SEATTLE — Parcel delivery services expect to deliver a record number of packages this holiday season as Amazon.com and other e-commerce players are busier than ever. And so far, an expert said, the carriers have done good job despite a surge in activity.
FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service delivered about 698 million parcels on time between Dec. 1-17, according to Satish Jindel, president of ShipMatrix, a shipping consultancy.
That’s 96 percent of all packages shipped during that period, about the same rate seen last year, even though there was a 12 percent increase in shipments.
It’s a sign that the wheels haven’t come off the logistics industry even though more people are shopping online. The numbers also show how the monumental task ahead for those in charge of hauling those cardboard boxes in the run-up to both Christmas and Hannukah. FedEx, a major carrier for Seattle-based Amazon, said it expects peak volume to reach a new record about 10 percent higher than last year. The carrier was coy with details, but said it’s working closely with its largest customers “to ensure our networks are prepared to provide outstanding service even with the potential for multiple days of demand more than double our average daily volume.”
