FedEx

While UPS has made a bid and FedEx has yet to join the party, TNT focuses on recovering recent losses.

Spurred to a large degree by a decent holiday shopping season, December retail sales showed sequential and annual growth, according to data released by the United States Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Following a December ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) focused commercial airline pilot scheduling, which provides pilots with a longer opportunity for rest before entering the cockpit, union groups representing pilots at FedEx and UPS have spoken out about how the rule does not apply to air cargo operators.

While it has only been a few months since Seattle-based EquaShip made its entrance into the parcel sector marketplace, the company appears to be highly committed to making itself a cost-efficient alternative for shippers that traditionally turn to the parcel duopoly of FedEx and UPS.

During its fiscal second quarter earnings announcement today, FedEx announced it has inked a deal with The Boeing Company to modernize its FedEx Express aircraft fleet.

Driven by a continued focus on yield management, FedEx reported today that fiscal 2012 second quarter net income at $497 million was up 76 percent annually. The company’s quarterly revenue of $10.59 billion was up 10 percent from last year’s $9.63 billion.

The company said that Monday, December 12 is expected to be the busiest day in its almost 40-year history, pegging today’s shipment count to check in at around 17 million, which is about twice as much a typical day’s average volume.

FedEx Ground and FedEx Home delivery rates will increase by a net average of 4.9 percent.

USPS officials said that prices for Priority Mail and Express Mail will increase by an average of 3.1 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively, and added that the Postal Regulatory Commission will review the prices before they take effect on January 22, 2012.

Non-contractual 2012 rates will be comprised of a net increase of 4.9 percent for UPS ground packages and a net increase of 4.9 percent on all UPS air services and U.S. origin international shipments

When holiday shopping season picks up, December 12 and December 22 could shape up to be two of its busiest days.

December 12 looks to be a pretty busy day for FedEx. The transportation bellwether said this week it expects to move more than 17 million shipments through its global networks on that day.

Quarterly revenue for Big Brown—at $13.2 billion—was up 8.0 percent annually, and operating profit—at $1.61 billion—was up 0.2 percent. Earnings per share—at $1.06—saw a 14 percent year-over-year increase, topping Wall Street expectations of $1.05 per share.

EquaShip aims to provide smaller shippers with cost-savings that are typically only available to large enterprise shippers.

Company officials said signs of a global economic slowdown, which resulted in lower volumes and lower productivity for FedEx Express, were offset by improved results at the company’s FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight units.