Atlanta-based global freight transportation and logistics bellwether UPS said today it is taking a fully measured approach in its companywide efforts to sync up its resources with various organizations and agencies, including the President’s Coronavirus Taskforce, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and various state health agencies. The company added that its UPS Healthcare and UPS global operations are taking steps to collaborate with myriad companies and agencies in both the public and private sectors.
“UPS’s dedicated people, global network and public-private partnerships are creating a powerful combination for rapid deployment of protective equipment and test kits throughout the U.S., and around the world,” said UPS Chairman and CEO, David Abney in a statement. “UPS Healthcare has the expertise and experience to move vital, life-saving medicines, medical devices, diagnostic specimens and supplies everywhere they are needed.”
UPS officials said the company is increasing its collaboration with FEMA in order to provide supply chain services for the agency’s distribution of PPE (personal protective equipment) and necessary materials throughout the U.S., including respirators, N95 masks, and gloves for use by healthcare workers across the country. And it also noted that FEMA will have access to UPS’s expansive Worldport facilities in Louisville for temporary staging of critical shipments from overseas.
What’s more, the company presented a lengthy list comprised of the government agencies and companies it is collaborating with, focusing on efficient and rapid transportation of test kits, PPE, supplies, and medical devices, which includes:
“The global UPS Healthcare team has mobilized in extraordinary ways around the world to bring all of our expertise, and highly specialized capabilities to serve the urgent needs of our healthcare and life science customers,” said UPS Healthcare President Wes Wheeler in a statement. “Our strength is our ability to be nimble in times of emergencies, whether natural disasters or pandemics, so we will continue to do our part to help us all through this challenge.”