maintenance costs.

Despite an appetite for electrification, many fleet operators face challenges. Fifty-five percent of respondents cited the initial purchase price of electric commercial vehicles as the top barrier. Forty-four percent view inadequate onsite charging infrastructure as a barrier and 92 percent advise their facility is not “very well equipped” to accommodate commercial charging needs. Yet the study also found less than half of the companies surveyed are working with governments or utilities to address charging infrastructure.

“The challenges of cost and infrastructure requirements can be daunting, but we’ve begun to see solutions emerge,” said Scott Phillippi, UPS senior director of automotive maintenance and engineering. “In the U.S., we recently ordered 50 electric-powered delivery trucks that we anticipate will be at cost parity with conventional diesel-powered vehicles. And in London, we were able to find a solution for our charging needs through a collaboration between government and private organizations. The business case, combined with growing preference for EVs from cities and national governments, will help us to reach a tipping point to large-scale EV fleet adoption.”

Fleet managers and industry experts interviewed suggested strategies to overcome such challenges, including starting small. Instead of undertaking a large-scale fleet overhaul, many companies will prioritize electric options when replacing vehicles and even consider electric leasing options to mitigate the initial purchase price. Converting from internal combustion engines to electric depends on specific vehicle uses, the size and distribution of fleets across regions, the costs of electricity and access to charging infrastructure.

“Despite the complexity of transitioning commercial fleets to an electric future, the vehicle technologies and options to upgrade infrastructure are quickly improving,” said Paul Carp, GreenBiz Group’s director of research and senior analyst. “Continued industry collaboration will be critical to accelerate fleet electrification across a wide range of use cases.”

As the market for electric commercial vehicles matures, 70 percent of companies report working closely with vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to identify the latest electric vehicle technologies and features. This communication is important given 32 percent of survey respondents cited inadequate product availability as a barrier. UPS is working with commercial vehicle manufacturers such as ARRIVAL, Tesla, Thor Trucks and Workhorse, providing data and performance feedback to help foster product availability and create fleet solutions that fit its unique needs.

UPS also works with manufacturers, governments and utilities to leverage innovative technology, such as smart grid charging in London that enables the company’s electric-vehicle fleet to charge without an expensive power supply grid update. The project, made possible by engaging UK Power Networks, Cross River Partnership and UK’s Office for Low Emissions Vehicles, is an example of how collaboration can overcome vehicle electrification barriers.

The research findings will be explored in depth at the GreenBiz VERGE conference in Oakland, California on Oct. 16. To download the white paper, visit ups.com/sustainability.

The 2018 UPS and GreenBiz “Curve Ahead: The Future of Fleet Electrification” study presents the findings of qualitative research, along with an online survey conducted by GreenBiz Group in June 2018 among more than 200 respondents within the GreenBiz Intelligence Panel.

UPS has a long history with electric vehicles, having first introduced them into its U.S. fleet in the 1930s. UPS now has more than 1,000 electric and hybrid electric vehicles deployed worldwide. The company’s fleet of approximately 9,300 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles now drives more than 1 million miles each day.

Since 2008, the company has invested over $1 billion in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and infrastructure. This strategic investment redirects a purchase that would normally support the acquisition of a diesel or gas-powered vehicle to an alternative fuel vehicle. In fact, UPS has committed that by 2020, 25 percent of annual vehicle purchases will be alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicles. This shift toward alternative fuel vehicles and the infrastructure that supports them has helped UPS to drive the electric vehicle market to cost parity with conventional fuel vehicles, while also realizing both fuel and maintenance cost savings.

About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. UPS is committed to operating more sustainably – for customers, the environment and the communities we serve around the world. Learn more about our efforts at ups.com/sustainability. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. Our new sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

WASHINGTON — Small business leaders increasingly view U.S. participation in global trade as the way to improve the overall economy and create American jobs, according to results of the fourth FedEx Trade Index(1), a survey of more than 1,000 small business leaders which tracks the impact of international trade among the small business segment of the U.S. economy.

The nationwide survey*, commissioned by FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and conducted by Morning Consult, finds a substantial majority of U.S. small business leaders (82%) see increasing U.S. trade as beneficial to the overall economy, up from 76% earlier this year, and two out of the three also say the U.S. risks falling behind if not included in trade agreements.

When asked about the impact of tariffs on imports from China, two out of three small business leaders worry the tariffs will mean higher prices on consumer items, and three out of five say the impact on business will be negative.

“Tariffs can restrict global trade and economic growth,” said Raj Subramaniam, executive vice president, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, FedEx Corp. “FedEx supports lowering trade barriers so our customers can remain competitive in an increasingly global marketplace.”

[1] The FedEx Trade Index is a national survey of 1004 small business leaders conducted by Morning Consult. Respondents included business owners and executives at companies with between two and 500 employees. It was conducted July 9-10, 2018. The margin of error for the full sample is +/-3%.

The UPS Foundation, which leads the global citizenship programs for UPS (NYSE:UPS), today announced it will award over $10 million in grants to advance diversity and inclusion programs this year. The grants will be awarded to 44 different organizations. They will help support programs focused on economic empowerment, education/scholarships, work training, and social and gender equality.

“We are honored to collaborate and fund organizations that drive measurable change around the world,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS. “Advancing the diversity and inclusion movement is a cornerstone of our company’s values. Our support for initiatives that will make a real difference in people’s lives in our communities is an extension of our dedication to help advance social and gender equality around the globe.”

One of the grant recipients is the International Trade Center, a multilateral agency created by the World Trade Organization and the United Nations that contributes directly to 10 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, gender equality and decent work and economic growth. The UPS Foundation grant and partnership with ITC will be the centerpiece in the creation of the UPS Women’s Exporter Program, designed to train thousands of women in cross-border trading. This initiative will leverage a network of UPS partners including the Graça Machel Trust, Kagider Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey, Accion and Opportunity International to provide women entrepreneurs around the world with a unique network, platform, financing and UPS expertise to connect to markets.

Additional grant recipients include the following organizations:

Diversity and Inclusion through Economic Empowerment programs:

ACCION International to provide micro-loans to women in Nigeria who have participated in the UPS Women’s Exporter program and SheTrades.
ASPIRA of America to expand its financial education program for Latinos.
Council of Economic Education to train more K-12 teachers in New York City schools to help teach financial literacy to their students.
Cuban American National Council to support its financial literacy and home buying workshops for low to moderate income households.
Graça Machel Trust to launch the Women Cross Border Traders initiative and support the SheTrades program and the Women Advancing Africa Forum.
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development to develop Native Edge, an online business development and training system to support commerce between tribal nations, government and business.
National Urban League to support its Entrepreneur Center Program sites, which provide entrepreneurial skills and development assistance from mentors.
Opportunity International to provide micro-loans to women in Colombia who have participated in the UPS Women’s Exporter programs and SheTrades.
National Urban Fellows to help place the Class of 2019 National Urban Fellows.
Diversity and Inclusion through Educational Empowerment:
CHOICES Education Group to increase school engagement and decrease the drop-out rate through virtual media that reaches 100,000 underserved teens.
Council of Independent Colleges to enhance educational and career opportunities for underserved and underrepresented students at colleges and universities.
Girls, Inc. toward its College and Career Readiness Initiative, which will reach at least 2,000 eighth grade and high school girls across the country.
Leadership Conference Education Fund to provide fair wages for more diversity and opportunities for summer undergraduate interns.
National Black Child Development Institute to improve early childhood literacy levels to support academic and life success.
Organization of Chinese Americans toward its mentoring and leadership development programs.
Peace Corps to support the Peace Corps Partnership Project, a five-year program aimed at empowering and educating young women in 60 countries.
Strive for College toward its academic and financial aid application virtual mentoring platform to assist 100,000 students enter college.
UnidosUS, formerly known as the National Council of La Raza, to support UnidosUS’s college- and career-readiness program, Escalera, and develop the Entre Mujeres program to empower Latina high school students.
University of South Carolina – Darla Moore School of Business to create the UPS Global Scholars Program to increase the international diversity of business students.
To provide scholarships for minority and underrepresented students through 100 Black Men of America, African Leadership Foundation, American Indian College Fund, Brigham Young University, Clark Atlanta University, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Morehouse College, Spelman College and United Negro College Fund.
Diversity and Inclusion through Capacity Building programs:

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to enhance its Knowledge Center website, which serves more than 250,000 deaf or hearing-impaired individuals.
American Corporate Partner to support its mentoring program for transitioning military veterans as they enter the civilian workforce.
Catalyst for Women to support their Inclusive Leadership Initiative and provide research and advisory support.
Executive Leadership Council to sponsor its Mid-Level Managers Symposium, which targets leadership development for high-potential African American candidates.
Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility to provide sponsorship for key events, including the Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers Dinner.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation to support its Workplace Project and the Global Workplace Equality Coalition.
National Federation of the Blind toward the Blind Parent Education Initiative, a new program that gives blind parents access to education, networking and support.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to provide support for the NAACP Youth Leadership Program and other general programs and events.
National Organization on Disability to launch its Disability Inclusion Compact, a campaign to advance employment opportunity of people with disabilities.
Special Olympics Georgia to recruit and mobilize a diverse volunteer network to foster growth and support of intellectually disabled individuals.
The Viscardi Center to aid with the placement of college students and recent military veterans with disabilities into paid, career-aligned corporate internships.
Urban League of Greater Atlanta to expand workforce and career pathway training programs in partnership with regional employers.
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts toward continued support of leadership development and volunteerism initiatives with special focus on Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Diversity and Inclusion through Human Trafficking Prevention:

Truckers Against Trafficking to support its anti-human trafficking education and training for members of the trucking industry in the U.S. and Canada.
United Way Center for Human Trafficking and Slavery to create a community training curriculum for local United Ways to educate local agencies and community stakeholders about human trafficking.
For more information about UPS’s philanthropic and volunteerism efforts, please visit www.UPS.com/Foundation.

About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2017, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $118 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation and @UPS_Foundation on Twitter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced today that John A. Smith has been named President and CEO of FedEx Freight effective August 16, 2018. Smith, 56, currently serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at FedEx Freight, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. Smith will succeed Michael L. Ducker, whose pending retirement was announced earlier this month.

A 32-year veteran of the transportation industry, Smith joined FedEx in 2000. His experience spans every area of the business, including operations, sales, transportation, fleet maintenance, facility services and safety. Along with being responsible for the leadership and direction of FedEx Freight, he will also serve on the Strategic Management Committee of FedEx Corporation.

FedEx Corp. also announced today that Matthew Thornton III, 59, Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations for FedEx Express and a 40-year FedEx team member, will become Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Freight. In this role, Thornton will be responsible for overseeing all operations for FedEx Freight, which offers extensive LTL coverage across North America. His track record of success, experience leading diverse teams, and knowledge of our global operation will be vital for this new role at FedEx Freight.

“Given his deep experience in the transportation industry, unparalleled customer focus and trusted leadership, John Smith is a clear choice to lead the FedEx Freight organization into the future,” said David J. Bronczek, president and COO of FedEx Corporation. “Matthew Thornton has proven himself time and again in his leadership at FedEx Express, and his thorough knowledge of all aspects of operations make him an excellent addition to the FedEx Freight leadership team. Both are examples of our strong promote-from-within philosophy at FedEx, and with these two leaders at the helm, the future for our FedEx Freight organization continues to look very bright.”

Smith and Thornton will begin transitioning into their new roles starting mid-May.

Illinois’ transportation infrastructure will receive a $103.6 million boost from Union Pacific Railroad in 2018. The company’s planned private investment will enhance safety, operating efficiency and support customer service.

Union Pacific builds and maintains its track without taxpayer funds and its trains reduce traffic on Illinois’ congested highways. A single Union Pacific train can carry as many as 300 trucks and move one ton of freight 452 miles on a single gallon of diesel, generating a carbon footprint that is 75 percent less than trucks.

Union Pacific’s private investments sustain jobs and ensure the company meets growing demand for products used in the American economy. The company’s planned investment covers a range of initiatives, including $40.8 million to maintain railroad track and $23.5 million to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

$10.7 million investment in the rail line between Watseka and Chicago Heights to replace 49 miles of rail.
$9.8 million investment in the rail line between Elburn and Beaver Island to replace more than 51,000 railroad ties.
This year’s planned $103.6 million capital expenditure in Illinois is part of the company’s ongoing investment strategy. In the last five years, 2013-2017, Union Pacific invested more than $497.3 million strengthening Illinois’ transportation infrastructure.

“Our targeted investments support customers and enhance our efficiency to deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily,” said Liisa Stark, Union Pacific assistant vice president – Public Affairs, Northern Region.

Union Pacific plans to spend $3.3 billion across its network this year, following investments totaling approximately $34 billion from 2008-2017.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America’s most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. In the last 10 years, 2008-2017, Union Pacific invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure. The railroad’s diversified business mix is classified into its Agricultural Products, Energy, and Industrial and Premium business groups. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

UPS (NYSE:UPS) is launching a daily non-stop flight from its Worldport® global air hub in Louisville, KY., to Dubai, UAE, improving time-in-transit from North and South America to key destinations in the Middle East by a full business day. The flight, operated with one of UPS’s new 747-8F freighters, is part of the build out of UPS’s smart global logistics network and takes place as the company plans for its role as official logistics provider for Expo 2020 Dubai.

“The UAE trades with all 50 U.S. states and has grown to become the U.S.’s largest export destination in the Middle East. Dubai’s importance as a global trade hub increases every day – and we’re now getting there a day faster from North and South America with our small package express carrier and cargo offerings,” said Jim Barber, President, UPS International. “Growth potential is great for companies accessing the UAE and other rapidly developing industrial and commercial sectors in the region. Our new flight is another example of how UPS’s smart global logistics network, which carries three percent of the world’s GDP every day, constantly evolves to service increasing international trade demands.”

At approximately 7,700 miles (12,400 km), the route is the longest regularly-scheduled flight UPS has ever operated, and is made possible by the new 747-8s, which offer greater payload over long range. The new flight is currently operating on a weekly basis and will become a daily flight on February 27th, operating Tuesday through Saturday. The new flight is part of plans to expand UPS’s presence in Dubai, the headquarters of UPS’s Indian Subcontinent Middle East & Africa (ISMEA) region, by establishing capacity, technology and staff capabilities to serve customers shipping to and through Dubai in the buildup to Expo 2020 and beyond. UPS has been operating in the region since 1989.

“Our customers are demanding more capacity, and we’re providing it with this non-stop connection to Dubai,” said UPS Airlines President, Brendan Canavan. “UPS has made a strategic investment in 747-8 jumbo jets, the largest aircraft we have ever flown, to offer sustainable lift on long-range international routes like this.”

The Louisville-Dubai flight leg is part of an “around-the-world” flight route that begins and ends at UPS Worldport in Louisville, KY. For the volume from North and South America that passes through Worldport, there is a full day time-in-transit improvement to Dubai. After arriving in Dubai, new package and freight volume is loaded onboard the aircraft before it departs for Shenzhen, China, home to UPS’ largest facility in Asia. U.S.-bound volume is then loaded in Shenzhen and the aircraft returns to Worldport via Anchorage, AK. With the addition of this new flight, the volume capacity on UPS’s current Cologne to Dubai flight increases to better serve the needs of customers connecting Europe to the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa.

About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

The UPS Store, Inc., the nation’s largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, print and business service centers, is once again ranked among the top franchise brands according to Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Franchise 500 list. The company is ranked fourth– but first in its category – for the second year in a row – its highest ranking in the 28 years of inclusion on the list.

The Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list is an exclusive collection of premiere franchise brands across 17 distinct business categories. To be included in the list, franchise brands are evaluated on several factors, including size and growth of the system, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. The UPS Store has consistently appeared on the list by focusing on growing and evolving the brand to provide exceptional franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs.

“The UPS Store strives to be a trusted franchise partner and it’s an honor to be recognized among top franchise brands,” said Chris Adkins, vice president of franchise development for The UPS Store. “Our inclusion in this ranking is a reflection of our dedication to providing the best support and opportunities for our franchisees.”

The UPS Store recently widened its offering of franchise opportunities, to include a store-in-store model, featuring small-footprint stores inside existing high-traffic retailers, such as pharmacies, hardware and grocery stores. Other non-traditional locations, such as university and hotel centers, allow franchisees flexibility to serve the community as well as specialized groups, such as students and hotel guests.

About The UPS Store
With 5,000* locations in North America, The UPS Store network comprises the nation’s largest franchise system of conveniently located retail shipping, postal, print and business service centers. The UPS Store® locations in the U.S. are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of The UPS Store, Inc., a subsidiary of UPS (NYSE: UPS). Services, pricing and hours of operation may vary by location. For additional information on The UPS Store, visit theupsstore.com. For information on The UPS Store franchise opportunities for opening a The UPS Store location, visit www.theupsstorefranchise.com. Follow The UPS Store on Twitter at @TheUPSStore and like The UPS Store on Facebook at facebook.com/theupsstore.

Just in time for the holiday season, UPS (NYSE: UPS) and Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) (TSX: SHOP), are unveiling a platform integration that make UPS’s premium services available to small businesses. Shopify’s hundreds of thousands of small U.S. businesses will now receive competitive, pre-negotiated domestic and international rates that save on list prices, along with a streamlined shipping and fulfillment solution.
With UPS® services and solutions integrated into the Shopify platform, businesses can now easily manage all aspects of shipping and fulfillment in one place. Several services including UPS 2nd Day Air® and UPS Ground are available to give merchants the flexibility and speed needed to meet customer needs at a good value. Tracking and billing are also integrated into Shopify, helping reduce the time and effort it takes a business owner to keep up with the status and cost of shipments.
In addition to the new, competitive rates already embedded, future Shopify Shipping enhancements could include savings on pickups, the ability to ship to 8,800 UPS Access Point® locations, UPS My Choice service for customers to personalize delivery times and locations, simplified online solutions for returns, and other elements of UPS’s suite of ecommerce solutions.
“By embedding UPS natively into Shopify’s platform, merchants will get the breadth and reliability of UPS’s services to more than 220 countries and territories, while easily managing all aspects of shipping and fulfillment in one place,” said Jerome Roberts, UPS’s Vice President of Global Product Innovation, UPS. “Shopify merchants now have access to UPS’s industry-leading tools and can provide the same high quality services as large ecommerce companies.”
Shopify merchants can activate UPS shipping rates and labels with a one-click acceptance of UPS terms and conditions in Shopify Shipping. A dedicated support line is now open for Shopify merchants to receive free consultations and shipping advice, especially with their Black Friday/Cyber Monday preparations. The hotline number is 1-833-BFCM-WIN (1-833-232-6946). This line will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the end of November.
“UPS and Shopify believe entrepreneurship should be accessible to everyone, and we share a unique passion to empower small businesses who form the backbone of the global economy,” said Maia Benson, Head of Global Shipping and Fulfillment, Shopify. “Working with UPS helps level the playing field for small businesses to compete against larger brands with guaranteed delivery times and competitive rates previously unavailable to many small- and medium-sized merchants.”
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.
About Shopify
Shopify is the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Merchants can use the software to design, set up, and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar locations, and pop-up shops. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business. The Shopify platform was engineered for reliability and scale, making enterprise-level technology available to businesses of all sizes. Shopify currently powers over 500,000 businesses in approximately 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Red Bull, Nestle, GE, Kylie Cosmetics, and many more.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.— FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), announced it has entered into a purchase agreement with Textron Aviation, Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, that will continue the modernization of the company’s fleet of feeder aircraft.

FedEx Express has agreed to purchase 50 clean-sheet design Cessna SkyCourier 408 aircraft, with options to purchase up to 50 additional aircraft. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in mid-2020, with subsequent deliveries on a schedule of one aircraft per month over a four-year period.

“This continues our very successful fleet modernization strategy, which improves our fuel efficiency, reliability and operating costs,” said David L. Cunningham, President and CEO, FedEx Express. “We worked closely with Textron Aviation to develop the Cessna SkyCourier 408, which includes several key features that will help us grow our business in small and medium-sized markets, especially in the air freight segment.”

Cessna SkyCourier 408 key features:

twin-engine, high-wing turboprop
digital cockpit
aft Large Cargo Door (LCD)
flat floor cabin equipped to handle up to three LD3 containers and a 6,000 lb. maximum payload
The Cessna SkyCourier 408 will be assembled by Textron Aviation in Wichita, Kansas. The twin-engine, high-wing turboprop has almost twice the volumetric capacity of the single engine Cessna Caravan 208 currently in the FedEx Express feeder fleet. Unlike FedEx’s current feeder aircraft, the aircraft has a large 87” x 69” cargo door, which will support container and pallet operations. The large cargo doors will help FedEx to provide even faster service to air freight customers who ship to or from smaller markets in its network.

Earlier this month, FedEx announced the purchase of 30 ATR 72-600F aircraft with the option to purchase up to 20 more as a first step to modernizing the company’s feeder fleet. “These aircraft purchases are part of our long-term feeder fleet strategy,” said Greg Hall, Executive Vice President of Air Operations, FedEx Express. “That strategy will not only improve our fuel efficiency and fleet reliability, but thanks to a collaborative training program we are planning, will create a reliable pipeline of well-qualified pilot applicants for FedEx Express pilot jobs, leveraging the experience they will gain in our feeder system.”

The FedEx Express Feeder network is a strategic component of the overall global linehaul network, serving markets too small for direct FedEx Express air linehaul service and markets where FedEx Express does not have operating rights. The Feeder network is composed of more than 300 aircraft serving 45 countries. Most of these feeder aircraft are owned by FedEx and are leased and operated by different third-party air carriers under their own operating certificates. The FedEx feeder fleet is comprised of aircraft under 60,000 pounds maximum gross take-off weight, and allows the company to provide fast, economical service to small and medium-sized markets around the world.

The FedEx feeder fleet complements the company’s jet fleet of over 360 aircraft, including Boeing 777s, B767s and B757s, MD11s, MD10s, Airbus 300s and Airbus 310s.

Union Pacific will increase the maximum track speed limit from 30 to 49 mph on the rail line running parallel to 2nd Avenue in Heron Lake, Minnesota.

Train speeds at the 9th Street crossing will increase in weekly five mph increments beginning Nov. 27 until reaching the 49 mph speed limit on Dec. 18. A tie and rail improvement project strengthened infrastructure, allowing trains to safely travel at a higher rate of speed.

Union Pacific plans to invest $14 million in Minnesota in 2017 to support the state’s current and future freight transportation needs and to enhance safety and efficiency. More information about Union Pacific and its social, environmental and economic progress is available in its Building America Report.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America’s most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. In the last 10 years, 2007-2016, Union Pacific invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure. The railroad’s diversified business mix is classified into its Agricultural Products, Energy, Industrial and Premium business groups. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) has announced aggressive new sustainability goals to add more alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles to its fleet while increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources. The goals, available in the company’s 2016 Corporate Sustainability Report, support UPS’s commitment to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global ground operations 12 percent by 2025, a goal developed using a methodology approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

“Because of our size and scale, we know our commitments can shape markets, advance technologies and be a catalyst for infrastructure investments,” said David Abney, UPS Chairman and CEO. “We rely on the ingenuity of our employees, suppliers and technology partners to help us reach goals that will transform the shipping industry and spur innovation.”

UPS has a goal that 25 percent of the electricity it consumes will come from renewable energy sources by 2025, a dramatic increase from the 0.2 percent in 2016. In addition, by 2020 UPS plans that one in four new vehicles purchased annually will be an alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicle, up from 16 percent in 2016. The company also set a new goal that by 2025, 40 percent of all ground fuel will be from sources other than conventional gasoline and diesel, an increase from 19.6 percent in 2016.
UPS operates more than 8,300 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles worldwide. The company’s fleet includes electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), propane and lightweight fuel-saving composite body vehicles. In addition to its use of alternative vehicles, UPS uses millions of gallons of lower-carbon footprint renewable diesel and renewable natural gas (RNG) in its fleet each year.
These initiatives reinforce the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact despite growth in e-commerce deliveries, which are driving up energy used to operate facilities and power its vehicle fleet.

The UPS vision entails a future smart logistics network of advanced technology vehicles and facilities powered by more diverse and sustainable energy sources, including on-site solar, off-site wind, renewable natural gas, renewable hydrogen, and renewable diesel delivered via advanced energy system infrastructure. UPS already deploys many of these technologies in its ground fleet and facilities, and plans to significantly increase their use in its worldwide fleet.

Since 2009, UPS has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. The company used more than 97 million gallons of alternative and lower-carbon fuels in its ground fleet in 2016 and recently made an $18 million investment in on-site solar energy systems across eight facilities. UPS uses its Rolling Laboratory approach to determine which alternative fuels and technologies work best in each situation. From old-fashioned pedal power and electrically-assisted bicycles, to electric, hybrid electric, natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane and renewable diesel, UPS puts sustainability innovation into action, all over the world.

In addition to its environmental efforts, UPS outlined in its Sustainability Report workforce and community goals, including its commitment to achieve 20 million volunteer hours by the end of 2020 and its pledge to donate $127 million in total charitable contributions in 2020, including humanitarian relief and community safety programs, through The UPS Foundation. The programs provide support to communities around the world, including UPS’s work with partners to deliver life-saving blood, medicines and vaccines to remote communities and its support of relief organizations.
To obtain more information on UPS’s sustainability initiatives, please visit ups.com/sustainability. For media assets (photos, b-roll, infographics, etc.), please go to pressroom.ups.com.

About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. UPS is committed to operating more sustainably – for customers, the environment and the communities we serve around the world. Learn more about our efforts at sustainability.ups.com. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at ups.com® or pressroom.ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at Longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

On Tuesday, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker joined U.S. and Mexican government leaders in Brownsville, Texas, at a ceremony to inaugurate the West Rail Bypass International Bridge, the first new international rail crossing between the United States and Mexico since 1910.

During her remarks, Secretary Pritzker highlighted the deep and growing commercial partnership between our two countries; the vital importance of the U.S.-Mexico border to our bilateral economic ties; and the need for action to spur North American competitiveness in the increasingly globalized economy of the 21st century.

Secretary Pritzker noted how the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has led to the creation of jobs and opportunity for both U.S. and Mexican communities. Yet, at the same time, our commercial crossings at the border were not modernized after NAFTA came into force, leaving us with infrastructure that was built to handle roughly a quarter of our current trade volume.

To address these challenges and to ensure that our border region remains a staging ground for greater commercial and economic activity long into the future, Secretary Pritzker and her U.S. and Mexican partners have pledged to make the West Rail Bypass only one part of a long-term, concerted effort to replace outdated infrastructure and continue to develop a modern, efficient, and secure border. Because, as the Secretary stated, “we cannot wait another 100 years before we inaugurate the next new bridge or road connecting our countries.”

To that end, we are prioritizing the development and execution of border infrastructure projects as part of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED). So far, in addition to the West Rail, we have seen some progress. For example, we have reduced wait times from 3 hours to roughly 30 minutes at the port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, the busiest land crossing in the world. And we more than doubled the capacity at the Nogales-Mariposa port of entry; now, that facility can handle trucks as many as 4,000 a day – up from about 1,600 – and process up to $35 billion in goods each year.

This is only the beginning. Our focus on infrastructure will continue long into the future, as we seek to advance the vision of the HLED: to support a vibrant, competitive North American economy, and to make it easier for U.S. and Mexican companies to do business together.

Before the West Rail event, Secretary Pritzker met with a delegation of business leaders from Brownsville to discuss how the city can capitalize on its strategic location and leverage Department of Commerce resources to spur new economic growth and opportunities for local workers and families.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the grant recipients who will receive $197 million in competitive grant funding to help commuter and intercity passenger railroads meet the December 31, 2018 deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) systems to improve safety.

The $197 million in PTC grant funding, authorized under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, will be provided to 17 projects in 13 states. The FRA and FTA received 27 eligible applications requesting $455 million, more than double the $197 million that Congress authorized. The FRA was responsible for the selection of the grant recipients, and the FTA will award and administer the grants during Fiscal Year 2017.

“The number of passengers depending on rail has increased dramatically, which means PTC is needed now more than ever,” said Patrick Warren, FRA Executive Director. “This funding will get us closer to PTC implementation on some of the most significant railroads in the country that transport several million passengers to and from work every day.”

PTC systems are designed to prevent certain train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and trains routed to the wrong tracks because a switch was left in the wrong position. The grants under this program will be used to install PTC technology, including back office systems and wayside, communications, and onboard hardware equipment associated with railroads’ PTC systems.

“Millions of people rely on our nation’s commuter railroads and Positive Train Control will help ensure safe and reliable service,” said FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes. “Today’s announcement means that commuter railroads can move forward with the implementation of an important rail safety feature.”

Grants will be awarded in the amounts stated below to the following commuter railroads and state and regional transportation entities:

Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) – Calif.
$21.68 million to dual equip seven Caltrain trains with the Incremental Train Control System (ITCS) and Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) PTC systems for approximately 32 miles from south of San Jose to Gilroy, California, on Union Pacific Railroad (UP) territory by December 31, 2018. Caltrain trains will come to a full stop within Caltrain territory, deactivate the ITCS system, and then activate the I-ETMS system before proceeding onto the UP line. The project will upgrade the performance, operating efficiency, safety, and reliability of Caltrain’s commuter rail service, providing Peninsula communities with a modernized rail service that will help meet growing ridership demand.
 
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) – Calif.
$3.2 million to develop, test, and deploy tools and processes to improve the reliability, efficiency, and security of SCRRA’s Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) PTC system, with an upgrade from a non-vital PTC system to a vital overlay system across 249 miles of rail line in the greater Los Angeles region of southern California. The vital overlay system will include additional encryption and physical firewalls to secure all data channels, along with a PTC data log analyzer tool to identify the cause of PTC system errors, cut-outs, and component failures. Security upgrades will focus on SCRRA’s Metrolink PTC network and primarily benefit its 46,000 daily commuter rail passengers and provide substantial benefit to the rail network’s users and other commuter railroads across the industry.
 
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) – Fla.
$1.84 million to implement Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) PTC system along 110 miles of the Central Florida Rail Corridor (CFRC) in the Orlando, Florida region. The project components include a computer-aided dispatch system, track database, and communication network.  Implementing I-ETMS will ensure the safety of nearly 1.3 million SunRail and Amtrak passengers on trains traversing CFRC each year as well as roadway workers in work zones. Since freight, commuter rail, and intercity rail service all use the CFRC, the implementation of I-ETMS will help reduce potential collisions between passenger and freight trains. 
 
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) – Fla.
$31.63 million to complete installing SFRTA’s Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I‐ETMS) PTC system—which consists of wayside interface units, near side station controls, base radio stations, a back office server, on‐board PTC kits, and a crew training simulator—on the South Florida Rail Corridor. SFRTA’s 72-mile-long Tri-Rail commuter line runs through Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami‐Dade Counties, where Tri-Rail operates 50 weekday and 30 weekend passenger trains and rail safety will be improved for over 14,000 passengers per day. Additionally, CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSX) operates approximately 11 through and local freight trains per day, and Amtrak operates four trains per day and serves six Tri‑Rail stations within the SFRC.
 
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) – Ill.
$18.87 million to complete the design, delivery, installation, and testing of a fully integrated Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) PTC system on two routes for Amtrak’s use on 14.7 route miles of Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) right‑of way in a dense urban area of St. Louis on both the Illinois and Missouri banks of the Mississippi River. Amtrak ridership figures for 2014 show 1,136,271 passengers pass through the St. Louis Station that would directly benefit from PTC system implementation on this rail line. 
 
Regional Transportation Authority (Metra) – Ill.
$20.2 million for three subprojects on Metra’s Commuter Rail Division to implement wayside PTC signals, reconfigure signals, and upgrade an existing PTC automatic block signaling systems on Metra’s Milwaukee District West (MD-W) and North (MD-N) lines in the Chicago, Illinois region. Metra’s commuter rail network is the fourth busiest in the country, with nearly 14 million passenger trips on the MD-W and MD-N lines each year. Each day, over 1,300 Metra, freight, and Amtrak trains operate in the region. Since they frequently share the same track, precise scheduling and close coordination among railroad partners are required to plan the complex interaction between these trains each day. 
 
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) – Mass.
$7.82 million to install a back office system for MBTA’s PTC system that consists of an existing Cab Signaling System (CSS) with Automatic Train Control (ATC) supplemented by MBTA’s Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II). Moving approximately 143,498 riders daily through 13 active lines, MBTA’s commuter rail system is the fifth busiest commuter railroad in the country. The service runs as far south as Providence, Rhode Island, as far north as Newburyport, Massachusetts and as far west as Worcester and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. This project is in partnership with Freight-Pan Am, CSX Transportation, Inc., Amtrak, and Keolis.
 
Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) – Md.
$9.44 million to install an Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) PTC system along Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) tracks in the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and equip 11 MARC 2A cab cars with I-ETMS onboard technology. The work will be on the Penn Line between Union Station in Washington, DC, and the northern limits of MARC service at Perryville, MD, over a total distance of approximately 77 directional miles where rail safety will be improved for 272,269 daily riders. In the Baltimore and Washington, DC region, this commuter rail service connects outlying communities to vital employment, education, and service centers. 
 
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) – Mo.
$12.02 million to design, install, and test a fully integrated and functional Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) PTC system over approximately 8.5 route miles of Kansas City Terminal (KCT) Railway right of way where Amtrak operates in the Kansas City metropolitan region of Missouri. The project will implement wayside and communications PTC equipment that provide fail-safe responses to the loss of communication data, along with an integrated back-office system capable of providing interoperability for all tenant railroads. Since the project’s geographic reach covers one of the most congested rail hubs in the U.S., the safety improvements will significantly affect over 92,000 trains per year, including six daily passenger trains with approximately 552,000 riders per year. 
 
New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) – N.J.
$10 million to implement NJ Transit’s PTC Phase III, which involves the purchase of onboard equipment kits and the installation, testing, and commissioning of the PTC equipment on a total of 440 locomotives, electric mobile units, and cab cars. NJ Transit is the nation’s third largest provider of bus, rail, and light rail transit. PTC will be deployed across NJ Transit’s 11 commuter rail lines, along 326 route miles where rail safety will be improved for approximately 400,000 passengers per work day and 250,000 passengers on the weekends. To address interoperability issues and develop formal procedures for seamless train movements across different railroads, NJ Transit will partner with Amtrak, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Conrail. 
 
Rio Metro Regional Transit District (Rio Metro) – N.M.
$3.6 million for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express’s (Rail Runner) PTC project, including installation of Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I‑ETMS) PTC onboard technology on nine Rail Runner locomotives. PTC technology will provide safety benefits for two major rail lines where Rail Runner operates along the 22-mile-long Santa Fe Subdivision and shares tracks with Amtrak and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) along the 98-mile-long Albuquerque Subdivision. In 2015, Rail Runner carried 931,324 passengers; Albuquerque and Lamy Amtrak stations served 77,532 and 12,390 passengers, respectively; and BNSF shipped 97,840,154 gross ton-miles of freight on the Albuquerque Subdivision.
 
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) – N.Y.
$33.75 million to implement the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) PTC system on the Amtrak-controlled section of the Empire Corridor Hudson Line, a federally designated high-speed rail corridor that spans multiple jurisdictions along its 94 miles from Poughkeepsie to Hoffman, New York. A full PTC system will be constructed, along with all hardware, software, and databases required for the ACSES system. Implementing PTC on the Hudson Line—where passenger trains operate at speeds up to 110 mph, ridership is over 1.7 million passengers per year, and 30 trains operate over the territory daily—will result in a more reliable, secure rail system. 
 
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) – Ore.
$1.2 million to install and test PTC equipment on two Talgo Series 8 trainsets owned by ODOT and operated by Amtrak for the regional Amtrak Cascades intercity passenger rail service connecting Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, British Columbia. The Amtrak Cascades operates on the shared freight rail tracks of the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor, one of 11 designated high-speed rail corridors. The corridor carries approximately 35 freight trains, including those with hazardous material cargo, which interact with 16 Amtrak passenger rail trains and 14 Sound Transit commuter trains that use the route every day. With this project, transportation safety will be improved for over 500,000 passengers per year using Amtrak Cascades. 
 
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) – Ore.
$2.7 million to implement two Enhanced Automatic Train Control (E-ATC) PTC system safety modifications on the 15-mile-long Westside Express commuter rail corridor from Wilsonville to Beaverton, Oregon. The first modification will stop a train in advance of a malfunctioning grade crossing, and the second modification will stop a train prior to a work zone or limit speed throughout the work zone. TriMet is a tenant on the corridor shared with Portland and Western Railroad, a Class III freight railroad that serves as the host railroad for PTC implementation. Currently, TriMet commuter trains operate 32 trips each weekday, with over 476,000 passengers per year that will benefit from the safety improvements.
 
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) – Pa.
$5.8 million to install SEPTA’s Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System II (ACSES II) PTC system along a three-mile portion of restored Regional Rail service from Elwyn to Wawa, Pennsylvania, and deploy onboard survey map software that contains the physical characteristics of the railroad and dictates train-operating speeds throughout SEPTA’s rail network. The onboard survey map software will be installed on SEPTA’s 360 rail cars, which serve a 2,200 square mile area—including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; Mercer County in New Jersey; and New Castle County in Delaware. As a result, the project will directly enhance the safety of the 130,000 daily riders on the SEPTA Regional Rail System, as well as other users of the Northeast Corridor.
 
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) – Texas
$9.76 million to install the PTC fiber communications network for an Enhanced Automatic Train Control (E-ATC) PTC system on approximately 33 miles of Capital Metro’s commuter rail territory, which connects Downtown Austin, Texas with Austin’s northern suburbs and serves nine stations. All components of the PTC system will use proven components and subsystems on the commuter portion of Capital Metro’s alignment. The project will provide improved transportation safety for over 2,600 Capital Metro Red Line passengers per day, as well as two tenant freight railroads, Austin and Western Railroad and Austin and Texas Central Railroad. The 81 highway-rail grade crossings along the Red Line will also benefit from the deployment of PTC, since the included crossing malfunction identification equipment allows for quicker response times for issues with roadway-rail crossing signals.
 
Utah Transit Authority (UTA) – Utah
$3.52 million to design and test a two-step No-Code Proceed system to assure the safe operation of UTA’s FrontRunner Enhanced Automated Train Control (E-ATC) PTC system on its two mainline track segments from Provo to Ogden and Ogden to Pleasant View, Utah. The system will prevent a single point of failure for any movement of a train through a work zone or malfunctioning grade crossing when the system has imposed a positive stop. The project also includes onboard modifications to locomotives, vital software required to ensure that E-ATC functions on UTA’s upgraded system, integration testing, and a locomotive operator simulator. As a major provider of transportation within the Salt Lake Valley, UTA will be proving safer commuter rail service for over 4.6 million passengers per year using a fleet of 18 locomotives, 31 coaches (Bombardier and Comet), and 22 Bombardier cab cars. Additionally, safety will be improved for tenant freight railroads, such as Union Pacific Railroad, that operate on short sections of the FrontRunner system mainline.
To view a list of when railroads predict that they will achieve full PTC system implementation, visit Railroads’ Planned Timelines for Full Implementation of PTC Technology

Baltimoreans and visitors to the city can now access new cars on demand for hourly or daily rates through Maven’s seamless mobile app. Maven, General Motors’ personal mobility brand, is expanding its offerings in Baltimore from the Lyft Express Drive program to now include Maven City car sharing.

In 14 months, Maven has launched three products and grown to 17 cities in the U.S. and Canada: Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; Jersey City, New Jersey; Nashville, Tennessee; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Diego; San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Maven has attracted more than 30,000 members who have traveled 95 million miles to be more connected to the things they love.

EXPANDING

Baltimore is embracing a new generation of people who want to live and work in an urban environment and are attracted to the downtown revitalization efforts. With Maven, their car is right around the corner. Maven stations are spread throughout downtown with approximately 20 locations in Mount Vernon, Fell’s Point, Federal Hill, Station North, Bolton Hill, the Inner Harbor and in neighborhoods in and around Johns Hopkins University.

Maven makes living car-free or car-lite a simple and convenient option. A diverse fleet mix includes the Chevrolet Cruze and Cruze Hatchback, Malibu and Tahoe and the GMC Acadia.

Here is a closer look at the newest Maven offering in Baltimore:

Maven City: Maven City is a connected, seamless car-sharing experience that includes new vehicles loaded with technology, connectivity and features. Members can reserve one of 40 cars by using the mobile app, and hourly rates start as low as $8 plus tax. Maven has no membership or application fees, and gas and insurance are included with a reservation.

Maven cars are high trim level vehicles with leather seating and include SiriusXM™. OnStar® Advisors are available at the push of a button to help members book hotel rooms in their favorite beach community or route them to a park outside the city for a weekend adventure.

Exploring Baltimore in a Maven vehicle will feel more like traditional car ownership because members will enjoy access to their music, messages, maps and contacts through Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.

INNOVATING

Maven is testing future shared mobility services at GM campus car-sharing locations. Campus car-sharing services are currently operating at the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, GM do Brasil headquarters in São Cataeno do Sul and at GM Australia/Holden headquarters.

There are now more than 100 global Maven team members as the brand continues to attract top talent from the car-sharing, ridesharing and connected car industries, as well as some of the best minds from within GM. The Maven team already has filed seven patent applications to help make car sharing more intelligent.
BY THE NUMBERS

Maven has more than 30,000 members who have made 39,000 reservations.
Maven and GM+Lyft Express Drive members have logged more than 93 million miles on the road.
The average Maven City trip is 99 miles and lasts more than 16 hours.
Maven City’s most popular cars are the Chevrolet Tahoe and the extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt.
Maven recently deployed more than 100 Chevrolet Bolt EVs with an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles into car-sharing and ridesharing services in California. (Actual range may vary based on several factors including temperature, terrain, and driving technique.)
QUOTES

“Baltimore is a great fit for an elevated car-sharing service because of the number of people wanting to live and work in a revitalized downtown,” said Dan Grossman, Maven chief operating officer. “Owning a car in a densely populated urban city is not always practical, and Maven now provides options for Baltimoreans wanting to live car-free or car-lite.”

BACKGROUND

Maven is car sharing, refined. A fully connected fleet of General Motors vehicles featuring new cars loaded with technology allows users to personalize the entire experience. Members bring their digital lives into the vehicles through Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, including contacts, favorites and maps.

Maven advisor support is available through OnStar® for questions, roadside assistance and emergency response, allowing peace of mind for the journey. SiriusXM™ and 4G LTE Wi-Fi™ allows for a more engaged experience.

Pricing is simple and transparent, and includes insurance (minus a deductible) and fuel. A gas card is provided, and users are asked to return the vehicle with at least one quarter-tank of fuel to avoid an additional charge.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) has announced the purchase of Freightex, a U.K.-based asset-light provider of truckload, less-than-truckload, specialized and refrigerated over-the-road services. The acquisition immediately establishes UPS’s presence in the growing U.K. and European third-party logistics (3PL) over-the-road brokerage transportation market and launches a new global and regional UPS growth platform from an established base of customers and carriers.

The transaction follows UPS’s acquisition of Coyote Logistics in August 2015. Coyote is a leading truckload brokerage provider in North America. Coyote and Freightex business models are complementary and UPS expects to share the best system technologies, business processes, as well as leverage customers and carriers across the two units. Terms of the January 3rd, 2017 transaction were not disclosed.

“The U.K. and Europe are strategic 3PL freight brokerage growth markets for UPS and there is significant cross border opportunity,” said Alan Gershenhorn, UPS Chief Commercial Officer. “This acquisition provides UPS customers an immediate, knowledgeable and competitive U.K. and European presence. We intend to align Freightex with Coyote for greater efficiency and continue to invest for further growth.”

The European 3PL market was forecast to reach $174 billion by the end of 2016¹. The freight brokerage portion of the U.K. and total European 3PL market is growing at a faster rate than the total market and is expected to further expand as shippers and carriers further adopt the brokerage model². Brokered shipping services often provide greater efficiency brought about by higher fleet asset utilization when compared to operating dedicated fleets.

More than one-half million road freight carriers currently operate in Europe, presenting significant opportunities to expand UPS’s existing carrier base to create more value for customers and carriers from the advantages of higher equipment and staff utilization.
Shippers of all sizes and industries today rely on Freightex for the efficient movement and visibility of goods across the U.K. and Europe every day. Freightex also routinely handles freight from shippers who require temperature-controlled, specialized, and other types of customized equipment. The company has eight locations across the U.K. and Europe and uses an asset-light model to match customers’ outgoing freight shipments with available trucking capacity in its network of carriers.

UPS is among the largest multi-modal transportation companies in the world with extensive global airlines, trucking and package delivery networks. The company has operated in Europe for more than 40 years and is committed to continued expansion throughout Europe. By gaining access to UPS’s global network, Freightex customers will gain the benefits of scale, reach, and access to a broad integrated portfolio of shipping solutions for all their supply chain management and shipping needs. In turn, Freightex operations will provide UPS customers a turn-key U.K. and European solution where brokered freight movements provide the most competitive option.

“We are excited to join the UPS organization and Coyote brokerage operations,” said Tim Phillips, Freightex’s Chief Executive Officer. “UPS and Coyote have industry-leading technology, a no-excuses customer service culture, and a proven record of success. We will improve our efficiency through Coyote’s technology and use of the UPS network, while continuing to out-service the competition and provide results that customers count on us to deliver.”

Phillips will continue to lead the Freightex business, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of UPS.
“UPS has many existing customers who will benefit from U.K. and European transportation brokerage capabilities. We will provide added value, helping customers and carriers streamline operations and have simplified visibility through the same Coyote system that they use in North America,” Gershenhorn said. “Freightex’s proven expertise and strong regional network, combined with Coyote’s technology, people, processes, and service reputation will present a best-in-class solution for customers.”

1, 2 Third Party Logistics (3PL) Market Analysis By Service (Dedicated Contract Carriage, Domestic Transportation Management, International Transportation Management, Warehousing And Distribution, Software) And Segment Forecasts To 2020; Grand View Research; 2016

About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com® and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

About COYOTE
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago, Coyote Logistics LLC, a UPS company, is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) service provider in North America. Coyote provides truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal and transportation management services to more than 14,000 shippers of various sizes and industries. Coyote became a UPS company in August 2015.

About FREIGHTEX
Freightex, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Dover, U.K., has a wide range of customers across Europe and is focused on high levels of service and efficient transport solutions for truckload, less-than-truckload and specialized over-the-road transportation. Freightex specializes in European cross-border routes via a team of experienced freight professionals who provide customers with excellent prices and excellent service levels. The Freightex carrier network, which includes a dedicated fleet, helps provide customers with a full range of vehicle types. Freightex embraces technology to optimize traffic flows and to ensure that it uses available truck capacity to maximum effect.
It is a member of the British International Freight Association (Bifa) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics (CILT). Visit www.Freightex.com for more information.

MEMPHIS, Tenn., and DEERFIELD, Ill., FedEx Corp. and Walgreen Co., one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains, announced a long-term alliance agreement that will offer convenient access to FedEx dropoff and pickup services at thousands of Walgreens locations across the United States beginning within the next several months.

“Walgreens, with its strong focus on customer care, is the perfect retailer to help us continue to meet the growing demand for convenient, secure dropoff and pickup options, and our research has shown that customers rank pharmacies as a preferred location for accessing their e-commerce shipments,” said Raj Subramaniam, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer, FedEx Corporation. “The addition of Walgreens locations to the existing network of FedEx retail offerings will substantially increase customer access to staffed pickup and dropoff locations and enhance convenient access to FedEx Ground and FedEx Express package shipment and dropoff options. We look forward to offering these capabilities to customers, and continuing to meet their e-commerce shipping needs with these flexible options.”

“Working with FedEx to provide safe and secure delivery locations while making it easy for customers to ship returns and other packages through the FedEx networks is another way we are becoming America’s most loved pharmacy-led health, wellbeing and beauty retailer,” said Reuben Slone, Walgreens senior vice president of supply chain. “We look forward to providing our customers with these convenient options that will be available whenever the store is open.”

Improving Convenience and Saving Time
By bringing together Walgreens convenient network of retail locations across the country and FedEx as one of the leading enablers of the rapidly growing e-commerce economy, this new alliance will significantly expand the options available to consumers to drop off and pick up their FedEx shipments and handle multiple tasks during a single store visit. As part of the FedEx Onsite™ program, customers will be able to drop off pre-packaged and pre-labeled shipments at Walgreens stores and pick up packages that they direct to their neighborhood Walgreens.

After an initial, small-scale rollout this spring, Walgreens and FedEx expect to have the program available at thousands of Walgreens locations later this calendar year and chainwide at nearly 8,000 Walgreens stores by the fall of 2018.

Union Pacific has announced acquisition of Railex LLC’s refrigerated and cold storage distribution assets in Delano, California; Wallula, Washington; and Rotterdam, New York. Acquisition does not include Railex Wine Services LLC.

Railex, a refrigerated rail service and third-party logistics leader, plays a key role in Union Pacific’s Food Network transporting fruits, vegetables and other temperature-sensitive cargo across the United States.

“The Railex team developed a fantastic business changing how fresh food arrives on America’s tables, offering food shippers fast, reliable door-to-door rail based transportation solutions,” said Brad Thrasher, vice president and general manager – Agricultural Products.

“The integration of their highly efficient cross dock facilities and logistics capabilities into Union Pacific’s broader Food Network allows us to offer our customers increased access to a wider range of capacity and service solutions in a rail-centric cold chain.”

Union Pacific Food Trains directly serve Railex’s Delano and Wallula facilities, located in the heart of major agricultural production regions. The Food Train network provides a fast and reliable service from these growing regions to the Midwest consumer base via Chicago and further into the heart of the Northeast region via the CSX. Railex will continue managing facilities during the transition and integration of its operations with Union Pacific. More about Union Pacific’s Food Train network and services are available at up.com/customers.

About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America’s most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 billion in its network and operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure. The railroad’s diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.