Shipping Chaos in Canada: Purolator, UPS Pause Shipments Amid Record Volumes and Weather Woes

Canada’s shipping sector is grappling with severe disruptions as Purolator and UPS temporarily halt certain shipments due to extreme weather and surging package volumes. The freeze, aimed at clearing backlogs and prioritizing critical deliveries, comes amidst heightened demand fueled by the Canada Post strike.

Purolator announced its decision to suspend services for specific partners, emphasizing the urgency of stabilizing its network. “We are assessing the condition of our network hourly and will make all attempts to remove the service suspension as soon as possible,” Purolator stated.

This move impacts couriers like eShipper, which facilitates shipping for smaller e-commerce businesses by connecting them with large carriers. In a notice to its clients, eShipper confirmed that shipments with Purolator and UPS would be paused for 48 hours, starting Wednesday. The platform had earlier warned of Purolator’s potential daily shipment cap of 1,500 packages.

“We work with over 25,000 Canadian businesses,” said Imtiaz Kermali, vice president of sales and marketing at eShipper. “It’s crucial we help carriers return to normal operations, especially as the holiday season intensifies.”

FedEx is also feeling the strain. The courier has introduced a temporary limit of five packages per drop-off at its retail locations to manage the overwhelming demand, according to spokesperson James Anderson.

The ripple effects of Canada Post’s ongoing strike are evident, as businesses and consumers alike turn to alternative couriers.

The Canada Post strike, now in its third week, involves more than 55,000 postal workers. The strike stems from disputes over wages, inflation adjustments, and weekend delivery expansions. Canada Post’s proposal to hire part-time weekend workers at lower rates has sparked concerns among union members over job security and equitable pay.

Negotiations are ongoing, with Canada Post reviewing new counter-proposals from the union. However, the prolonged strike continues to exacerbate the pressure on other courier services during their busiest time of the year.

The disruptions couldn’t come at a worse time. The pre-Christmas rush is typically the busiest period for shipping companies, with demand expected to climb even higher in the coming weeks. Businesses and consumers are being advised to plan ahead to avoid delays.

As Purolator, UPS, and FedEx work to normalize operations, the situation underscores the fragility of Canada’s shipping infrastructure during peak demand.