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An article in The Wall Street Journal this week explained that freight transportation and logistics bellwether UPS “imposed shipping restrictions” a few large retailers like Gap Inc., LL Bean, Nike, and a few others should not come as a total surprise.

The reason for that, as we all know, is that with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic leading to a major increase in online shopping, parcel networks have been constrained and restricted, in terms of the amount of available capacity they have, like never before. That is as plain as day.

What’s more, this frenetic e-commerce activity is going to remain fully intact through the holiday season and into the new year, too, when factoring in the impact of reverse logistics operations driven by returns, no surprise there. If you need more proof of that, then consider this statistic from the National Retail Federation that was included in the WSJ article: “The National Retail Federation estimated that online shopping jumped 44% over a recent five-day stretch that included Black Friday and Cyber Monday.” That is astounding but not entirely surprising either, given the world we are living in these days.

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is the fourth busiest cargo airport in the world.

When sending a package, UPS provides complete tracking information and delivery confirmation signatures when selected, allowing shippers and buyers to be confident that goods will get where they’re meant to go.

Unfortunately, parcels do get delayed or even lost in transit, at which point you’ll need to file a claim with UPS. However, before you file a claim, you’ll need to wait at least 24 hours after the expected delivery date.

You must also ensure you’ve checked all the places your package could have been left, including outdoor spaces like porches and garages, as well as checking with neighbors who may have accepted it on your behalf. Should the package still be lost and it’s been less than 60 days since the package was supposed to be delivered, you can proceed to file a claim by following these steps.

The following delivery tip list was shared by UPS driver Lisa Hayes, who delivers to Seawall, Bass Harbor, Tremont, Bernard and sometimes Seal Cove on Mount Desert Island. She attributed it to a UPS blogger. Islander staff was unable to track down its origin, but we felt it important enough to share, since more holiday shopping is being done online this year than in previous years.

Tip 1 – Porch lights

Please leave lights on if you are expecting a package, especially after 4 p.m. It helps us find your house. Hunting for the right house when it’s raining and dark outside is a bummer.

Tip 2 – House address

Try to make it easy for us to spot your house number so we can get the package to you quickly. Reflective numbers on the house itself, numbers on both sides of the mailbox or curb numbers in reflective paint make it easier to find you.

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is a beehive of activity as UPS is in the midst of its peak shipping season.

Getting those packages under the tree on time is not quite as easy as clicking that “buy now” button. UPS starts preparing for peak holiday season in January, and those plans kicked into high gear this year with a spike in online shopping because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are looking at a record peak season,” said Jim Mayer, public relations manager for UPS. “When you take a look at the increased volume we’ve already seen because of the pandemic with people at home shopping, and add that to the holiday shopping, we are extremely busy.”