Are your UPS and FedEx packages arriving on time?
According to an analysis by researchers at ShipMatrix, both package delivery services greatly improved their delivery performances over the Thanksgiving holiday, compared with last year, when they received a drubbing for deliveries that did not arrive in time for holiday gift-giving.
According to Washington Post report on ShipMatrix’s analysis, Sandy Springs-based UPS had a 95 percent on-time rate, compared with 89 percent last year, while Memphis–based FedEx had a 91 percent on-time rate, compared with 83 percent a year ago. The analysis excluded non-deliveries due to inclement weather or someone not being present to take delivery.
UPS said it expects an 11 percent increase in December shipments, 585 million packages, compared with last year’s results. The company announced plans to hire 90,000 to 95,000 seasonal workers to help out with shipments.
FedEx expects to deliver 290 million packages, and has hired 50,000 more workers to make sure deliveries are made on time.
The U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver 470 million packages among the 15.1 billion cards, letters and parcels it will handle.
Major retailers miscalculated the volume they expected to have, and over-promised when packages would arrive. Those reasons, coupled with an explosion in online ordering,, led to more volume than the major package delivery services could handle..
Want to make sure your packages arrive on time? a CNN Money report breaks down when you need to get your packages shipped to arrive before the 25th:
* “A package shipped by UPS second day air on Monday, Dec. 22 should arrive by Christmas Day, next day air, if shipped on Dec. 23.
“The last day to ship packages by FedEx ground is Wednesday, Dec. 17, Monday, Dec. 22 for FedEx 2-day, and Tuesday, Dec. 23 for overnight services.
“First-class (U.S. Postal Service mail) should be sent by Saturday, Dec. 20. The deadline for priority express mail is Tuesday, Dec. 23.” The Postal Services also has expanded Sunday deliveries.
UPS last month announced a pilot project to consolidate package deliveries from different retailers into one delivery to a customer’s house, part of an effort to save time and cut costs.
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