UPS today announced the expansion of its Preferred Less-Than-Container Load (PLCL) expedited ocean freight service to include Western Europe. The move highlights UPS's competitive advantage in providing customers new options to move goods quickly, yet economically. Additional port access will open in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom, providing shippers up to 40 percent faster port-to-door delivery time to the U.S. than UPS's standard LCL service*. Customers will also have access to the same visibility technologies used for package shipments.

"The expansion of our expedited ocean freight service comes at a time when many companies are considering other modes of transportation for their freight movements," said Keith Andrey, vice president, UPS ocean freight services. "In the two years that we've offered the PLCL service in Asia, we have seen a great deal of customer interest in an expedited ocean freight product. Now that we are expanding this service to Europe, we can help customers bridge the gap between the speed of air freight and the economy of ocean freight to better compete in the global market."

UPS's PLCL service was first launched in the spring of 2011. The time-in-transit improvements are the result of leveraging UPS's existing North American freight network. UPS continues to be a leader in the ocean freight market for expedited LCL services, providing service from 26 Asian ports and now four Western European ports.

Companies positioned to benefit from this expedited ocean freight service include U.S. importers and European customers in the industrial, automotive, retail and healthcare industries.

As a top 10 global freight forwarder and one of the world's top U.S. Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs), UPS provides a complete portfolio of ocean freight services ranging from transportation to a Supplier Management service that handles overseas vendors and orders. To learn more about UPS's ocean freight offerings and access our global freight services videos, visit ups.com/global freight.

*Transit times will vary based on origin, destination and commodity and is not guaranteed.