FedEx Express has delivered its first shipments as a part of Project Airbridge, a public-private partnership managed by the US federal government.
FedEx has contracted with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide expedited shipping of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies critical to COVID-19 relief efforts.
FedEx Express aircraft are being used to transport critical PPE supplies from manufacturers around the world to the US. The operation aims to accelerate delivery of PPE and other medical supplies, moving them via air instead of ocean.
Once the shipments have arrived in the US, they will become part of the US Strategic National Stockpile. The FEMA Movement Control Team will then manage distribution to healthcare facilities and workers throughout the country.
This week, in coordination with DuPont, two initial shipments were transported from Vietnam to Texas carrying more than 450,000 Tyvek protective suits. In the weeks to follow, 500,000+ suits will be shipped each week.
FedEx will also operate several flights this week carrying PPE for Medline Industries Inc. from China to Illinois. Medline anticipates bringing 7 million facemasks, additional PPE and anesthesia supplies to the US.
From pick-up and break-down, to document preparation, export/import clearance, cross-docking and storage, the FedEx Logistics team used its vast expertise to support the movement of critical PPE.
Since January, FedEx has worked with governments, non-profits, suppliers and retail customers to proactively help with relief efforts, including:
- Collaborated with HHS, the TN Air National Guard and other agencies to move 4 million COVID-19 test swabs to cities across the US
- Continued collaboration with humanitarian aid organizations, such as Direct Relief to ship more than 4 million masks and more than one million pieces of personal protective equipment to impacted areas around the world and shipments of masks, gloves and disinfectant wipes to 1,000 community health centers and free clinics in all 50 US states as part of the FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative.
- Collaborated with International Medical Corps to transport and deploy 41 medical shelters to Los Angeles, New York and Puerto Rico that will support frontline providers in patient flow and treatment.
- Shipment of biomed products, including blood units, with American Red Cross.
- Overnight SenseAware monitored shipments of more than 150,000 test samples from remote test sites around the US to diagnostic labs.
- Expedited delivery of test kits from Indianapolis-based Roche Diagnostics to US labs.
- Providing vital access points to the FedEx global network through FedEx Office retail locations as they serve as hold locations for redirected shipments and urgent printing support for government agencies and customers.
Keeping Team Members Safe
The safety of 475,000 FedEx team members is the company’s top priority. In addition to following guidance from public health organizations, FedEx has:
- Suspended signature requirements for most deliveries to help couriers and customers maintain a safe social distance.
- Promoted social distancing on the job, including measures at security screening, on employee shuttles, and in common areas.
- Educated team members about prevention, including hygiene and cleaning, via manager meetings, signage and digital monitors in facilities.
- Provided sanitizer and disinfectants for drivers and vehicles; disinfecting facilities and vehicles more frequently; supplying gloves and other personal protection equipment; implementing daily temperature-taking of employees at some locations.
- Disinfected cockpits, jumpseat areas, and aircraft lavatories to keep pilots healthy.
