FedEx workers stay jolly as packages peak

Santa Claus, with his one vehicle and worldwide route, isn't the only delivery person who faces challenges from the Christmastime crunch.The mortals at FedEx cheerfully endured their own busiest shipping day of the year Monday, with a record 11.3 million packages believed to have gone through their system.Without a magic sleigh and flying reindeer at their disposal, they accomplished this feat through meticulous planning and well-honed efficiency.The 180-person FedEx Express facility in Schaumburg is at full strength this week, with no vacations allowed. In fact, its fleet of 74 trucks has been supplemented by 20 rental trucks.And while the sorting of parcels and the packing of trucks usually begins at 6:15 a.m., the sheer volume Monday pushed back the starting time to 5:45 a.m.Regardless of the date on the calendar, FedEx is expected to deliver priority packages by 10:30 a.m. each day, facility manager Rick McMahon said."The issue with this time of year is that we're taking our resources to their peak," he said. "Last week, our volume was 10 to 12 percent above normal. We're 20 percent above normal today, and we'll be 70 percent above normal Thursday and Friday."That's because, while Monday was the biggest day for people to ship packages, the end of the week will be the peak for deliveries.While 103 of the facility's employees are full-time couriers, many more are trained to step into that role as needed. Each day this week there will be between 115 and 118 couriers delivering.Tim Kordik, a fill-in courier in Schaumburg, said it was obvious from the volume of packages on the conveyer belt Monday morning that it's the peak of the season."You've got to crank it up," he said of the extra work.The added pressure didn't appear to depress anyone.Full-time courier Debbie Santoro drove her route of the past 10 years in Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect with energy and enthusiasm."It's like seeing friends every day," she said of the regular business customers on her route. "They make me laugh, and I make them laugh."She enjoys the daily challenge of making her deliveries on time, relying on her own efficiency skills and knowledge of her route in deciding what streets to travel and the way she packs the truck."The main key to this job is just being organized," she said. "You're the creator of your own destiny. I was a secretary in an office where the FedEx driver would come in and I'd think, 'That would be cool!' "The hardest part of moving into the job from another profession was driving the truck, she said. The physical side of the job also can be a challenge. Santoro jokes that she didn't have muscles before she took the job in 1989.McMahon, the facility manager, said couriers must be able to lift 75 pounds by themselves and maneuver 150 pounds with assistance.His Schaumburg facility is one of 11 that serve the greater Chicago area, and it relies on O'Hare International Airport for its air shipping.McMahon still marvels at how efficiently FedEx can predict its peak times, measuring human behavior by looking to the past."It's eerie how close they've been," he said. "Timing these (truck) rentals -- I don't want to pay for these a day longer than we need."Estimating the pattern for this week involved looking at last year, looking at the last time Christmas fell on a Tuesday back in 2000, and talking with businesses that keep tabs on e-commerce."Christmas isn't just about Christmas; it's about businesses finishing up their fiscal years," McMahon said.But one thing FedEx does share with Santa Claus. The week after Christmas is always its slowest of the year.Shipping window is closingThere's still time to ship your packages to arrive before Christmas, but you'd better hurry. Domestic service Last day to shipFedEx Express Saver WednesdayU.S. Postal Service Priority Mail ThursdayFedEx 2Day ThursdayFedEx 2Day with Saturday delivery ThursdayFedEx Priority Overnight with Saturday delivery FridayUPS Next Day Air Friday*FedEx Standard, Priority or First Overnight SaturdayU.S. Postal Service Express Mail SaturdayFedEx SameDay Dec. 25*Other UPS shipments depend on destination and shipment type.Source: fedex.com, ups.com, usps.com 512447FedEx Express courier Debbie Santoro delivers a package to a home in Mount Prospect Monday morning during the busy holiday shipping season.Mark Black | Staff Photographer 512376Employees at the FedEx Express facility in Schaumburg sort packages Monday for the morning's deliveries during the busy holiday season.Mark Black | Staff Photographer 512321FedEx Express employees work the line Monday at a sorting facility in Schaumburg, FedEx's busiest shipping day of the year.Mark Black | Staff Photographer