Peace-of-Mind for Last-Minute Holiday Shipping

Mississagua, December 17, 2009

UPS ready for the bustle of the jolly season with newly expanded GTA distribution centre

With about one week left to ship holiday gifts, the sound of sleigh bells might be drowned out by the sound of planes, trains and automobiles as the world's largest shipping company delivers your last-minute packages.

UPS recently doubled the size of its Toronto distribution centre and now has the capacity to process 40,000 packages per hour, which will come in handy over the next week. The newly expanded facility is the latest addition to the 102-year-old company's vast international infrastructure, which processes millions of last-minute shipping requests. To help ensure gifts get to their destinations safely and on time, UPS offers the following advice:

1. Mark your calendar: Keep up with your favourite TV shows while wrapping holiday gifts! Shipping deadlines are fast approaching! Canadians can ship within the country as late as Dec. 23, using UPS Express® air services.

2. Pass it to the pros: If there aren't enough hours in the day to get your gifts wrapped and properly packed, get the packing pros at The UPS Store® to lend a helping hand. To find store locations, information on products and services, hours of operation, directions and maps, visit www.TheUPSStore.ca.

3. Watch your weight: We all keep an eye on our weight during the holiday season and your packages are no exception. Be sure not to overload boxes and exceed their maximum weight. Every box should be properly insulated with two inches of cushioning; and the less empty space you leave within the box, the less chance items will shift and potentially break while in transit.

4. Keep track: Give yourself some peace of mind by tracking your shipments online. UPS provides tracking technology on UPS.com® to make it easy for customers to monitor the movement of their gifts in real time. Shippers can also check UPS.com to verify time-in-transit for their particular shipping destination.

For additional holiday shipping advice, to locate a UPS location near you or arrange for your shipment online, visit www.UPS.com or call 1-800-PICK-UPS.