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UPS rebrands SurePost as Ground Saver

Economy service now handled in-house after Postal Service contract expired

Eric Kulisch
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UPS has picked up more volume for its own network by taking back some packages it used to give to the U.S. Postal Service for delivery. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

UPS has changed the name of its most economical domestic shipping service from SurePost to Ground Saver after ending its partnership with the U.S. Postal Service at the end of 2024.

The company didn’t make an announcement, but customers now see the new name on the website. Ground Saver is primarily used by large businesses to ship packages door to door.

With SurePost, UPS (NYSE: UPS) inducted massive parcel volumes deep into the postal network for last-mile delivery to residences. The Atlanta-based parcel giant decided to fully insource the product when the Postal Service raised its prices. As the cost difference with its own ground network narrowed, management realized it could provide better service on its own. 

Ground Saver promises delivery times equal to regular Ground plus one or two days, with greater reliability and visibility than SurePost. It is ideal for less urgent packages under 10 pounds and available within the lower 48 states, according to UPS. SurePost also delivered to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other territories. Ground Saver features include photo proof of delivery,  package tracking and the ability to upgrade to faster UPS Ground via the MyChoice app.


UPS has also changed the liability terms in the case of loss or damage to packages. Ground Saver packages are limited to a maximum of $20 for loss and damages, down from the $100 SurePost offered. Parcel consultancy Shipware drew attention to the change in a LinkedIn post last week. 

Supply Chain Dive first reported the Ground Saver rebranding.

Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch.

Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.


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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was runner up for News Journalist and Supply Chain Journalist of the Year in the Seahorse Freight Association's 2024 journalism award competition. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist. He won the group's Environmental Journalist of the Year award in 2014 and was the 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com