United Parcel Service (UPS) announced plans to close its Baltimore County distribution warehouse, resulting in layoffs for up to 540 employees. The 182,000-square-foot facility, located at 3901 Vero Road just southwest of Baltimore city limits, is scheduled to cease operations on August 23, according to a notification filed with the Maryland Department of Labor on June 20.
In a statement, UPS explained that the closure is part of a broader strategy to modernize the facility through increased automation, incorporating robotics and artificial intelligence. The company anticipates reopening the warehouse in 2025 but has not disclosed the number of employees who will be rehired at that time.
“Our employees are extremely important to us, and we are working to place as many employees as possible in other positions at our onsite temporary hub or in nearby facilities,” UPS stated. “We remain committed to working with them throughout this transition and providing support. This temporary closure won’t impact customer service, and we have plans in place to continue servicing the Baltimore community.”
This announcement follows a previous layoff of 118 workers at the same facility in March. Earlier this year, UPS CEO Carol Tomé indicated plans to reduce the company’s workforce by approximately 12,000 employees in 2024.
The decision to modernize the Baltimore County warehouse aligns with UPS’s efforts to enhance operational efficiency and reduce reliance on manual labor. While the company aims to reassign affected employees to other roles within the organization, the layoffs underscore the broader trend of automation impacting jobs in the logistics industry.
As the facility undergoes renovations, UPS assures customers that service in the Baltimore area will remain uninterrupted. The company has implemented contingency plans to maintain operations and meet delivery commitments during the transition period.
The closure and subsequent layoffs highlight the challenges faced by workers in an era of rapid technological advancement. As companies like UPS invest in automation to stay competitive, employees must adapt to the evolving landscape or seek opportunities in other sectors less susceptible to automation-driven changes.