UPS Unveils Aggressive Cost-Cutting Plan Amid Shift Towards Higher-Margin Shipments
United Parcel Service has announced plans to slash up to 30,000 operational roles in 2026 as part of its efforts to revamp its business model and accelerate a turnaround. The move comes on the heels of last year's job reductions and reflects the company's determination to stabilize volumes following the end of US duty-free, "de minimis" low-value e-commerce shipments.
The cost-cutting measure is aimed at rebuilding profitability and offsetting the impact of a decline in profit margins due to its largest customer Amazon. UPS had previously stated that it would accelerate a plan to slash millions of low-profit deliveries for Amazon, describing the business as "extraordinarily dilutive" to margins.
To achieve this goal, UPS plans to rely on attrition rather than forced layoffs and will offer a second voluntary separation program for full-time drivers. The company has already made significant progress in reducing its workforce, with 48,000 jobs cut in 2025 and operations closed at 93 facilities.
The cost-cutting measures are expected to generate around $3 billion in savings for the company in 2026. UPS has also recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge of $137 million related to writing off the MD-11 fleet following a deadly crash last November.
Despite the challenges ahead, UPS is confident that its strategy will yield results. The company has projected revenue of $89.7 billion for 2026, which represents a modest increase from last year's $88.7 billion. Analysts had expected revenue to be lower, at $87.94 billion on average.
United Parcel Service has announced plans to slash up to 30,000 operational roles in 2026 as part of its efforts to revamp its business model and accelerate a turnaround. The move comes on the heels of last year's job reductions and reflects the company's determination to stabilize volumes following the end of US duty-free, "de minimis" low-value e-commerce shipments.
The cost-cutting measure is aimed at rebuilding profitability and offsetting the impact of a decline in profit margins due to its largest customer Amazon. UPS had previously stated that it would accelerate a plan to slash millions of low-profit deliveries for Amazon, describing the business as "extraordinarily dilutive" to margins.
To achieve this goal, UPS plans to rely on attrition rather than forced layoffs and will offer a second voluntary separation program for full-time drivers. The company has already made significant progress in reducing its workforce, with 48,000 jobs cut in 2025 and operations closed at 93 facilities.
The cost-cutting measures are expected to generate around $3 billion in savings for the company in 2026. UPS has also recorded a non-cash, after-tax charge of $137 million related to writing off the MD-11 fleet following a deadly crash last November.
Despite the challenges ahead, UPS is confident that its strategy will yield results. The company has projected revenue of $89.7 billion for 2026, which represents a modest increase from last year's $88.7 billion. Analysts had expected revenue to be lower, at $87.94 billion on average.