Once Upon a Time...

...there was this thing called "overnight shipping":

Budget-conscious shippers are deciding their packages and envelopes can take a slower path to their destinations, going by second-day air or, even slower, by truck. Some businesses are just plain sending less.

The shift, propelled by the declining economy and record fuel prices, was reflected in FedEx Corp.'s dismal earnings report Wednesday.

The changing outlook has altered the way the Big Three express delivery companies compete for air and ground shipments. It's also pushing DHL Express into the arms of a rival, probably bringing layoffs to DHL's 350-employee West Coast air hub in Riverside County.