Canadian express parcels operator Purolator yesterday launched mobile delivery points in four of the country’s biggest cities as the nationwide postal strike drags on into a fourth week.
The Canada Post subsidiary introduced a new ‘Mobile Quick Stop’ service using 10 trucks parked at suitable locations to enable parcel recipients to collect their shipments at convenient times, including in the evening.
“Purolator picks up and delivers more than 10 million packages across Canada during the holidays,” said John Ferguson, President and CEO. “Our Mobile Quick Stops save valuable time for consumers who are picking up packages during the busiest shopping season of the year. They also unlock new potential for online retailers and businesses, helping them get their products to city centres quickly and efficiently.”
Located in four regions – the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Montreal and Metro Vancouver – the Mobile Quick Stops act as community-based access points. Consumers in these areas who receive a “doorknocker” alerting them to a delivery attempt at their home can pick up their package at the Mobile Quick Stop that’s closest to them instead of travelling to traditional shipping facilities that are farther away.
The Mobile Quick Stop truck concept was piloted in Toronto’s Liberty Village and Scarborough Junction neighbourhoods earlier this year. To determine locations for the 10 trucks rolling out this month, Purolator reviewed shipment volume and traffic to its retail stores against cities’ population densities and identified the busiest locations by postal code.
The company said it plans to expand the service to more Canadian neighbourhoods in 2019 as part of its commitment to “innovating in last-mile delivery and giving businesses and consumers superior customer experience and convenience”.
Meanwhile, mail and parcel deliveries by Canada Post continue to be hit by the rolling strikes that started on October 22, which have led to industrial action at different sorting facilities and other parts of the postal network in more than 150 communities across the country.
In the latest development, members of the CUPW union today began strikes this morning in Toronto and at the York Distribution Centre in Scarborough, Ontario. Rotating strikes also continue at the Pacific Processing Centre near Vancouver and in parts of Nova Scotia including Halifax, Dartmouth, Lakeside, and Tantallon.
Canada Post said it “has been working hard to maintain service” but the rotating strikes are having a significant impact on operations and causing backlogs of trailers, resulting in delays for parcel and mail delivery.
Negotiations between the postal operator and the union are continuing through a government-appointed mediator but there still appears to be no sign of a breakthrough.
