Overview
- DHL sets 20 December for domestic standard parcels and offers Express until 22 December, while DPD, Hermes and GLS close standard intake on 19 December and UPS recommends 18 December for standard with Express available to 23 December.
- DHL and other carriers have added thousands of seasonal workers, extra vehicles and shifts, and reconfigured hubs to keep pace with the surge through late December.
- FAZ reports roughly 12.4 million parcels moved in Germany on 3 December, with tagesschau citing peak days above 12 million across DHL’s network.
- Health‑insurer Barmer reports logistics staff average 32.3 sick days a year and sick leave rose 22.4% since 2020, a factor operators acknowledge can strain delivery reliability during peak load.
- Consumer agencies advise a 7–10 day buffer or using express services, stress correct addressing and sturdy packaging, note standard insurance limits such as DHL €500 and UPS €510, and point out police do not centrally track package thefts as returns volumes are set to stay high after Christmas.