Transportation Secretary Buttigieg thanks UPS employees

Update: Watch Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on his ride-along with UPSer Dale Brenaman.

What’s the story: At a recent visit to the massive UPS Worldport facility in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joined with UPS CEO Carol B. Tomé and others to recognize the selfless work of hundreds of thousands of UPSers delivering what matters.

Why it matters: More than two million packages are processed at Worldport every day, with the facility playing a critical role in the supply chain ecosystem year-round. And for the peak shipping season, UPSers become directly responsible for delivering holidays that create lasting memories.

During Sec. Buttigieg’s visit to the facility, he saw resiliency and commitment behind a common cause.

“I know that there's a lot we can learn from UPS and Teamsters. I want to recognize you all for a driver-safety rate more than two times better than the national average and for your track record as a strong and diverse workforce,” Buttigieg said.

“You demonstrate that when workers are treated fairly, when businesses and unions are both strong, when a driver can make a living – starting as a driver and working her way into management or headquarters roles – that is the stuff of the American Dream.”

A different time: Buttigieg first visited a UPS distribution center in March 2021 under vastly different economic conditions and a much more uncertain supply chain. Drivers who stepped up then to deliver COVID-19 vaccines are some of the same workers who made a difference during the peak supply chain disruptions that year.

Reflecting on last year, Sec. Buttigieg said, “UPS and Teamsters moved medicine, vaccines and medical supplies; and helped small businesses stay afloat when they needed to quickly shift to online sales. When they write the histories of our time, yours will be one of the most important chapters.”

Doing what’s right: UPS remains committed to transportation policy priorities, including with the Biden administration’s recent work keeping supply chains flowing and preventing disruption to our economy, efforts around the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to make roads safer for everyone and legislation boosting environmental sustainability. This legislation and other efforts are helping make the UPS network safer, more efficient and sustainable into the future.