Parcel plan: Ship it early

The postal service, UPS and FedEx will handle millions of packages for the holidays.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Through rain, sleet, hail or snow, the packages must go. And they absolutely must be there on time.
Getting them there takes more than the wave of a wand, though a little magic could be in order during the peak holiday season, when the United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service and Federal Express handle millions of packages every day.
Terrorism fears: This year, in light of fears of terror attacks, bombs and contaminated parcels, it is especially important for senders to ship early and adhere to regulations specified by each company.
"Including a return address is a real important thing. Packages without a return address can be considered suspicious," said Karen Harding, customer relations coordinator at the Youngstown post office.
Even though letters contaminated with anthrax were sent through the U.S. Postal Service in the last two months, customers are not required to comply with any additional security measures, she said.
Citing post office policy, Harding declined to comment further about security.
However, she said sending items early will ensure that packages and letters reach their destinations in time for the holidays.
Card campaign: Youngstown Postmaster Patricia E. Davis and other postmasters throughout northern Ohio have designated this week "Greeting Card Week" to encourage customers to mail early.
"Mailing early in the season assures our customers that their cards and packages will arrive in time for the holidays, and it helps level out our workload," Davis said. Avoiding the last-minute rush limits the risk that parcels will be delayed by an overloaded transportation system or inclement weather.
The number of items the postal service handles between Thanksgiving and Christmas "goes up at least 20 percent -- that's a conservative estimate," Harding noted. The biggest rushes are expected this week and the week before Christmas.
UPS delivery: The United Parcel Service expects to deliver some 325 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the heaviest volume -- 18 million packages -- is expected Dec. 18, said Vanessa Smith, a spokeswoman at the company's Atlanta headquarters.
"We always encourage our customers to ship early," Smith said. "This year we're reinforcing package and labeling regulations, especially with those customers who don't ship with us regularly."
Company policy prohibits Smith from discussing security measures, but she said: "We certainly have the right to ask customers to open their packages if we think they are suspicious or if we think they are not packed properly. She added, "From the customer's perspective, it's business as usual."
FedEx system: Kara Closius, a spokeswoman for Memphis, Tenn.-based Federal Express, also declined to comment about security. Referring to the FedEx Web site, Closius said, "As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on specific security procedures. However, all of the FedEx companies are committed to providing safe and secure work environments for all employees as well as safe and reliable service for all of our customers. We have highly effective measures in place that help protect the integrity of the FedEx networks, and we are in full compliance with all safety and security directives."
FedEx experiences a 25 percent increase in volume the week before Thanksgiving, which is typically the company's busiest time, Closius said. FedEx's peak season begins in August, when retailers begin stocking their shelves for the return to school and for the winter holidays.
The busiest shipping night is expected to fall Dec. 19, when FedEx Express and FedEx Ground will collectively handle nearly 6 million packages, she said.
Tips for customers: All three companies recommend that customers use sturdy cardboard boxes with plenty of space for packing materials -- foam peanuts or crumpled newspaper. Boxes should be free of tears and punctures and should contain only one shipping label. Certain items such as explosives and certain household chemicals cannot be shipped. Shipping of some other items, such as alcoholic beverages, are regulated by each state.
kubik@vindy.com