Shipping carriers urge early holiday mailing as deadlines approach

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – As the holiday shopping season ramps up, shipping companies say it’s officially crunch time for families trying to make sure gifts arrive on schedule. With millions of packages expected to move across the country and overseas, carriers are urging shoppers to plan ahead, ship early and avoid last-minute headaches.

Susan Wright with the U.S. Postal Service said the agency knows customers are still in “shopping mode,” but soon enough they’ll shift into “shipping mode.” She said USPS is encouraging everyone to mail items as early as possible.

With international shipping, shoppers may face an extra layer of complexity this year. Greg Hewitt with DHL said new tariffs and duties are now in effect, meaning customers should understand any added costs before sending or receiving overseas packages. He added that DHL has hired hundreds of additional staff in customs, finance, billing and customer service to help customers navigate the process.

Deadlines will be key for anyone sending holiday cards or packages. USPS says Dec. 17 is the cutoff for First-Class Mail, holiday cards, newsletters and the lower-cost Ground Advantage service. Priority Mail should be sent by Dec. 18, and Priority Mail Express has a final deadline of Dec. 20.

Hewitt said the surge in tariffs has made international shipping more complicated, but early planning can help. He also encouraged customers to package items securely, properly declare international goods, and make sure carriers have updated contact information.

FedEx and UPS are also encouraging customers to ship by Dec. 19 to ensure gifts arrive by Christmas.

As holiday shipping ramps up, carriers say they’re increasing staffing and customer support, hoping to keep deliveries moving smoothly during one of the busiest mailing seasons of the year.