The nation’s major shipping companies are in the best shape to get holiday shoppers’ packages delivered on time since the start of the pandemic, suggesting a return to normalcy.
Carriers like the
The system is already being put to the test ahead of big shopping days on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when retailers entice shoppers with bargains. Amazon held a second Prime Day in October to jumpstart early holiday sales, but some shoppers are still holding out for deals in the coming days.
There are several factors at play: Consumers have gotten an early start, done more shopping in stores and moderated spending because of inflationary pressures, thus reducing shipping volume and spreading out shipments over a longer period. An extra shipping day between
The outlook could be a win for carriers who need fewer temporary workers, retailers who face fewer peak surcharges, and shoppers whose gifts are more likely to be delivered on time, said
The overall optimism represents a sharp contrast to holiday seasons in 2020 and 2021 when more everyday items were shipped during the pandemic, supply chain problems were a concern, and shipping companies struggled to keep up.
Carriers that reached their capacity limit dumped their excess parcels on the struggling
Performance improved last year. And Postmaster General
That boosts the
“Our customers and the American people should feel confident in the service we will provide for the holiday season,” he said.
All told, shipping companies are projected to have excess capacity of 10 million to 20 million parcels beyond what’s needed each day at peak shipping time, providing a buffer and lowering peak surcharges, Jindel said.
And they continue to line up extra workers to help with peak demand. Amazon, which operates its own fleet of delivery vehicles, said it's once again hiring 150,000 employees for full-time, part-time and seasonal roles in
“Shopping, buying and shipping early continue to be important to avoid the busiest times of peak season,” said
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