Mail carriers are preparing for a busy holiday shipping season. Several major carriers published their holiday calendar on when to get items in the mail.

The U.S. Postal Service is ending discounts that shipping consolidators such as UPS and DHL use to get packages to the nation’s doorsteps, in a move meant to help the Postal Service slow losses but that could see the higher costs passed on to consumers.

Blockbuster job growth in the past several months has coincided with high-profile layoff announcements by a number of large companies.

You found the perfect holiday gift online.

The holiday season is in full swing, and time is ticking down on deadlines to mail your packages so that they arrive in time.

The peak season for delivery companies, like UPS, runs from Oct. 15 until mid-January as holiday packages increase demand.

The union representing 340,000 UPS workers says its members voted to approve the tentative contract agreement reached last month.

Drastic changes in consumer demands are driving labor unrest in diverse industries upended by technology.

As the deadline to reach a new contract nears, a potential UPS strike feels closer than ever.

The Teamsters said Wednesday they will resume contract negotiations with UPS next week, marking an end to a stalemate that began two weeks ago when both sides walked away from talks while blaming each other.

The head of the Teamsters said Sunday that he has asked the White House not to intervene if unionized UPS workers end up going on strike.

UPS workers could go on strike for the first time since 1997 if they can’t reach a new contract deal by the end of the month.

While most businesses will be open for Independence Day, others will be closed.

Unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike on Friday, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage if the package delivery company and the Teamsters can’t come to an agreement on a new contract.

The last time UPS workers walked of the job more than two decades ago, it crippled the shipping company.

It’s a small message that gave us chills.

In order for packages to make it to the last part of the process with no problems, there are some things people should remember when preparing to send out a package.

FedEx and UPS suspended all package services in Ukraine after Russian forces invaded the country.

Christmas is approaching fast and that means time is running out to ship those holiday packages.

Now that December is here, many of us are eyeing those Christmas lists and checking off all the things.

Postal workers who recall packages and letters piled up in distribution hubs a year ago are gearing up for another holiday crush.

A recording shows that the pilot of a twin-engine plane was repeatedly warned to fly straight and to climb before he crashed into a San Diego suburb, killing himself and someone on the ground.

The search for a man last seen Sunday afternoon in the water at Huguenot Park was called off Monday morning after a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department beach patrol found a body.

People wait in line for the opening of a 24-hour, walk-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium at Temple University's Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021. Meanwhile, several states have complained about vaccination delays and have had to cancel appointments. Drug wholesaler McKesson, chosen by the federal government to distribute most COVID-19 vaccines, is handling shipments to hospitals and other medical providers. Moderna’s vaccine is shipped frozen, at minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 25 to minus 15 degrees Celsius). In Tennessee, the state’s health agency said distributors have been unable to pack and ship the COVID-19 vaccine this week due to the winter weather.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Sunday night concert to see rap artist Toosii perform ended in chaos before it began. We worked with the Sheriff’s Office to shut it down safely,” a spokesperson with Excelsior Security Agency told News4Jax. It’s time to go.”She and others took refuge in the Longhorn Steakhouse across the parking lot. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office incident report said officers were dispatched at 8:04 p.m. and officers heard shots fired and saw people running and screaming. “It can create chaos and it’s exactly what it did.”Not only were there concerns from the gunfire and chaos, but video of so many people in that parking lot -- a lot of them not wearing face masks -- also caused health concerns.

This undated photo of Elijah David Bertrand was provided by the Connecticut State Police, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. The 19-year-old is a suspect in the assault on a UPS truck driver in Watertown, Conn. on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Bertrand was arraigned Thursday on murder charges, accused of killing UPS driver Nathan Burk, 28, of Waterbury. Dozens of Burk's loved ones and co-workers gathered outside the Watertown UPS facility Wednesday. He was such a good soul,” said Kerry Langdeau, of Waterbury, told the TV station.

This undated photo of Elijah David Bertrand was provided by the Connecticut State Police, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. The 19-year-old is a suspect in the assault on a UPS truck driver in Watertown, Conn. on Tuesday, Dec. 22. (Connecticut State Police via AP)WATERTOWN, Conn. – A UPS employee sought in a deadly assault on a co-worker was taken into custody Wednesday, Connecticut state police said. The two men apparently were riding in the same vehicle before the assault, Connecticut State Police Trooper Joseu Dorelus said at a news conference. State troopers initially responded to a call about an accident involving a UPS truck in Watertown around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide. Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II. The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday so health workers could receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said. The announcement came after revelations that the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for delivery in the second quarter of 2021.

[MORE: These 3 apps will help you find the best holiday shopping deals, experts say | Doing a little online shopping? If you’re shipping gifts you want to arrive in time for Christmas, here are some recommended send-by dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25:USPS (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)Domestic Mail Class/Product Send-by Date USPS Retail Ground Service Dec. 15 First-Class Mail Service Dec. 18 Priority Mail Service Dec. 19 Priority Mail Express Service Dec. 23Click here for USPS holiday shipping dates for Alaska and Hawaii, military bases and overseas addresses. UPSShipping Option Send-by Date UPS Ground Dec. 15 UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 21 UPS 2nd Day Air Dec. 22 UPS Next Day Air Dec. 23Click here for more details on UPS holiday shipping. FedEx (U.S. to U.S.)Shipping Option Send-by Date FedEx SmartPost (certain exceptions apply) Dec. 9 FedEx Home Delivery Dec. 15 FedEx Ground Dec. 15 FedEx Express Saver Dec. 21 FedEx 3 Day Freight Dec. 21 FedEx 2 Day Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day A.M. Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day Freight Dec. 22 FedEx 1 Day Freight Dec. 23 FedEx Extra Hours Dec. 23 FedEx Standard Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx Priority Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx First Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx SameDay Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Priority Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Direct Dec. 25Click here to see last-day-to-ship dates if you’re planning to send gifts to Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico or other destinations. AmazonAmazon has not released its 2020 holiday shipping calendar, but last year, the company recommended buyers send products no later than Dec. 22 or Dec. 23 for a Dec. 25 arrival.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s being called shipmageddon: retailers and shipping companies are getting bombarded with online orders. So if you’re hoping your packages will arrive on or before Christmas Day, these companies are saying you’ll want to get an early start on any holiday shopping you’re planning to do. So major retailers such as Best Buy, Target and Walmart are rolling out holiday deals early. RELATED: Experts recommend doing your holiday shopping early this yearBut it’s worth mentioning that they’re all warning there is no guarantee your shipment will arrive on time. So, a word of advice: if you’ve got holiday shopping to do, it’s probably best to start now.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Monday, UPS drivers, union representatives and Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis took to the steps of City Hall to demand UPS make changes. UPS drivers say they are at their breaking point and they’re calling for an end to what they call “abuse” by management. RELATED: Teamsters in Jacksonville call for end to workplace ‘abuse’ at local UPS centerNews4Jax has since heard from a person who recently retired because they say the environment at UPS Jacksonville was hostile at times. “It’s not OK.”A current employee, a UPS driver and a shop steward told News4Jax local UPS drivers are being subjected to workplace abuse. Workers also want an investigation by UPS’ corporate management into what they call abusive practices happening in Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Some UPS drivers say they’ve reached their breaking point and they’re calling for an end to what they say is “abuse” by management. Members of the union representing drivers, along with drivers’ wives, local activists and a city councilman took the steps of Jacksonville City Hall on Monday making demands of UPS managers. Dave Schneider, a UPS package driver and shop steward, said local UPS drivers are being subjected to what he calls workplace abuse. “We want an end to the abuse package drivers have seen here in Jacksonville,” Schneider said. He’s calling for an immediate response from UPS in Jacksonville because of incentives the City Council approved for UPS with taxpayer money.

Frank Ordonez liked to fish and to play basketball and video games, his brother said. When the hijacking unfolded, Ordonez was covering the route for a driver who had called out, his brother said. The suspects stole the UPS truck Ordonez was driving, took him hostage and sped away, Coral Gables police said. The chase came to a tragic end when the UPS truck met stopped traffic at an intersection. Whether the UPS driver or the slain bystander was hit by police fire is part of the investigation, the FBI’s Piro said.

Postal ServiceDec. 14: USPS Retail Ground shipments ✅Dec. 18: Alaska to mainland First-Class Mail ✅Dec. 19: Hawaii to mainland First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, also Alaska Priority Mail ✅*There’s still time for dates below! Dec. 20: First-Class Mail ServiceDec. 21: Priority Mail; Also deadline for Alaska and Hawaii to the mainland through Priority Mail ExpressDec. 23: Priority Mail ExpressTrying to send something overseas or to a member of the military? Click or tap here to check out the guide we followed from USPS, and to learn more about your mailing specifics and guidelines. FedExDec. 9: SmartPost ✅Dec. 16: Ground and home delivery ✅Dec. 19: Express Saver ✅*There’s still time for the dates below! As for Amazon deadlines, you’re likely looking at Dec. 22 or Dec. 23, depending on if you’re a Prime member, where you live and what you’re ordering.

Scott Olson/Getty Images(CNN) - UPS expects e-commerce shoppers to purchase and return more merchandise than ever this holiday season. By the week before Christmas, UPS forecasts it will deal with 1.6 million returns per day, with 1.6 million packages being returned each day during the week of Dec. 16. Returns season is expected to peak again on Jan. 2, known in the retail industry known as "National Returns Day." UPS said it expects to deal with 1.9 million returns on that on day alone -- a 26% increase from the previous year. High employment and economic performance numbers have fueled additional record-setting, e-commerce holiday sales figures over the last two years.

(CNN) - UPS' familiar brown uniforms are getting their first major redesign since 1925. The fashion update will involve only new styles -- there will be no change to the uniform's ubiquitous brown color. Referring to its drivers as "industrial athletes," UPS said in a statement that the newly refreshed uniforms would improve their "comfort, safety and performance." The brown UPS baseball cap will be made from a "heat-regulating mesh material" instead of plastic. The redesigned uniforms are being phased in and are provided free of charge to employees.

Scott Olson/Getty Images(CNN) - Next-day delivery is becoming standard at Amazon and Walmart. Amazon recently expanded its next-day delivery for millions of its Prime customers. In response, Walmart now offers next-day delivery on a large number of items too. UPS said it plans grow its airplane fleet and modernize its delivery network to have a "have a positive impact on profitability." UPS is also rapidly expanding its network of package-drop-off points, its drone delivery unit and its delivery week.

Following Amazon's rollout, Walmart unveiled free one-day shipping without a membership fee, and Target already had a free one-day program for its loyalty cardholders. That means consumers aren't feeling the true cost either environmental or financial of getting their e-commerce goods super quickly. "Prime Free One-Day is possible because we've been building our network for over 20 years," a spokesperson said in a statement. In general, it's very difficult to pin down the environmental impact of e-commerce, let alone how much of an effect delivery speed has on carbon emissions. If Amazon delivered everything in electric vehicles, one-day shipping might be just as climate-friendly as individual trips but in a recent big last-mile investment, Amazon ordered 20,000 conventionally-fueled delivery vans.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UPS says it will ship 89 million flowers for the Valentine’s Day holiday this year. That's about 8 million pounds -- or 514,000 boxes. That's up from 88 million last year. UPS transports them through the Miami International Airport to their recipients in less than two days. The National Retail Federation reports Americans will spend about $2 billion on flowers this year.