Secureship Blog What to Do During the DHL Canada Strike: Shipping Alterna...

What to Do During the DHL Canada Strike: Shipping Alternatives

What to Do During the DHL Canada Strike: Shipping Alternatives

Canada is staring down a two‑front delivery crunch—first, Canada Post’s overtime dispute pushed volumes toward private couriers, and now DHL Express has locked out over 2,100 workers since June 8. Learn how to pivot smoothly with carriers like FedEx, UPS, GLS—and save big using Secureship’s flexible, no‑contract platform.

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by Karmela Sliskovic

June 11, 2025

Key Points

  • DHL strike began June 08, 2025 – expect national service delays and disruptions.
  • Comparing courier prices is time-consuming—Secureship shows all major rates in one place.
  • Ship with trusted private carriers like FedEx, UPS, Canpar, and GLS—no DHL needed.
  • Save up to 70% on shipping costs, even if you only send a few parcels a month.
  • Stay on track during the strike with built-in tools for scheduling, tracking, customs, and returns.

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What’s Happening During the DHL Express Canada Strike?

  • Lock-out triggers strike: DHL served notice on June 4; gates closed and picket lines went up at the stroke of midnight on June 8.
  • Scope: Seven provinces, six Unifor locals, every Express terminal that handles time-critical parcels.
  • Flash-points: Workers are fighting for better pay, fair owner-operator compensation, washroom access, reduced surveillance, automation protections, and improved job security.
  • High-Profile Shipment Risk: The dispute may disrupt critical supply chains, including Formula 1 logistics for the Canadian Grand Prix (June 13–15)
  • Legal wild-card: Bill C-58 will outlaw those temps on June 20, potentially shrinking capacity overnight.
What’s Happening During the DHL Express Canada Strike?

Delivery Delays to Expect Over the Next Few Weeks

  1. Later pick-ups & tighter cut-offs as interim drivers learn routes and docks.
  2. Service gaps in remote “beyond” postal codes that rely on DHL’s own couriers rather than partners.
  3. Surcharges or soft caps at competing carriers that absorb spill-over—FedEx deployed similar fees during 2024’s peak and recent labour unrest.
  4. Escalating delays post-June 20 if replacement labour must be pulled to comply with the anti-scab rules.

How to Avoid Shipping Disruptions During the DHL Lockout

Whether you’re a solo seller, a startup, or a growing retailer, Secureship keeps you shipping confidently—even during disruptions. We’ve helped tens of thousands of Canadians navigate postal walk-outs since 2007.

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Create Your Shipment with Trusted Alternatives

Avoid Delays—Ship Today
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Switch Carriers Fast and Easily Right Now

Already using Secureship? You’re ahead of the curve. A few clicks lets you compare rates and print labels for:

  • FedEx (Express/Ground) – Reliable national options
  • UPS Canada – Solid overnight network
  • GLS – Smart, budget-friendly ground delivery
  • Regional couriers – Flexible last-mile solutions

Stay flexible, keep customers informed, and keep orders moving—even if DHL’s disruption deepens.

Instant Price Comparison

Comparing courier prices manually takes time, and mistakes are easy. That’s why we created a free tool that does the heavy lifting for you.

Reveal Carriers & Savings

Get Wholesale Rates on FedEx, UPS, GLS & More—No Contracts

Why tie yourself to one carrier? At Secureship, we’ve secured deep carrier discounts so you get:

✅ Up to 70 % off standard rates
✅ Zero membership fees or annual contracts
✅ Crystal‑clear pricing—see the full rate and savings breakdown
✅ Smart savings for every shipper—from entry-level to high-volume (2 or 200 packages/month)

No hidden fees, no surprises—just better shipping.

Step-by-Step Guide: Strike-Proof Your Shipping in 3 Easy Steps

  1. Pack and seal your parcel Use sturdy packaging and double-check the address to avoid delays.
  2. Compare rates, print your label Choose the best fit for your budget and timeline.
  3. Schedule a pickup Skip the line—your parcel gets picked up and tracked automatically.

Pro Tips During the Strike
🎯 Double-check postal codes to prevent sorting delays
📦 Fill empty space to protect contents from rougher rides at busy depots
📆 Ship a day earlier to stay ahead of volume backups
See our all shipping tips

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Prepare Your Shipment

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Compare Carrier Rates

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Schedule a Pickup or Drop-Off

Start Shipping and Save Today

Essential Shipping Tool for Canadian Businesses During the Strike

  • Live carrier‑status alerts mean no surprises before you label
  • Automated customs support (invoices, NAFTA/USMCA, return labels)
  • Analytics & lane backup mapping—see where DHL is weak and set GLS or others as fallbacks
  • 24/7 support – human help in under an hour, always online
  • Avoid 91% of common shipping errors with our built-in advisor
  • Schedule pickups, manage addresses, and print return labels
  • Connect to Shopify, eBay, BigCommerce, or use our API


24/7 Support When DHL Shut‑Down Impacts Your Delivery

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Personalized Support During Business Hours:

Reach out to us and our customer service team is available during business hours, with an average response time of just one hour, to assist you with any shipping questions or issues.

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24/7 Help with ShipGuru:

For quick answers, ShipGuru, our AI-powered assistant, is available around the clock. ShipGuru can guide you through a wide range of shipping questions—whether it's about tracking, customs, or selecting carriers.

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Why Secureship Is the Best Backup Plan for DHL Outages

🚚 Compare prices from multiple carriers—FedEx, UPS, Canpar, GLS & more
💸 Save up to 70% instantly, with no minimums or commitments
⏱️ Start shipping in under 4 minutes—just pack, print, and go

Try Secureship Now
About Secureship

About Secureship

Secureship® offers an online service that helps businesses and organizations ship more efficiently and affordably.

Providing instant price shopping across multiple carriers, Secureship is the best choice for reduced rate shipping. In addition, Secureship offers benefits such as a consolidated shipping system regardless of the carrier you choose, built-in address book, convenient invoicing and shipment management.

Visit our shipping estimate tool to see how much you can reduce your shipping expenses.

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