How US Carriers are Operating Around the Coronavirus

Key Points:

• USPS will hold mail delivered to closed business addresses for 10 days; businesses can request temporary mail suspension for 30 days
• Aramex Domestic Express shipments within the US are still operating, and the courier is working hard to deliver these on time
• DHL is mobilizing Business Continuity plans to ensure that deliveries continue to be made

See below for how major carriers are responding to Covid-19 in the US, and how mail services are being affected. Find updates for APAC services here & Europe/UK services here.

Before we start talking about courier services, let's get one thing clear: you can't get the coronavirus through your mail. For a virus to stay active, it requires a specific combination of environmental factors, including the right temperature, a lack of UV exposures, and humidity. Because mail is exposed to so many different environments while in transit, it's very unlikely that the virus can remain viable on your mail. The CDC's official line is that the virus is spread through respiratory droplets and there's a very low risk of getting it through the mail.

Our Insurance provider has amended its timescales due to Covid, for more information, see here.

USPS

Status: Fully operational domestically within the US; experiencing delays in Europe and parts of Asia.

The service disruptions affect Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI), Priority Mail International® (PMI), First-Class Mail International® (FCMI), First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®), International Priority Airmail® (IPA®), International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®), and M-Bag® items.

1. USPS will hold mail delivered to closed business addresses for 10 days; businesses can request temporary mail suspension for 30 days.
2. Because it's classified as an essential service, mail services are still operational.
3. USPS is following CDC and WHO health guidelines and procedures. So far, three dozen USPS employees have contracted the virus, and the agency is taking extra precautions.
4. You can ship hand sanitizers and wipes, but only through Retail Ground, Parcel Select, or Parcel Select Lightweight; these are only available through your local post office branch.
5. Signature-on-delivery services have been suspended; couriers will request verbal confirmation on delivery while maintaining a safe distance.
6. USPS has suspended their guarantee on Priority Mail Express International mail being sent to China and Hong Kong.
7. There are some delays in the mail to and from China, as well as Europe.

For more information, see here or read more here.

USPS Service disruptions to specific destinations

How’s Your Covid Shipping Policy?

Use our free shipping policy generator to formulate your safest, most customer-friendly shipping policy in seconds.

GET YOUR SHIPPING POLICY

Aramex

Status: Operational, but experiencing some delays in international services.

1. Aramex has confirmed that all services are currently facing delays to most international destinations due to high cancellations of airline services. Some destination country services have been suspended.
2. Domestic Express shipments within the US are still operating, and the courier is working hard to deliver these on time.
3. Temporary emergency surcharges are being applied to shipments. These charges are already implemented for new shipments being created on Easyship.

APC

Status: Operational with suspended services to some markets

APC Parcel Connect US Services are suspended for the following countries:
Argentina
Chile
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Jordan
Panama
South Africa

APC ePMEI US Services are suspended for the following countries:
Argentina
Colombia
Chile
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Jordan
Panama
South Africa

APC ePMI US Services are suspended for the following countries:
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Panama

DHL Express

Status: Fully operational except for delays in cases of local government restrictions. Have applied temporary emergency surcharges.

DHL is mobilizing Business Continuity plans to ensure that deliveries continue to be made. Top management is meeting each day to navigate the pandemic's swift evolution and daily hurdles. The carrier is ensuring that they follow all international and local government health protocols.

From the 25th of March, they have added a temporary emergency surcharge to each shipment. This pricing is already reflected for new shipments made on the Easyship platform.

DHL eCommerce

Status: Some destination country services have been suspended, with many others delayed.

Services to most destinations are still operating, but due to a reduction in airline freight availability, delays are expected.

DHL eCommerce - Countries with Delays or Suspensions for Packet International & Packet Plus International Services

FedEx

Status: Fully operational; waiving signature-on-delivery service in most countries. Suspended money-back guarantee.

The company is following CDC and WHO guidelines for health and hygiene, including educating team members, encouraging practices such as frequent hand-washing, and sanitation of workspaces and equipment.

1.     FedEx is considered an essential business and is trying to maintain normal operations as much as possible.

2. FedEx US store hours may be reduced - check your local store for new operating hours and available services.

3. Due to travel restrictions and border closures, the carrier has suspended its money-back guarantee for all FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Office services until further notice.

4. Signature-on-delivery services within the US have been suspended (and for most international destinations), except for cases where Adult Signature Required (ASR) is in place. Couriers will ask for verbal confirmation of the name and maintain a safe distance.

5. They're experiencing delays (on average, 1-2 days) on most services from to the US to Hong Kong, China, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa.

SF Express

Status: Fully operational, but facing some delays to all destinations. Have added a temporary emergency surcharge for shipments.

SF Express has been following recommended guidelines for safe delivery as per WHO guidelines. Are also facing delays due to airline cancellations leading to air freight shortage.

Have applied a temporary emergency surcharge for all new shipments going to Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau. This pricing is already being reflected on the Easyship platform.

UPS

Status: Fully operational except where constrained by government restrictions.; waiving signature-on-delivery service in some countries.

1. UPS has been deemed a critical infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security and continues to operate throughout the US, including in rural and restricted areas.
2. UPS stores across the US remain open - you're advised to check operating hours before going.
3. From March 24, UPS is suspending its Service Guarantee for all US-origin shipments (for both domestic and international services).
4. Signature-on-delivery has been suspended within the US and for international shipments except for Adult Signature Required (ASR) services.

The company is following CDC and WHO guidelines for health and hygiene, including educating team members, encouraging practices such as frequent hand-washing, and sanitation of workspaces and equipment.

Watch out for international duty and tax!

What exactly does it cost to ship cross-border? Use the free duty and tax calculator from Easyship to view accurate import costs for any shipment to anywhere.

USE FREE

**Last Updated: 16th July 2020, 10 pm EST