We were told by FedEx management that after peak we should not expect the volume to reduce all that much; for once they were not lying.
I commented on this back last August and September - that Ground would see a marked increase in volume with peak 2012 and there wouldn't be much if any tapering off off that volume into 2013.
And indeed it is happening.
FedEx has indeed induced customers to begin the shifting of volume ON THEIR OWN, solely by having the software which generates shipping labels (and quotes price) unified into a single page. About the only customers who use computer generated shipping labels who are still using Express 3rd day - are the shippers on the coasts. There are a handful that want the convenience of Express pickup, but even these are generating Ground labels and stuffing the shipments into Express drop boxes.
This is why Express Couriers should let these shipments SIT in the drop boxes for a couple of days before they clear them - if the customers don't want to pay for Express Saver, then they shouldn't be receiving Express service convenience.