Peace-of-mind for last-minute holiday shipping

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

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 17 /CNW/ - 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(R) 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(R) 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(R) 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.

    About UPS
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UPS (NYSE: UPS) is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta , Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

For further information: Shannon Morton, APEX Public Relations, [phone] ext 253, [email protected]; Tara Smith, UPS Canada, [phone], [email protected]