FedEx Pushes Same‑Day Delivery
FedEx is scaling a same‑day delivery push to take on Amazon, DoorDash and UPS, intensifying the race for last‑mile capacity. That expansion increases demand pressure for well‑located, high‑turnover warehouse footprints and could raise value for infill sites near dense population centers. For landlords, the move accelerates the need to market small‑bay and cross‑dock product suitable for ultra‑fast fulfillment. (modernretail.co)
FedEx announced a nationwide same‑day offering called FedEx SameDay Local on March 24, 2026, delivered through a formal partnership with last‑mile platform OneRail. (newsroom.fedex.com) The service will let retail customers select narrow delivery windows — two‑hour blocks or delivery by end of day — and FedEx says it can handle large or oversized items on the same schedule. (businesswire.com) Operationally, FedEx will route orders into OneRail’s network, which connects to more than 1,000 local delivery providers and supplies near‑real‑time tracking so merchants and recipients can see pickup and delivery updates. (supplychaindive.com) This is an asset‑light approach — meaning FedEx is relying on independent couriers instead of adding its own city delivery fleets — and it uses software integrations called application programming interfaces (APIs), which are technical connections that let checkout systems and carrier platforms automatically exchange order and tracking data. (newsroom.fedex.com) “Small‑bay” and “micro‑bay” industrial product will be the most directly affected: small‑bay units are typically compact, multi‑tenant warehouse suites often under about 10,000 square feet and micro‑bay units sit below 5,000 square feet, and both categories already show tighter supply and faster leasing than large‑format buildings. (smallbay.co) (warespace.com) Regional market data show the Inland Empire had vacancy near 7.6% in Q4 2025 while availability rose after roughly 4.3 million square feet of new product, even as new construction starts have slowed and some developers pivot toward build‑to‑suit projects — a backdrop that will concentrate demand for well‑located, quick‑turn spaces. (colliers.com) (apex-res.com) The move tightens competition with Amazon, Walmart, DoorDash and UPS — and OneRail’s network includes gig providers such as DoorDash and Uber alongside professional couriers — so landlords should expect increased leasing interest from e‑commerce operators and third‑party logistics firms seeking infill locations with grade‑level access and short loading cycles. (modernretail.co)
