Tag: North America

Rural mailboxes axed because of road safety: Canada Post

Posted by | Oct 29, 2007 | |

Canada Post is planning to cancel home delivery to nearly half of its customers along some rural routes in Quebec’s Eastern Townships because of road safety concerns.

The postal agency is evaluating the safety of mail routes across Canada, after three carriers died and 37 were injured while making deliveries since 2005.

Nearly 40 per cent of the routes examined in the Eastern Townships have failed the safety evaluation, because they present a hazard to carriers forced to stop on winding roads with high speed limits.

“Sometimes, because the shoulder is very narrow, [the carrier] has to stop on the road,” and that’s risky, said Canada Post spokeswoman Line Brien.

Community postboxes will replace individual deliveries on routes that failed to make the grade, Brien said.

The decision has angered many residents in the area.

Canada Post estimates it will cost about USD 500 million over the next three years to inspect all rural mailboxes in Canada.

About 843,000 Canadian residential addresses are served by rural mailboxes, Canada Post says on its website. Of the 14 million places where Canada Post delivers across the country, rural mailboxes represent about six per cent.

Read More

FedEx increases overnight prices

Posted by | Oct 27, 2007 | |

The price of sending a FedEx package overnight will take its biggest leap since 2001 when new prices go into effect in early January.

The customers who will notice it most are small businesses and walk-up customers at FedEx Kinko’s who don’t get contract discounts.

FedEx announced a 4.9 percent increase Friday on packages shipping overnight within the United States and to foreign countries.

“These rate increases will allow FedEx to continue making the necessary investments in our business so we can continue to give our customers a superior shipping service,” said FedEx executive Mike Glenn.

Increases and fuel surcharges for FedEx Ground will be announced later.

The company also said customers exporting goods to the United States will pay U.S. dollar rates, removing the uncertainties caused by currency fluctuations.

The hike was higher than analysts expected. Morgan Stanley said it signals that customers are still willing to pay a premium for overnight delivery despite a tide of rising economic concerns.

Read More

FedEx Express to increase net average shipping rates 4.9 percent in 2008

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

FedEx Corp. will increase the net average shipping rate for FedEx Express by 4.9 percent, which is composed of a 6.9 percent increase in standard list rates, offset by a 2.0 percent reduction in the fuel surcharge. The new rates will be effective Jan. 7, 2008 and apply to U.S. and U.S. export express package and freight shipments.

Rates and surcharges for FedEx Ground also will increase for 2008. These changes will be announced later this year.

New in 2008, FedEx Express customers importing goods to the U.S. will pay U.S. dollar rates. This provides a consolidated set of U.S. import rates to U.S. customers allowing them to avoid uncertainties caused by currency fluctuations. Increases in rates for shipments inbound to the U.S. from certain international locations will also be effective Jan. 7, 2008.

“FedEx continues to provide market leading express services,” said T. Michael Glenn, FedEx executive vice president, Market Development and Corporate Communications. “These rate adjustments will allow FedEx to continue making the necessary investments in our business so we can continue to give our customers a superior shipping experience.”

Read More

USPS says California mail delivery returns to normal

Posted by | Oct 26, 2007 | |

San Diego District Manager John E. Platt said today that virtually all residents and businesses in San Diego County can receive mail delivery last Friday 26th October, either from their letter carrier, in their Post Office Box or at temporary Post Offices established for evacuated communities.

Express Mail, Priority Mail and First-Class Mail started to be delivered as usual. Customers are requested to pick up their mail daily, including from their Post Office Boxes, as volumes will be heavy for a few days.

“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our management staff, our employees and with the support of our labor organizations, we are pleased that mail delivery and Postal Service operations in virtually all locations have returned to normal today, just four delivery days after feeling the impact of Southern California’s most devastating wildfires,” said Platt.

Read More

Canadians who click online for bargains suffer long delivery delays

Posted by | Oct 24, 2007 | |

Shoppers seeking more variety and lower prices from online retailers in the U.S. are finding it’s taking weeks for packages to be delivered to Canadian addresses.

Toronto-based writer Stephanie Pearl-McPhee said she ordered yarn from a U.S. retailer in late September, and it took nearly three weeks before it was delivered. A package of yarn shipped from the United States typically arrives in Canada within four or five working days, McPhee said.

The Canada Border Services Agency said it has recorded an uptick in mail.

“The number of online purchases arriving by mail has recently surged, in part due to the strong Canadian dollar and the commencement of the holiday season — the busiest time of the year for postal services,” Chris Williams, a CBSA spokesman, said in an e-mail.

Williams said that despite challenging circumstances, the CBSA is releasing the majority of incoming mail into the Canada Post system for delivery.

Yvonne Yoerger, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service, said service standards and delivery times remain the same on the U.S. side. But, she said, she’s personally heard of some delays at the border.

Over the past few years, changing border security regulations along with increased volume have caused some border delays, said United Parcel Service spokeswoman Cristina Falcone. She said the rise of the loonie against the U.S. dollar over the past month may be affecting shipping times.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

What's the future of the postal USO?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!



View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest