United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS)

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. UPS evaluates the useful lives of the property, plant and equipment based on the usage, maintenance and replacement policies, and taking into account physical and economic factors that may affect the useful lives of the assets. As part of the ongoing investment in transformation in 2018, UPS revised the estimates of useful lives for building improvements, vehicles and plant equipment based on the current assessment of these factors. In general, the change in estimate had the effect of lengthening the useful lives of building improvements, vehicles and plant equipment.

Depreciation and amortization are provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are as follows: Vehicles—6 to 15 years; Aircraft—12 to 30 years; Buildings—20 to 40 years; Leasehold Improvements—lesser of asset useful life or lease term; Plant Equipment—3 to 20 years; Technology Equipment—3 to 5 years. For substantially all of UPS’ aircraft, the costs of major airframe and engine overhauls, as well as routine maintenance and repairs, are charged to expense as incurred.

Interest incurred during the construction period of certain property, plant and equipment is capitalized until the underlying assets are placed in service, at which time amortization of the capitalized interest begins, straight-line, over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Capitalized interest was $97, $49 and $14 million for 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

UPS reviews long-lived assets for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based on the undiscounted future cash flows of the asset. If the carrying amount of the asset is determined not to be recoverable, a write-down to fair value is recorded. Fair values are determined based on quoted market values, discounted cash flows, or external appraisals, as appropriate. UPS reviews long-lived assets for impairment at the individual asset or the asset group level for which the lowest level of independent cash flows can be identified.

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-21).

United Parcel Service Inc., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment

US$ in millions

		Dec 31, 2018		Dec 31, 2017		Dec 31, 2016		Dec 31, 2015		Dec 31, 2014
	Vehicles
	Aircraft
	Land
	Buildings
	Building and leasehold improvements
	Plant equipment
	Technology equipment
	Equipment under operating leases
	Construction-in-progress
	Property, plant and equipment, gross
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization
	Property, plant and equipment, net

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).

United Parcel Service Inc., asset age ratios

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Average age ratio

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization
	Property, plant and equipment, gross
	Land
	Asset Age Ratio
	Average age1

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-21), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).