CHATHAM, Ont., (June 8, 2005) — The International and Sterling truck assembly lines in southwest Ontario will get a big splash of Brown this summer.

Parcel delivery giant UPS has ordered 500 International 9200 tractors from the Chatham, Ont. facility, as well as 335 Sterling A9513 trucks from the plant in St. Thomas, Ont. The trucks will be rolled into UPS’s growing ground fleet in the U.S.

The combined purchase is worth an estimated $56 million and is expected to have a significant impact on both cities’ local economies, says UPS Canada President Glenn Rice.

“We’re pleased that both the 9200 and A9513 purchases are centralized in Ontario,” he says. “The order will certainly contribute to southwestern Ontario’s local economy, while also improving the capability and efficiency of UPS’s ground network.”

UPS recently made a major investment in the North American LTL heavy-freight market with the recent acquisition of Virginia-based Overnite Corp. for $1.25 billion.

The deal — the single largest in UPS history — means the company can deliver heavy freight in its own trucks rather than contracting it out.