UPS’s service levels from the UK are almost back to normal, following the disruptions caused bythe closure last month of some of its air cargo screening facilities by the Department for
Transport (DfT) due to security lapses.Sources at the company told CEP-Research there were still some delays to international parcels,but there was no longer the systematic 24-hour delays experienced for much of the last month tomainland European and some intercontinental destinations. Service guarantees are understood to havebeen restored.
UPS said it had been “making progress daily in restoring service levels” since the closure ofsome screening facilities four weeks ago, “and the majority of UK-origin export air volume now isbeing delivered on time”. Contingency plans have included the use of ground services to replacesome air express operations, and the screening of export air volume is being handled by UPS, “withsome additional support from third-party vendors”.
A spokeswoman told CEP-Research this morning: “UPS continues to work closely with the UKDepartment for Transport to address concerns raised during their scheduled review of securityrequirements. We are also working hard to get UK exports back to normal as soon as possible. We donot disclose service levels, but I can tell you service is improving daily as we make changes andimprovements to our operations.”
The company said it hoped to return to service the screening facilities that it had takenoffline “in the near future”, adding: “UPS continues to commit all required resources to meet theUK’s requirements for re-opening screening facilities, and is making all preparations ahead offuture certification reviews.”
The company said it could not reveal any specific details about its security procedures, as thiswould be counter-productive to their effectiveness. However, CEP-Research understands that one ofthe problems identified by the DfT in its inspection of UPS’s air freight security capabilitieslast month was a failure to conduct the appropriate background checks on some staff.
