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Peak Performance: Delivering on Time During the Busiest Months of the Year
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The end-of-year peak period is when courier networks and parcel providers prove their worth.
Between Black Friday, Christmas shopping and Boxing Day Sales, October through to December delivers the year's highest volumes and tightest deadlines.
Here's how our network performed during the 2025 peak period.
The numbers
Overall Q4 2025 performance:
- Metro on-time delivery rate: 95.90%
- Regional on-time delivery rate: 93.91%
Month-by-month breakdown
| Month | Metro on-time delivery rate | Regional on-time delivery rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | 95.00% | 92.44% | |
| November | 96.69% | 94.12% | |
| December | 95.98% | 95.77% |
What this means for your business: If you shipped 1,000 parcels through our network from a metro location to a metro location in Q4, 959 arrived exactly when promised.
Performance under pressure
December is always the toughest month. Customer availability drops during holiday travel, address accuracy issues increase with gift deliveries, and weather becomes less predictable.
Despite these seasonal challenges, we maintained 95.90% metro on-time delivery, demonstrating network resilience when your customers need their orders most.
Our regional performance of 93.91% reflects the additional complexity of longer-distance deliveries across varied terrain and weather conditions, particularly during early December storms in QLD and NSW.
The people behind the performance
These numbers are a reflection of our investment in operational efficiency and the commitment of our team of employees and Franchise Partners across the country.
CouriersPlease operates on a franchise model, meaning our routes are run by independent business owners who have invested their own capital and reputation into their territory.
When volumes surge, it's our Franchise Partners who add extra vehicles, extend their hours, and mobilise additional drivers to meet demand.
Operational improvements
To support our team to deliver for our customers, we've made significant operational improvements across our network:
- More frequent linehaul services between depots to keep freight moving
- Additional material handling equipment including forklifts, sorting gear and vehicles
- Extended operating hours, including weekends
- Improved support infrastructure with more team members, reactivated phone lines, and a virtual assistant upgrade
- Automatic receiver notifications providing proactive milestone updates
Our 95.90% metro on-time performance reflects both our operational investments and our Franchise Partners' commitment to their territories.
This combination of centralised infrastructure and locally-owned execution positions us to handle growing volumes while maintaining service quality as customer expectations continue to rise.
What's next
- Smarter technology: Automated sortation machines at our Dandenong and Truganina facilities
- Even faster delivery: Two or more pickup and delivery cycles per day in many metro locations
- Peak readiness: Peak Champions, extended hours, increased drivers, and enhanced support services
Why we share these numbers
Transparency builds confidence. When you're evaluating couriers and parcel delivery partners, you need evidence of performance during the periods that matter most.
Q4 2025 demonstrates our capability and our commitment to our customers. We look forward to building on this in 2026.
Ready to speed up your deliveries?
Sign up for a self-serve account with your credit card at CP Direct.
For businesses requiring system integration or shipping more than 1,000 parcels per week, contact our team.
