What if: It is Friday, so you decide to host a weekend barbecue for your friends. Then tragedy strikes – you suddenly realise your old barbeque grill is broken. Oh no!
But wait – this is actually no trouble at all. UPS and Roadie launched a new solution for retailers, powering big and bulky shipments, called RoadieXD™. What do you mean with big? What do you mean with bulky? Picture items up to 100 kilos and 4 metres in length.
Next chapter: You order a state-of-the-art grill, and a crowdsourced driver delivers it via RoadieXD the same day it hits Roadie’s cross-dock facility – much faster than just about any other solution, with the kind of speed that can save your barbecue.
RoadieXD works thanks to the efficient use of cross-docks (facilities where goods are distributed to delivery drivers directly and immediately) around the U.S., kicked off in UPS’ hometown, Atlanta. The solution is now available in New York, Miami, Dallas, and soon in Los Angeles and Chicago, with more to come. By the end of 2025, it will cover more than 30 major markets in North America.
With RoadieXD, retailers can collect full truckloads of items directly from distribution centres, which shortens delivery time and minimises handling – ultimately getting your big and bulky items to your doorstep faster. It is cost-effective for the retailer and enables delivery up to 100 miles same-day.
Happy campers: As your friends arrive, they are greeted by the smell of sizzling burgers and hot dogs fresh from your brand-new barbecue grill. The barbecue is a hit, and you are the hero of the day, all thanks to Roadie.
‘The reality is that e-commerce shoppers want to get their big stuff the same way they get their lemons, washing liquid and blue jeans: fast. And it does not really matter that it is a lot harder for the retailer to fulfil,, said Marc Gorlin, Roadie’s founder and CEO. ‘RoadieXD allows big, bulky and out-of-the-box items to be delivered with the ease and convenience of smaller items, within hours. It is like your friend with a lorry, at scale… if that friend was willing to drive 100 miles.’
RoadieXD is a powerful addition to our UPS portfolio of solutions and services – and proof that revolutionising logistics can also create the kind of lasting memories that barbecues are known for. 🌟