UberRush Release Middle East In the Air Special Delivery On the

October 15, 2015
A round up of what you need to know from media coverage that appeared
between 2 a.m. Wed. and 2 a.m. Thurs. (CST)
UberRush Release
FedEx featured in significant buzz of the release of ‘UberRush’
FedEx featured in significant buzz generated by the release of Uber’s
same-day delivery service, UberRush. At least 100 reports from traditional media outlets mentioned FedEx in their coverage of the new service, which is now available in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.
While some of the reports presented the service as a potential threat to
both FedEx and UPS’s bread & butter service of delivering packages,
most outlets dismissed this possibility. The Wall Street Journal called
the suggestion “greatly exaggerated,” and proceeded to offer both company’s vastly developed hub and fleet facilities as evidence of the resources needed to make such a challenge. The article also quoted FedEx CEO Fred Smith’s recent dismissal of any possible challenge from
Uber for core delivery business:
“Great company, great concept, but I don’t think it’s…likely to be a major player in the logistics business.”
A similar angle was taken by USA Today, but CBS Moneywatch spotlighted Uber’s aim of competing in short, local deliveries, such as picking up groceries for customers or items at the drugstore. It further noted
how the service could help simplify the logistical problems facing such
deliveries, as well as reduce the carbon footprint they leave when handled by traditional delivery firms.
Christian Science Monitor assessed the possible threat UberRush poses to the courier industry, which relies on short, fast deliveries for revenue.
The story received international coverage; reports from Business Insider Australia and India were examples.
The Twitter discussion on the release of UberRush was by far the most
significant arm of buzz surrounding the story. The announcement and
resulting headlines generated more than 1,200 Tweets and Retweets
mentioning FedEx.
Read more here (Wall Street Journal)
Read more here (USA Today)
Read more here (CBS MoneyWatch)
Read more here (Business Insider Australia)
Read more here (Business Insider India)
Read more here (TheStreet)
Read more here (CS Monitor)
Read more here (Twitter)
Middle East
FedEx continued to feature in coverage of Middle East logistics summit
The participation of FedEx Express Middle East President, David J.
Ross, in the opening panel, “Realizing Aspirations and Meeting Expectations”, at the recent Leaders in Logistics Summit 2015, was picked up
by several Gulf publications. Ross was quoted in all of the articles:
“In the run up to Expo 2020, businesses of all sizes, from both public
and private sectors will be involved in one form or the other fueling
growth across all major industries in the UAE. Demand for international
and domestic shipping will increase as the country prepares to host the
exposition. This opens up opportunities for our sector. Similarly, the
growing logistics infrastructure will enable us to increase and enhance
our service offerings. It is an exciting time to do business in the GCC,
and the wider Middle East region.”
Read more here (Gulf News 247)
Read more here (Zawya)
In the Air
FedEx featured in ADVFN’s, “Cockpits to get enhanced vision'“
Several media outlets reported on a meeting at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Langley research center to discuss
"enhanced vision systems," a technology that promises to be the next
big advance in airline safety and on-time performance.
The article quoted managing director of technical flight issues for FedEx, Joshua Kendrick, who called the development a "game changer,"
citing its ability to shake up "all the rules and assumptions flying was
based on" for decades.
Read more here (ADVFN)
Air Cargo News mentioned FedEx in, “Airport cargo volumes decline in
August”
Air Cargo News highlighted decreased air freight traffic at Memphis International Airport, a FedEx hub, in its report on the decline of global
airfreight volumes for the month of August. The trend, shown in the latest data from Airports Council International, was attributed to the stagnation of the global economy, particularly in China.
Read more here (Air Cargo News)
Special Delivery
FedEx part of effort to save endangered Puerto Rican toads
A report by The Mercury News noted FedEx as the delivery company
used in the transportation of tadpoles from endangered Puerto Rican
Crested Toads. The transport of the tadpoles was part of the Puerto
Rican Crested Toad Species Survival Plan, a co-ordination between
four different zoo’s attempting to carry out a precise plan to breed the
critically endangered toads. The report ran in more than 10 other publications.
Read more here (Mercury News)
On the Road
FedEx truck overturned on California’s I-80
Several media outlets reported traffic delays in Colfax, California due to
an overturned FedEx truck that blocked lanes on the area’s I-80. No
injuries were reported, and the cause of the accident is under investigation.
Read more here (KCRA 3)
Read more here (Auburn Journal)
Social Responsibility
FedEx participated in Navy’s Tours with Industry program
The NavyTimes noted FedEx and Amazon as the hosts of the first navy
personnel participating in the Tours with Industry program. The program
is designed to give officers a chance to spend some time in corporate
America and bring back to the Navy what they'd learned.
Read more here (NavyTimes)
Construction
Coverage of fatality on FedEx construction site in California continued
Several media outlets continued coverage of a fatal accident on the
construction site of a FedEx facility in Oceanside, California. The victim,
identified as Kenneth Schultz, lost his life when a concrete slab fell on
him for unknown reasons. No new information on the investigation underway by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
was provided by the coverage.
Read more here (Fox 5 San Diego)
Read more here (NBC San Diego)
Read more here (Construction Equipment)
UPS
UPS won awards for Humanitarian Relief Work Around Ebola Crisis
A press release that ran in MarketWatch announced UPS as the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Corporate Citizenship Awards following its successful efforts to provide humanitarian relief that helped combat the spread of Ebola in West Africa last year.
Eduardo Martinez, president of the UPS Foundation said: "The unexpected development of the Ebola crisis emphasized the importance of
agile and adaptable response strategies, including the power of strong
public and private partnerships as the needs of our humanitarian partners and those in impacted regions changed rapidly. These recognitions are humbly shared with our humanitarian partners, healthcare
workers and employees around the world, who all came together to
provide critical support when our communities were in crisis."
Read more here (MarketWatch)
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