Mike O’Brien
UPS announced it was acquiring last mile platform Roadie for an undisclosed sum, thrusting it front and center into a space that has spiked in the pandemic era, providing a way to service demand that doesn’t fit into its existing network, including groceries and bulky items.
The carrier had invested in Roadie in 2016. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
Analysts and observers didn’t see FedEx responding anytime soon to the move, especially as it downplayed its smallish same-day delivery service as more of a niche offering on a recent earning call.
John Haber, President of Parcel for Transportation Insight, said Amazon “won’t bat an eyelash” over the UPS move. He also said adding Roadie provides the carrier with extra peak capacity.
“The acquisition puts UPS in the …