UPS to Retrofit 5,000 Package Cars with Air Conditioning by 2027

The Facts -

UPS and Teamsters Collaborate on Air-conditioning Initiative for Delivery Vehicles

(WASHINGTON) – United Parcel Service (UPS) has entered into a new agreement with the UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee to accelerate the delivery of air-conditioned vehicles. This move aims to enhance working conditions for drivers operating in the nation's warmest areas.

In a significant step toward improving driver comfort, UPS will retrofit 5,000 package cars with air conditioning, primarily targeting the hottest zones in the Southern and Southwest regions. These vehicles are part of a broader commitment under the national contract to deliver 28,000 air-conditioned trucks.

"The Teamsters Union appreciates UPS’s recognition that our members in Zone 1 need real relief from the heat, and they need it now," stated Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. He emphasized the importance of timely implementation of these enhancements, noting, "The rank-and-file at UPS are essential workers who move the American economy."

By June 1, 2027, the retrofitting project intends to complete air-conditioning upgrades on 5,000 vehicles, with the initial 2,000 expected by June 1, 2026. This effort is a part of UPS's broader initiative to improve working conditions for its drivers in collaboration with the Teamsters.

A pilot program under the agreement will see 100 package cars equipped with air conditioning vented into cargo compartments. This initiative will be evaluated by the joint Teamsters/UPS Package Car Heat Committee as part of ongoing efforts to provide further heat relief strategies.

Karla Schumann, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 104 in Phoenix, Ariz., and Chair of the Package Car Heat Committee, expressed optimism about this development: "We are eager to start testing A/C in the cargo compartment, inarguably the hottest part of the package cars. This is a positive step for UPS to speed up delivery of air-conditioned vehicles by utilizing retrofitting for our most affected members."

This retrofitting project aligns with UPS's obligations under the standing Teamsters contract, which covers states like Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, among others, identified as Zone 1.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, established in 1903, represents 1.3 million members across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. More details can be found at Teamster.org and on their social media platforms such as @Teamsters on X and Facebook.com/teamsters.

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