PORTLAND, Ore. -- A company best known for the use of brown on its uniforms, trucks and advertising campaigns is adding some green to its business practices.

UPS announced Tuesday that it is in the process of hiring 28 bicyclists to help alleviate the excess of packages that are sent during the holidays by delivering smaller packages.

The riders will meet up with drivers at a predetermined location and pick up the packages that they will then deliver to houses and businesses, UPS officials said.

The riders will be pulling a small trailer behind them with about 10 packages loaded up at one time. UPS leaders said they're not only trying to go green for their big holiday rush, but this is a huge money saver too.

By having three cyclists on the road, officials said they can save 17 gallons of fuel per day.

A UPS manager said they already have more applicants than they know what to do with.

Hiring managers posted the job ad in just a few local bike shops and on some cycling Web sites and they said they were bombarded by applicants right away.

"The response has been overwhelming. Within two days we had 300 e-mails coming in at one time. Our voicemail box got maxed out," said Jeff Grant of UPS

The UPS cyclists will be hitting the streets starting next week and managers said they have all the positions filled for now, but because of the huge response, they are considering adding a few more jobs.

UPS Hires Bikers To Deliver Holiday Packages