Systems Issue Disrupted Package Sorting at FedEx Express Memphis Hub

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Luke Sharett/Bloomberg News

FedEx Express reported a national service disruption May 12, citing a systems issue that affected package sorting overnight at the Memphis, Tenn., hub.

The alert came a day after the Memphis-based company said it was taking steps to recover from a cyberattack on some of its Windows-based information technology systems.

FedEx ranks No. 2 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

FedEx was one of numerous companies reportedly targeted by a worldwide ransomware campaign that affected computers in thousands of locations in as many as 74 countries.



A service alert meant a money-back guarantee wasn't in effect for FedEx Express packages due for delivery May 12.

The disruption came in the midst of a Mother's Day delivery push, traditionally one of FedEx's busier times of year outside of the Thanksgiving to Christmas holiday peak season.

"FedEx experienced interference with some of our systems which caused disruptions to the FedEx Express Memphis Hub sort operations," the service alert e-mail said. "We immediately implemented contingency plans to minimize the impact to our customers. We regret any inconvenience this has caused."

The company advised customers to check on the status of shipments at fedex.com.

Flight tracking website Flightstats.com showed more than 100 FedEx flights out of its world hub at Memphis International Airport experienced mostly minor delays overnight May 12.

On May 11, FedEx said it was implementing remediation steps as quickly as possible and continuing to investigate malware-related interference with IT systems.

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