UPS expects record year for holiday shipping

UPS expects to handle a record 750 million packages over the holiday shopping period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve this year.

The Sandy Spring-based shipping giant said it expects delivery volume to be up 5 percent this year over last year’s holiday peak season, as online shopping continues to grow.

But it could be more expensive to ship packages this year. UPS is adding peak season surcharges for the 2017 holiday season. And starting Dec. 24, UPS is increasing its rates an average of 4.9 percent.

Holiday shipping volume on UPS is nearly double its regular daily volume.  For the holiday season the company is hiring 95,000 temporary workers, including drivers, package sorters and loaders. UPS said its new Saturday ground pickup and delivery service will help it to handle increased volume.

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