UPS delivers from beginning to end in almost every case. When a customer puts a package in the care of UPS for shipping, the brown trucks deliver it on time, undamaged to its final destination. Only in some rare cases, does UPS elect to use a local courier service to deliver a package to its final destination. Even when UPS does use a local courier, they still maintain the insurance policy, the delivery on-time promise, and all other aspects of their service agreement.

UPS chooses a local courier service usually for one of two reasons: the delivery area is remote, or the delivery area is unsafe. At certain times, UPS used Canada Post to deliver some packages from major hub areas to the mailing address because that listed address was remotely located. This practice was also common abroad in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. In similar areas UPS may depend on a local carrier because that carrier has different policies dictating employee safety.

Employee safety is a major issue that UPS values highly. Most people who ship a package share the value of safety and know that if they want to ship a package to a destination that is at war, or civil unrest, there will be dangers associated with the shipment. When UPS will not ship to areas in unrest, they may opt to pass the package to companies that do deliver in those areas. The most recent example of UPS using a secondary carrier is in Israel, where UPS carrier services are not allowed in most regions of the country with civil unrest. Still, the company has arrangements with local carriers that allow packages to reach most destinations.

Over the years, it has become less common for UPS to swap courier services. In Canada, UPS conducts most of its own operations with its own delivery drivers. They also have negotiated many safe zones for delivery in foreign countries. The most important aspect of using UPS is their delivery guarantee, insurance if any package is lost, damaged or delivered late. No matter what address label goes on the package, it is safe through the UPS guarantee.