FedEx

In 1965, Frederick W. Smith wrote a term paper at Yale University suggesting a new method for handling time-sensitive shipments, which later became the foundation for FedEx. Despite receiving an average grade, this paper laid the groundwork for a groundbreaking business idea.

On January 1, 1971, Federal Express Corp was founded in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Frederick Wallace Smith founded FedEx on June 18, 1971, in Memphis, TN. After completing his military service, Smith purchased Arkansas Aviation Sales and established Federal Express Corporation, which later became FedEx.

On January 1, 1973, FedEx relocated its operations to Memphis, Tennessee.

On April 17, 1973, FedEx officially began its operations, revolutionizing the express transportation industry.

On the first night of continuous operation in 1975, 389 Federal Express team members and 14 Dassault Falcon jets deliver 186 packages overnight to 25 U.S. cities, marking the birth of the modern air/ground express industry.

Shortly after the deregulation of the airline industry in 1977, Federal Express bought seven Boeing 727 aircraft to enhance its package transportation capabilities.

In 1978, Federal Express became a public company, raising capital for future expansion.

In 1979, FedEx installs its first drop box, providing a convenient way for customers to drop off packages for shipment.

COSMOS (Customers, Operations, and Services Master Online System) was introduced as a centralized computer system to manage people, packages, vehicles, and weather scenarios in real time.

By 1983, Federal Express became the first U.S. business to achieve a revenue of US$1 billion without the need for mergers or acquisitions, showcasing its rapid growth and success.

The first PC-based automated shipping system, later named FedEx PowerShip®, was introduced by Federal Express.

In 1985, FedEx expanded its international presence and services to Europe by establishing a European hub at the Brussels airport.

On January 1, 1986, FedEx introduced the SuperTracker®, a hand-held bar code scanner system that could capture detailed package information.

In 1987, Federal Express acquired Tiger International for $883 million, gaining access to its heavy-cargo airline, Flying Tiger Line, and expanding its international delivery services.

In 1988, FedEx acquired one of its major competitors, Flying Tiger Line, establishing itself as the largest full-service cargo airline in the world.

FedEx becomes the world's largest full-service, all-cargo airline after integrating the Flying Tiger Line. The acquisition brings routes to 21 countries, a fleet of cargo aircraft including Boeing 747s, and expertise in international airfreight.

In 1990, Federal Express initiated international shipping services in Poland through partnerships with local companies.

In 1991, ExpressFreighter® was introduced by Federal Express to provide overnight delivery services between the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

On January 1, 1994, FedEx launched fedex.com as the first transportation website to provide online package status tracking, revolutionizing customer service and business transactions over the internet.

FedEx Logistics was founded in January 1995 as a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, specializing in supply chain solutions and freight forwarding services.

In 1996, the company became the only U.S.-based, all-cargo carrier with the rights to serve China, marking a significant milestone in its global operations.

On October 2, 1997, FedEx reorganized as a holding company, FDX Corporation, acquiring Caliber System Inc. This marked the beginning of offering various services beyond express shipping.

In 1998, FedEx acquired Caliber Systems and formed the FDX Corporation. This acquisition included various subsidiaries such as RPS (now FedEx Ground), Viking Freight (now FedEx Freight West), Caliber Logistics, Caliber Technology, and Roberts Express (now FedEx Custom Critical).

In 2001, Tower Group International underwent a rebranding process and became known as FedEx Trade Networks, which later evolved into FedEx Logistics.

FedEx Corp. acquires American Freightways Corp., a less-than-truckload carrier serving the central and eastern U.S., to complement Viking Freight. The companies combine to form FedEx Freight, becoming a leader in the regional less-than-truckload shipping industry.

On January 1, 2003, FedEx Express added its first hybrid-electric truck to its delivery fleet. This move marked a significant step towards incorporating eco-friendly practices in the company's operations.

In February 2004, FedEx Corp. acquired Kinko's, Inc. and re-branded it as FedEx Kinko's to expand its retail access to the general public.

In September 2004, FedEx acquired Parcel Direct and transformed it into FedEx SmartPost to enhance their parcel consolidator services.

In 2005, FedEx started around-the-world flights and unveiled California’s largest corporate solar-power installation at their Oakland hub.

In 2006, FedEx announced three significant operational changes, including year-round, seven-day residential delivery; the integration of FedEx Ground Economy volume into standard operations; and the addition of large-package capabilities.

In December 2007, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service tentatively decided that FedEx Ground Division might owe $319 million in taxes for 2002 due to misclassification of its operatives as independent contractors.

In June 2008, FedEx announced the decision to drop the Kinko's name from their ship centers, renaming FedEx Kinko's to FedEx Office.

In June 2009, FedEx launched a campaign against UPS and the Teamsters union, accusing UPS of receiving a bailout through the Federal Aviation Administration re-authorization bill, which FedEx claimed would make unionizing easier for some workers.

In January 2010, FedEx Freight merged its subsidiaries, including FedEx Freight East, FedEx Freight West, and FedEx National LTL, to form a single entity, FedEx Freight Inc.

In 2012, FedEx acquired the Supaswift businesses in South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zambia. This acquisition was part of FedEx's strategy to expand its African network and services.

In 2013, FedEx expanded their fleet by including more fuel-efficient Boeing 767-300F planes. Additionally, they initiated over 30 projects aimed at enhancing fuel efficiency and decreasing fuel emissions.

On July 17, 2014, FedEx was indicted for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in cooperation with the Chhabra-Smoley Organization and Superior Drugs. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that FedEx knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute controlled substances and prescription drugs to customers with no legitimate medical need.

In April 2015, FedEx acquired TNT Express for €4.4 billion to expand their operations in Europe and strengthen their market presence.

On July 17, 2016, the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed that it had asked U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer to dismiss the indictment against FedEx. The reasons for the dismissal were not disclosed.

In 2017, FedEx Corp. purchased P2P Mailing Limited, a prominent company specializing in global e-commerce transportation solutions, for £92 million. This acquisition was aimed at enhancing FedEx's range of services in response to the increasing demands of the global e-commerce market.

In March 2018, FedEx acquired P2P Mailing Limited, a last-mile delivery service, for £92 million to expand their delivery portfolio.

In September 2018, FedEx expanded its ground operations in the United States to six days a week due to the increasing demand for e-commerce services. This expansion was a response to the evolving market trends.

In June 2019, China filed a case against FedEx for diverting Huawei packages destined for Asia to FedEx's headquarters in the United States without authorization. This action was taken after Huawei was added to the US Entity List, leading to an investigation into FedEx's alleged undermining of Chinese clients' rights.

In July 2020, the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) representing FedEx Corp pilots urged a suspension of the company's Hong Kong operations due to challenging conditions faced by members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2020, FedEx acquired ShopRunner, an e-commerce platform, to enhance their online retail capabilities.

On April 15, 2021, a tragic mass shooting occurred at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis, resulting in nine deaths, including the perpetrator, and multiple injuries. FedEx expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their team members in a statement released shortly after the incident.

On March 29, 2022, founder Frederick W. Smith announced his retirement as CEO of FedEx, with Raj Subramaniam named as his successor.

On April 17, 2023, FedEx commemorates 50 years of innovation and progress in the delivery industry.