Secureship Blog The Busiest Time of the Year for Shipping

The Busiest Time of the Year for Shipping

Peak season shipping can affect when your package will be delivered. Here's how to make it through the busiest time of the year

Although the major carriers have prepared themselves for the significant volume increase that occurs during the holiday season, it is prudent to ship your packages before or after the busiest days of the year. Of course, this is not always possible. If you can't, here's what you should know and do..

by Sandy Ahluwalia

Nov 30, 2016

Key Points

UPS plans to deliver 700 million packages, with the busiest day on December 19, 2016; FedEx expects 351 million packages, with the peak on December 16, 2016.
To navigate the holiday shipping rush, ensure secure labels, add extra contact labels, and clear markings on reused boxes.
For additional tips on smooth shipping during the busy season, explore advice on shipping fragile items.

Table of Contents

Busiest Time of the Year for Shipping
- What does this mean for me?
- Is there anything else I can do to make it through?

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Busiest Time of the Year for Shipping

We are fast approaching the busiest time of the year for shipping and the volume the major carriers are expecting to transport is at a record high.

UPS is expecting to deliver over 700 million packages over the holiday period with their busiest day expected to be on the 19th of December, 2016.¹

FedEx is projecting to deliver 351 million packages between black Friday and Christmas Eve and most likely to have their busiest day on December 16th, 2016.^2,3

What does this mean for me?

What you should know about shipping during the busiest time of the year.

Although the major carriers have prepared themselves for the significant volume increase that occurs during the holiday season, it is prudent to ship your packages before or after the busiest days of the year. Of course, this is not always possible. If you can't, here's what you should know and do:

Ensure your waybill/label is securely affixed to your package. (A lost label = a delayed package)
Add an extra address label inside and outside of your package including contact information.
If you are re-using a box, remove or cover all leftover labels and markings to avoid any confusion that could result in delivery delays.

Is there anything else I can do to make it through?

Absolutely! There are lots of little things you can do to really reduce the odds of things going wrong. Be sure to read Nadine’s tips on shipping fragile items.

References:
1. https://pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=PressReleases&id=1477506556294-677
2. http://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom/global-english/fedex-forecasts-record-volume-this-holiday-season/
3. http://about.van.fedex.com/newsroom/global-english/fedex-anticipates-another-record-peak-holiday-shipping-season/

About the author

For the last 18 years, Sandy Ahluwalia has been heavily involved in the shipping industry. He has helped businesses with all their shipping needs from light weight courier packages to 100,000 lbs freight requiring multi-mode transportation. In his spare time, he likes to eat, read, play squash, visit friends, travel, and simply enjoy life.

About Secureship

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