ATLANTA - When it comes to ground packages, UPS once again is adding a lot more zip from your ZIP.

Today, UPS (NYSE:UPS) announced another step in its continuing quest to reduce ground transit times for customers, accelerating package movements between more than 12 million ZIP code pairings by one day or more. The improvements include lanes originating in eight key states and more than 70 markets and will speed up more than 75,000 packages nationwide every day.

This year’s initiative is improving service for almost half-a-million customers nationwide without changing their pick-up and delivery times. The new enhancements follow transit time improvements in 2006 that helped more than 1.2 million customers in 11 metropolitan areas.

The faster deliveries will benefit daily package pick-up customers as well as general consumers shipping via UPS.com or The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. For example, shipments between Denver and Philadelphia now are guaranteed to arrive in three business days instead of five. Shipments between Pittsburgh and Dallas now are guaranteed to arrive in two business days instead of four, while ground shipments between Hartford and Chicago now will take two business days instead of three.

"These latest service improvements, reducing transit time while delivering the same world-class UPS reliability, are another example of how we’re continually helping companies of all sizes to conduct business more efficiently,” said Alan Gershenhorn, UPS senior vice president for worldwide sales and marketing. "Accelerated ground service means customers can get to market faster, turn inventory quicker and improve customer service.”

The eight origin areas with the latest improvements include Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Montana, North Dakota, western Nebraska and Wyoming. Customers can view the improved transit times at ups.com/fast and print both outbound maps as well as inbound time-in-transit maps.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.