UPS is well-known for its brown trucks, internally known as package cars (hence the company nickname "Big Brown", and sometimes, because of its NASCAR-related commercials, "The #88 Car"). The brown color that UPS uses on its vehicles and uniforms is called Pullman brown, after the railroad sleeper cars created by George Pullman, which used the same color. UPS also operates its own airline (IATA: 5X, ICAO: UPS, and Callsign: UPS ) based in Louisville, Kentucky.

In April of 2003, UPS unvield the new logo, replacing the iconic package and shield originally designed in 1961 by Paul Rand.

Major competitors include United States Postal Service (USPS), FedEx, and DHL. Historically, UPS only faced competition from USPS for the inexpensive ground based delivery market. However, FedEx recently expanded into the ground market by acquiring RPS (originally Roadway Package System) and rebranded it as FedEx Ground. In addition, DHL acquired Airborne Express. This acquisition significantly increases DHL's presence in the U.S. which will add more competition to the ground delivery market.

UPS entered the heavy freight business with its purchase of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, a former subsidiary of Menlo Worldwide. The purchase was announced on December 20th, 2004, the price was US$150million and the assumption of US$110million in long term debt. Menlo Worldwide was the successor of Emery Worldwide. Emery was grounded on August 13, 2001 after a DC-8-71F crashed in Northern California.

On May 16, 2005, UPS announced it would purchase Overnite Corporation for $1.25 billion. This was approved by the FTC and Overnite shareholders on August 4, 2005. On April 28, 2006, Overnite officially became UPS Freight.

History

In 1907 19-year-old Jim Casey founded the American Messenger Company in Seattle, Washington with $100 borrowed from a friend. In 1913, Jim Casey and Evert McCabe agreed to merge. Merchants Parcel Delivery was formed and focused on packages. In 1919, the company expanded beyond Seattle and changed their name to United Parcel Service.

UPS' Political Action Committee has been the most generous corporate giver to federal candidates for every election since 1992, donating a total of $14 million through Dec. 31, 2005 according to Federal Election Commission records show.

October 3, 2005, UPS in the United Kingdom completed the purchase of LYNX Express Ltd, one of the UK's largest independent parcel carriers, for £55.5 million (US$97.1 million) after having received approval for the transaction from the European Commission. The first joint package car centre operation, in Dartford, east London, was opened during mid-2006. Dartford Centre carries the SLIC GB1330.

April 20, 2006, UPS today reported earnings per diluted share of $0.89, up 14.1% over the prior year. Results were driven by a 9% increase in global small package volume or 1.24 million packages per day, outpacing worldwide market growth.