Secretary Buttigieg Lauds Employees at UPS Worldport Hub
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Ky. (Secretary Buttigieg through Twitter)
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Saying reindeer “can solely achieve this a lot,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg hailed UPS Worldport employees throughout a Kentucky cease the place he rode with a truck driver and toured services after highlighting provide chain enchancment in contrast with final vacation season.
Buttigieg thanked UPS workers on the 5.2 million-square-foot facility in Louisville for his or her efforts throughout the pandemic and for what they’re doing now as he spoke about preparing in a couple of weeks to assemble along with his household beneath a Christmas tree to open presents, a few of which doubtless might be dealt with by Worldport.
With 12,000 workers, Worldport is the biggest air hub at UPS and the world’s largest automated sorting hub. The corporate introduced Nov. 18 it’s beginning building of a second 275,000-square-foot plane hangar that may enable simultaneous parking for 2 747-8s, the biggest plane within the UPS fleet.
The @UPS Worldport is the world’s largest automated sorting hub — delivering important items and vacation items to folks all over the world.⁰⁰We spoke to Melissa to see all of the magic that goes into delivering the vacations proper right here in Louisville, Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/B5xJOhrGb6
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) December 6, 2022
“Numerous different bodily gadgets that make this time of yr particular for folks will come by way of right here,” Buttigieg mentioned. “Over 3 million packages are processed right here day by day, which is what makes Worldport such an amazing place to speak about why provide chains are so necessary to our financial system and each day lives.
“From medical provides to toys and all the pieces in between, issues of nice significance and nice that means transfer in your palms to the locations and the those who they’re meant to achieve.”
Meet the truck-driver-turned-writer whose e book helps hundreds of on a regular basis folks lead with positivity. Then, hear from the philanthropist whose truck-driver-focused charity seeks to make sure that drivers who need assistance, get it. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
Buttigieg famous that West Coast ports not face provide chain backlogs like final yr at the moment.
“A few of the Pacific Ocean delivery charges are down 80%, which ought to assist decrease costs that Individuals are seeing on the retailer in a second we’re preventing inflation with all the pieces that we’ve received and serving to folks to get what they want with out delays,” he mentioned.
Praising UPS for having a driver security charge greater than two occasions higher than the nationwide common, Buttigieg famous that the corporate promotes a various workforce that creates alternatives for girls and gives middle-class careers.
He introduced that he can be driving with a UPS truck driver and supervisor to be taught not solely concerning the day-to-day work but additionally to find “any classes we will carry again to Washington to assist make trucking the strongest profession it may probably be.”
We’re hitting the street with @SecretaryPete and Dale, a UPS driver to be taught extra about how truckers are protecting our provide chain transferring this vacation season pic.twitter.com/AmGQZ72YUh
— TransportationGov (@USDOT) December 6, 2022
Buttigieg famous the accomplishments of President Joe Biden’s administration to revamp the nation’s transportation with federal investments in Kentucky.
As of Nov. 22, Kentucky is predicted to obtain over $3.5 billion in federal bipartisan infrastructure legislation funds for some 110 initiatives, in line with a White Home truth sheet. Allocations embrace $2 billion for roads, bridges, roadway security and main initiatives, $34 million this yr for ports and waterways, and $25 million in 2022 and 2023 to construct a state community of electrical automobile chargers.
Buttigieg additionally talked about provide chain enhancements by way of federal investments in different states, comparable to constructing a brand new truck overpass above a freight rail line on the Port of Los Angeles to enhance the effectivity of truck and freight actions.
“We’ve launched the Girls in Trucking Advisory Board as a result of we will’t go away half of America’s expertise on the desk and miss out on a era of nice drivers as a result of ladies aren’t supported within the profession,” he mentioned. “We’re constructing new truck parking in order that drivers can get protected relaxation.”
He additionally mentioned the brand new federal entry-level driving necessities for business driver licenses resulted in 67,000 extra CDLs being issued from January by way of September in contrast with the identical interval final yr by “serving to states lower out the pink tape and improve their capability” to subject the licenses.
Throughout his tour, Buttigieg appeared in a brief video on social media at Worldport describing his impressions.
“It’s unbelievable what the folks of this transportation workforce are making doable,” he mentioned, “and I’m delighted to have an opportunity myself to see the unbelievable work that goes on to maintain our provide chains going.”
UPS Inc. ranks No. 1 on the Transport Matters Prime 100 record of the biggest for-hire carriers in North America.
