Shipping firms geared up for the busiest time of the year

WAUKESHA (WITI) -- With just five days until Christmas, time is running out to get presents in the mail -- especially if they're heading out of state. Workers at Fed Ex Express in Waukesha say the volume of packages this time of year can be daunting.

"Every day I wonder if we are going to get it done, are we going to get it done? But we keep getting it done," said Jerry Shepherd with Fed Ex.

On a typical day employees sort 4,500 boxes an hour, however during the holidays that number jumps as high as 5,300 boxed an hour. Hundreds of employees work around the clock to make sure operations are running smoothly.

"They are the reason we are able to do what we do. They are committed to getting all those packages out to those customers," said Shepherd.

Procrastinators are able to ship out last-minute packages as late as Monday, December 23rd, but should be prepared to pay up. The longer you wait to mail gifts, the less chance they will arrive before Christmas, and the more it will cost you.

New this year for Milwaukee, the postal service will be delivering packages on Sunday as part of a pilot program.