Why is freight taking so long?

Freight is taking much longer to arrive than it used to – adding further frustration in already stressful times. To help you understand (and calm your shattered nerves!), here is some insight into why freight is taking so long.

The Good Old Days

In the “good old days” most couriered items were generally taking one day in the South Island and two days in the North – except for rural which takes an extra two days. As for “Transport” items (bulky/heavy goods) – these were taking anything from two days to two weeks.

Today, two major issues are impacting freight delivery times – these being COVID19 and extreme weather events.

Current Circumstances

The COVID19 pandemic and the associated isolation requirements are causing understaffing and an inability to keep up with demand. Businesses are doing their best to mitigate these shortages, and many freight companies are utilizing office staff to process parcels at the depots to work through the volumes. It doesn’t help of course that lockdowns have instigated an online shopping revolution, and many have discovered and now favor this more convenient form of consumerism. As our country experiences the peaks and troughs of Covid 19, so too will we continue to experience peaks and troughs in freight delivery times.

Secondly, extreme weather events such as high winds and flooding can cause road closure due to fallen trees, power poles and flooding. This results in courier/transport companies taking available detours or needing to wait until the road is safe to access. Poor weather can also cause ferry closure. If the Cook Strait is too rough, ferries won’t sail, causing delays in freight going between the two Islands.

Keep Up to Date

Some of the freight companies have published a network status dashboard where the status of each depot can be viewed. This link will give an idea of the current pressure points in the country: https://www.posthaste.co.nz/network-status/#dashboard