Major Carriers Handle Early Holiday Volume Surge Without Missing a Beat
The nation's big three carriers are proving they're ready for peak season. ShipMatrix data shows UPS, FedEx, and USPS are maintaining strong on-time delivery performance even as holiday shipping volumes ramp up in early December—a critical indicator for 3PLs managing client expectations during the busiest weeks of the year.
The early December performance is particularly noteworthy because it captures the initial holiday surge when many retailers push aggressive shipping promises to capture early shoppers. For 3PL operators, this means fewer exception calls and a better shot at meeting the service level agreements that make or break client relationships during peak.
What This Means for Fulfillment Operations
Strong carrier performance in early December gives 3PLs more confidence in their shipping commitments as the season intensifies. When carriers deliver as promised, it reduces the operational chaos of tracking down delayed shipments and managing customer service escalations—time that fulfillment teams can redirect toward processing the next wave of orders.
The question now is whether all three carriers can maintain this performance as volumes peak in the week before Christmas. If early December is any indication, the investments carriers made in network capacity and operational planning after previous peak season struggles may finally be paying dividends for the entire logistics ecosystem.
