Dedicated to helping businesses and individuals prioritize safety, health, and compliance in the workplace. From small startups to large corporations, safety is essential, and we're here to make it easier.
UPS recently signed an agreement to install air conditioning in 5,000 of its existing delivery trucks that operate in the hottest U.S. regions it serves.
The global logistics provider will also test AC in the cargo area of its package cars.
The first 2,000 vehicles readied under the agreement will be retrofitted by June 1, 2026.
All 5,000 package cars will be retrofitted with AC by June 1, 2027, and dispatched to the hottest delivery areas, mostly in Southern and Southwest states.
“The Teamsters Union appreciates UPS’ recognition that our members in Zone 1 need real relief from the heat, and they need it now,” said Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters general president. “The rank-and-file at UPS are essential workers who move the American economy.”
Zone 1 includes Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.
In 2023, the Teamsters Union and UPS negotiated an agreement to avoid a strike for improved wages and safety reforms.
Under the current 2023-2028 UPS Teamsters National Master Agreement - which includes dozens of safety and health protections - UPS said it would improve heat protection for drivers by:
In July, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said UPS had yet to fulfill its contractual obligations to improve safety, estimating only 10% of required vehicles had been equipped with AC.
The new letter of agreement signed with the UPS Teamsters National Negotiating Committee will help ensure UPS meets its obligations to its union employees.
“In 2023, the Teamsters secured historic heat protections for our members, and there can be no further delay in the implementation of these safeguards,” O’Brien said. “We look forward to working with UPS to ensure this retrofitting is completed on schedule to get our members the relief they deserve.”
“This investment is above and beyond the commitment we’ve made to include air conditioning in all newly purchased vehicles,” UPS stated. “In every region, our drivers also will continue to benefit from improvements we’ve made to our vehicles to reduce temperature and improve air flow. Collaboration with the Teamsters has been important as we take these steps for our people.”
The agreement also designates that 100 package cars will be upgraded with AC vented into the cargo compartment under a new pilot program to evaluate strategies for greater heat relief.
According to the Teamsters, this program is an evolution of UPS’ commitment under the 2023 Agreement to ventilate cargo compartments with retrofitted air ducts. The results of the pilot program will be reviewed by the joint Teamsters/UPS Package Car Heat Committee.
“Since our union ratified the National Master Agreement, the Teamsters heat committee has been working with UPS to study the best ways to retrofit vehicles for better ventilation. We are eager to start testing AC in the cargo compartment, inarguably the hottest part of the package cars,” said Karla Schumann, Package Car Heat Committee chair and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 104 in Phoenix, Arizona. “This is a positive step for UPS to speed up delivery of air-conditioned vehicles by utilizing retrofitting for our most affected members.”
Cormac Gilligan, UPS global head of health and safety, said the company has invested more than 33 million hours and nearly $2 billion on safety training over the past 5 years.
Developed with experts from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, UPS’s Recharge program teaches employees to come to work well rested, stay hydrated, and recognize early signs of heat stress, helping to ensure its teams are ready to face hot weather safely.
Before the 2025 summer season, UPS:
In 2024, UPS supplied over 10 million pounds of ice at its facilities to help keep employees cool during the summer.
Gilligan said UPS has more than 2,500 health and safety committees in facilities across the U.S. dedicated to reviewing and recommending work process changes to continually enhance the safety of its employees.
Donald Halsing is the Founding Editorial Director of Work Safety 24/7. He was formerly the Associate Editor of Robotics 24/7.
Don's experience spans the supply chain, logistics, and construction industries, having worked in both warehouse operations and land surveying. He is also a professional wedding photographer with his fiancée Ashley.
Join our Safety Matters newsletter and get safety news across logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, construction, and other high-risk environments. Get the latest regulatory updates, alerts, safety products, equipment and training, and analysis.
Don't miss a single news story, product review or safety resource. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest safety news, updates, and exclusive offers.
