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UPS Braces for Peak Season Amid Amazon Pullback

United Parcel Service expects fourth-quarter U.S. volume to decline compared to last year. The carrier is positioning itself to offset the downturn through growth in non-Amazon customer segments. The peak shipping season traditionally drives carrier profitability, and UPS is banking on revenue gains from alternative shipper categories to compensate. The guidance comes as major freight carriers report stronger earnings across the sector. Union Pacific's third-quarter profit jumped 16% on higher freight volumes and pricing power, while CSX posted profit gains fueled by increased freight and efficient operations. Less-than-truckload rates hit record levels in the third quarter and are projected to climb further through year-end, according to logistics analysts. Refrigerated produce shipments showed mixed signals, with national volumes down 3% year-over-year but select lanes experiencing double-digit growth.