UPS has introduced a PIN-based delivery service as it prepares for the 2026 holiday peak season.
Protected Delivery, available for eligible shipments, requires recipients to give a PIN to the driver before a package is released. UPS said the service adds a layer of security for high-value purchases and other sensitive deliveries, and complements its existing package protection and fraud-prevention offerings.
UPS also said it expects to deliver more than four billion RFID-enabled packages by the end of 2026. The company’s RFID-powered tracking provides more precise, real-time tracking information as packages move through its network.
Kurt Goodwin, customer experience executive at Crutchfield, a consumer electronics retailer, said, “UPS RFID technology helps provide greater visibility, reduces uncertainty and improves the overall delivery experience. For Crutchfield, that means fewer customer concerns, fewer tracking-related contacts, and greater confidence during the busiest shipping period of the year.”
Other additions for the season include new pickup scheduling capability and alerts that give customers updates on the status of their pickups, and end-to-end reverse logistics options for returns through UPS and Happy Returns.
UPS’s air and ground services will be supplemented by local same-day and big-and-bulky delivery through Roadie. The company has also added or enhanced automated facilities in Denver, St Paul, Syracuse and Portland, and is offering a limited-edition holiday express box.
UPS said it is hiring 100,000 seasonal employees at hundreds of locations across the USA, with flexible shifts and a path to a permanent job. The company said many applicants can receive a job offer in less than seven minutes.
UPS added that it has led the industry in peak on-time performance for eight straight years.
“Peak season is one of the most critical times of year to deliver, and no one does it better than UPS,” said Matt Guffey, executive vice president and chief US domestic officer at UPS. “We’ve delivered industry-leading service for eight consecutive peak seasons, earning our customers’ trust year after year. We know what it takes to perform when demand is at its highest, and we’re ready to do it again.”
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