Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
FedEx Ground
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== History == [[File:RPS Logo.jpg|thumb|right|The RPS logo used until it was rebranded FedEx Ground]] When RPS was founded on March 11, 1985, it intended to out-compete [[UPS Ground]] by focusing on efficiency and structuring itself for lower costs.<ref name="SA Parcel">{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2010 |title=The Small Parcel Oligopoly |url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/225976-the-small-parcel-oligopoly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819190720/https://seekingalpha.com/article/225976-the-small-parcel-oligopoly |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=[[Seeking Alpha]] |publisher=Ohio Capital Ideas |language=en}}</ref> One result of this drive for efficiency was RPS' use of barcodes on packages allowing it to track and sort shipments much more effectively. After an intensive effort to shift its operations to use the new technology, RPS became the first company able to track a package through the delivery cycle.<ref name="Lott 2000">{{Cite news |last=Lott |first=Ethan |date=August 17, 2000 |title=Delivering the goods |work=Pittsburgh Business Times |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2000/08/14/daily21.html |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> Its parent company, RSI, already owned a number of transportation companies including national [[Less than truckload shipping|less than truckload]] (LTL) carrier [[Roadway Express]]. This backing allowed RPS to grow quickly and by 1988 it was operating 130 terminals covering 70% of the US.<ref name="FW RE Hist">{{Cite web |last=Mall |first=Scott |date=May 18, 2021 |title=FreightWaves Haul of Fame: Roadway Express was an LTL leader for decades |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-haul-of-fame-roadway-express-was-an-ltl-leader-for-decades |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202505/https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-haul-of-fame-roadway-express-was-an-ltl-leader-for-decades |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |website=FreightWaves}}</ref> After RSI spun off Roadway Express in 1995 and changed its name to Caliber System, RPS was its largest subsidiary.<ref name="RS Name Change CS">{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1995 |title=Roadway adopts new name |page=43 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84165963/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029033250/https://www.newspapers.com/c/clip.css?v=cf5221f |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1997, [[Frederick W. Smith|Fred Smith]], founder of FedEx, contacted Dan Sullivan, co-founder of RPS and now president of Caliber System, about merging the two companies. FedEx, which at the time only offered air services, was under pressure from UPS which offered both air and ground services. By acquiring RPS, FedEx would get a fully fledged ground network to complement its existing air services. The acquisition of Caliber System was finalized in January 1998.<ref name="Lott 2000" /> In preparation for this major acquisition, FedEx had reorganized as a holding company, FDX Corporation, in October 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations |url=https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721035421/https://delecorp.delaware.gov/tin/controller |title=File No. 2803030}}</ref> When its acquisition of Caliber was finalized, FDX was the parent of both FedEx and Caliber's subsidiaries. It then embarked on significant reorganization to merge its existing business with the new subsidiaries. As part of this effort, it made broad changes to branding for the new acquisitions in 2000. FDX Corporation changed its name to FedEx Corporation, Federal Express was renamed FedEx Express, RPS became FedEx Ground, Caliber's same-day-critical trucking subsidiary, Roberts Express, became FedEx Custom Critical,<ref name="FDX History">{{Cite web |title=FedEx history |url=https://www.fedex.com/en-us/about/history.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819040055/https://www.fedex.com/en-us/about/history.html |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |website=FedEx |language=en-us}}</ref> and its LTL freight carrier, Viking Freight was re-branded FedEx Freight in 2001.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Parry |first=Tim |date=February 7, 2020 |title=American Freightways and Viking Freight become FedEx Freight |url=https://www.fleetowner.com/news/article/21664586/american-freightways-and-viking-freight-become-fedex-freight |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=Fleet Owner}}</ref> FedEx Ground launched a US residential delivery service, FedEx Home Delivery Service, in 2000. It was later renamed FedEx Home Delivery.<ref name="Jindel 2018">{{Cite news |last=Jindel |first=Satish |date=January 3, 2018 |title=Pressure increases on couriers for seven-day B2C service |work=JOC |url=https://www.joc.com/international-logistics/logistics-providers/pressure-increases-large-deliverers-7-day-b2b-service_20180103.html |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> In 2004, FedEx acquired [[New Berlin, Wisconsin]]-based parcel consolidator Parcel Direct from magazine and catalog printer [[Quad Graphics]] for $120 million. Following the acquisition, Parcel Direct was renamed FedEx SmartPost and became a subsidiary of FedEx Ground.<ref name="Miller 2004">{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Abby |date=September 14, 2004 |title=FedEx Corp. Finishes $120 Million Acquisition of Parcel Direct |language=en-US |work=DMN |url=https://www.dmnews.com/fedex-corp-finishes-120-million-acquisition-of-parcel-direct/ |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> On January 14, 2013, FedEx named Henry Maier CEO and President of FedEx Ground, to take effect after David Rebholz retired on May 31, 2013.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=FedEx Corp. Announces Henry J. Maier to Succeed David F. Rebholz as President and CEO for FedEx Ground |publisher=FedEx |url=https://newsroom.fedex.com/newsroom/fedex-corp-announces-henry-j-maier-to-succeed-david-f-rebholz-as-president-and-ceo-for-fedex-ground/}}</ref> Until 2018, most FedEx Ground US operations were five days a week, but this was expanded to six in September 2018 due to the rise in demand driven by e-commerce.<ref name="Berman 2018">{{Cite magazine |last=Berman |first=Jeff |date=September 12, 2018 |title=FedEx Ground increases delivery schedule to six days a week |url=https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/fedex_ground_increases_delivery_schedule_to_six_days_a_week |magazine=Logistics Management |access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref> Its US services were expanded again during the 2019 holiday peak season to seven days per week, a change which became permanent for the majority of the US population year-round in January 2020.<ref name="Seven Days">{{Cite press release |title=FedEx Ground Announces Seven-Day Residential Delivery Year-round |url=https://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom/fedex-ground-announces-seven-day-residential-delivery-year-round/ |access-date=2019-05-30 |website=About FedEx |archive-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105140101/https://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom/fedex-ground-announces-seven-day-residential-delivery-year-round/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2021, a [[Indianapolis FedEx shooting|mass shooting]] occurred in the Indianapolis facility, killing 9 (including the perpetrator) and injuring 7. The attack was carried out by a former employee. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-15 |title=FedEx statement marks 'somber day' 1 year since Indianapolis mass shooting |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fedex-mass-shooting/fedex-issues-statement-marking-one-year-since-indianapolis-mass-shooting-indianapolis-plainfield-victims-red-flag-shooter-lawsuit/531-d8d2ea74-735f-4e19-a96f-d1c333b49a39 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=wthr.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)