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Monday Marks Busiest Shipping Day Of Holiday Season

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- FedEx will ship a projected 22.6 million packages on Monday. Company officials say Dec. 15 is expected to be the busiest day in history for shipping.

The United States Post Office expects to move more than 600 million pieces of mail, as well. Online shopping has grown the post office's package volume by 12 percent. The Twin Cities should process between 5 million and 7 million packages on Monday.

"We also bring on additional team members, but our plant team and our delivery team does a really professional job because they know we are going to have some long days," postmaster Doug Stephens said. "A lot of them take a lot of pride in what we do because they know this is our season to shine and provide the customer service."

A number of USPS locations will be open for six hours -- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- on the two Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. They are:

Minneapolis Main Post Office, 100 S. 1st St., Minneapolis
Elmwood Post Office, 5100 W 36th St., St. Louis Park
Bloomington Branch, 9641 Garfield Ave. S., Bloomington
Richfield Branch, 825 W 65th St., Richfield
Coon Rapids Branch, 10250 Foley Blvd., Coon Rapids
St. Paul Industrial Station, 1430 Concordia Ave., St. Paul
Apple Valley Branch, 7287 153rd St. W., Apple Valley
Anoka Post Office, 2168 7th Ave., Anoka
Burnsville Post Office, 13800 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville
Airport Mail Center, 5001 Northwest Dr. (NOTE: Open until 6 p.m.)

FedEx facilities are at the height of activity on Monday. The conveyor belt kicked into high gear around 5:45 a.m. at the FedEx facility in Roseville. The company brought in extra workers and vehicles to meet the busy Christmas demand.

More people are shopping online and shipping packages, which means more business for shipping companies like FedEx, UPS and the postal service. Consumers are encouraged to send their packages as soon as possible to ensure on-time delivery for Christmas.

Packaging is also important. In order to make sure gifts arrive to their final destinations in one piece, FedEx offers these tips:

Holiday Shipping
(credit: CBS)

Tip 1: Prep Your Item

Start by looking at your gift: Is it sturdy or fragile? Does it have square edges, i.e., is it shaped like the box it's in? Use cushioning wrap to "square off" any odd angles to protect them during shipment. If your item is shallow or hollow inside, like a vase or bowl, fill that space to protect it by packing peanuts, cushioning wrap or firmly crumpled paper all work.

Tip 2: Choose the Best Box

Use a new, sturdy box that's a few inches larger than your gift on all sides to allow for plenty of cushioning. If reusing a box, make sure it's still strong enough to stand up to shipping (no torn flaps, no holes or corner dents, no water-damage, etc.). And be sure to remove all old shipping labels.

Tip 3: Cushioning Is Key

Protect your gifts by using at least one inch layers (preferably two inches) of cushioning around the item: Top, bottom and all four sides.

Tip 4: Fragile Gift? Double It

When you've got a breakable item to ship, use two boxes. Cushion your item with at least three inches of packing peanuts or other cushioning material and seal it in a box. Place that box within a second, slightly larger box, with another layer of cushioning. All that added padding is added protection for your fragile gift.

Tip 5: Pack In the Address

Sometimes winter weather can streak or remove shipping labels and paperwork can get lost from pouches. Just in case, always put an extra shipping label, business card or letterhead with the shipper and recipient's address information inside your box before sealing things up. You can also write it on the inside flap of the box.

Tip 6: Seal It Tight

Keeping winter rain, sleet and snow out of your box is easy. Just seal all the flaps and seams using proper packing tape that is at least two inches (5 cm) wide. No duct tape or masking tape, please. Bonus pro tip: Just remember to make the shape of an "H" when taping seams.

Monday Marks Busiest Shipping Day Of Holiday Season

Tip 7: Keep Your Wrappings Inside the Box

Please don't wrap your shipping box in anything. FedEx loves that you wrap your gifts beautifully, but these items can get caught in FedEx sorting machines, so it's best to keep the wrappings inside the box.

Tip 8: Label It Right

One of the best ways to ensure your package gets to its destination on time is with proper labeling. When using a FedEx shipping label, airbill or airway bill, fill it out completely and accurately. When using a FedEx shipping label, run your hand firmly over it to make sure it's secure on the box. When using a pouch, make sure the peel-off strip has been removed and the flap is firmly sealed. Place labels or pouches on the largest surface of the box, avoiding corners, edges and seams.

Tip 9: When In Doubt, Call The Experts

Some items are simply too precious to trust to less-experienced hands. Or maybe your gift is just a really odd shape and size. Whatever the case, if you don't know how to pack it, the specially trained team members at FedEx Office can help with the customizable FedEx(R) Pack and Ship option.

Tip 10: Plan Ahead to Avoid Deadlines

FedEx is known for its speed and reliability, but they encourage customers not to wait until the last moment to ship their holiday gifts to friends and family.

A Busy Shipping Day For FedEx Workers

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