FedEx Ground is a new option in UC Davis’ online system for FedEx delivery service, available through UCD Buy. With the addition, university officials see the potential for thousands of dollars in savings across the Davis and Sacramento campuses.

FedEx Ground offers overnight delivery to many locations in California and Nevada, and two-day service in seven western states.

Until Feb. 8, UCD Buy’s FedEx system did not include FedEx Ground, only regular FedEx service. Therefore, departments wishing to use FedEx Ground were obligated to go through Mail Services or FedEx, requiring payment via a DaFIS document, from the UC Davis Financial Information System.

Now the UCD Buy FedEx system can take FedEx Ground orders and process the payments automatically.

Together, the Davis and Sacramento campuses send about 60,000 express shipments annually, according to Jennifer Lawrence Carmichael, general manager of Mail Services. About 40,000 of those, or two-thirds, would arrive in two days or less if sent by FedEx Ground.

For those 40,000 packages, assuming each of them weighed about 5 pounds, Carmichael estimated conservatively that FedEx Ground will charge $4 per package less than regular FedEx, for a potential total savings of $160,000 a year.

Carmichael gave two specific examples:

For a typical 5-pound package going from UC Davis to the Office of the President in Oakland — $11.01 for FedEx’s regular overnight service, $6.05 for FedEx Ground, for a savings of $4.96.

For delivery to UCLA — $10.61 with FedEx’s regular two-day service, $6.05 for FedEx Ground, for a savings of $4.56.

Here is how to take advantage of the university’s online system for FedEx Ground: Start at ucdbuy.ucdavis.edu, select “FedEx” from the links menu, then process your shipment request as usual, making sure to select “FedEx Ground” as your service type.

You can place your shipments in outgoing campus mail bins, take your shipments to Central Receiving or take them at any FedEx Office location. Note: FedEx Ground shipments cannot be put in FedEx pickup boxes on campus.

More information on FedEx Ground shipments from UC Davis: maildiv.ucdavis.edu/services/fedex.cfm. This site can tell you if your shipments are within the “overnight” range.