UPS and FedEx's Secret Weapon: An Army of Meteorologists

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In the race to deliver holiday gifts on time, shipping companies rely on armies of corporate meteorologists who work 24-hour shifts updating pilots and staff on weather conditions. The Washington Post takes a closer look at what a typical day is like for meteorology experts at companies like UPS and FedEx.

The job is high-pressure, especially now that tracking alerts makes customers hyper-aware about all the stops their package makes on the way to delivery. "Someone awaiting a package in Bangkok doesn't care if it snowed in Louisville, Kentucky. They want their stuff," senior meteorologist for UPS Airlines Randy Baker told the Post.

What the shipping industry doesn't want is a repeat of last year, when snow and ice caused missed delivery deadlines. This year, UPS and FedEx expect to ship a record-breaking 900 million packages this month, according to the Post. Delivery data from logistics firm ShipMatrix shows that the carriers are starting strong, and ShipMatrix expects the carriers to have an on-time delivery rate of 95 percent or better on Christmas Eve.
· Meet the secret army of meteorologists who keep your holiday deliveries on time [WaPo]
· Tory Burch Has the Best Shipping Rates in its Class [Racked]
· Online Shoppers Don't Mind Waiting For UPS [Racked]