We are nearing Q4 of 2020, and it has been a historic year for a variety of reasons. One of them has been the evolution of many households to online shopping and the shipping boom that comes with it. Most drivers and FedEx Ground route owners call this “peak season”, and they do so for a reason.
Not only is this the busiest time of year, but it’s also one of the most profitable.
The Holidays are always a big time for FedEx Ground route owners, but this year the shipping giant is preparing for a record season. Here are some reasons why, and what route owners are doing to prepare.
No More Black Friday?
Black Friday, the notorious day after Thanksgiving is when shoppers typically would flock to stores and malls in search of some of the best deals of the year, some only available for a few short hours or a single day.
But gathering close together with a group of strangers and pressing for a store to open at 5 a.m. may be one of the worst ideas of a year full of doozies. What will shoppers be doing instead? They’ll be home, in their freshly purchased lounge pants, looking for online deals. What that means for shipping giants is a glut of packages. A lot of them.
With the likelihood that Black Friday will give way to Cyber Monday and even more online shopping this holiday season than others, that also means more online shipping.
We’re Hiring?
That’s right. Even FedEx independent route owners often hire helpers for peak season, and sometimes extra drivers as well. It is not unusual for a route with a lot of home delivery to do well over 100 stops in an eight hour day, and sometimes those numbers can reach 150 or more in high volume residential areas.
That means extra drivers are needed to help deliver more rural packages and runners are needed to help speed pickup and delivery times. Working for another contractor during the holidays is often a way to get a taste of what owning your own route will be like, and it gets you into the FedEx driver system.
The FedEx company itself is hiring for the holiday season as well. From freight handlers to loaders, terminals will need more staff to keep up with the increased demand. That’s because owning your own FedEx route means you also have the support of the entire FedEx network.
FedEx Ground Owners are Selling Routes
Owners often split routes or form new ones in anticipation of growth, and just before peak is an ideal time to do this. It helps them be prepared for the upcoming surge, and it helps a new route owner see growth and a profit right away.
If you are looking into purchasing your own FedEx route, now is a great time to do so. You’ll have just enough time to get trained up on your area, and if you can handle the volume of peak, the rest of the year will seem pretty easy.
FedEx Ground is Preparing for Tomorrow. Are you?
We live in uncertain times for sure. Many industries have been completely disrupted and may take years to recover if they recover at all. Those companies who are doing well have moved to a more digital-focused, online model. They have goods to ship, and that means the logistics industry is in all-time high demand.
The current situation has also highlighted what many already knew: owning your own business is the best way to establish a secure future. Many former employees thrown from their jobs and perhaps even from their careers are seeking something different.
There are a variety of ways to start a business, from purchasing a franchise to purchasing an existing business to starting something from scratch. However, few of these options are as affordable and secure as purchasing your own FedEx Ground route.
Once you own your own route, you are in control. You can purchase other routes, split your current route, hire drivers, or drive your route yourself. In fact, most route purchasers become multiple route owners. FedEx Ground route ownership offers many income options.
FedEx is readying for the upcoming Holiday push or peak. But they are also preparing for the future beyond that. Are you?
If you have questions or are ready to get some help finding and purchasing the perfect FedEx route for you, contact us today. We’re here to help, and get you prepared for tomorrow, starting today!