City Link has invested in additional drivers, delivery vehicles and warehouse staff ahead of the bumper parcel volumes expected this Christmas.

It is adding an additional 1,168 delivery and collection drivers to its workforce, including 100 trunking drivers, 433 agency drivers and 735 subcontractors. It will also boost warehouse staff numbers by 469 and its operations support workforce by 30.

Some 434 vans and 80 trailers will join the fleet for Christmas, along with 14 more forklift trucks. It also added 85 Lawrence David trailers and 86 Cartwright double-deckers to its fleet in 2014.

Sortation capacity at its Coventry hub has also been increased with the installation of an automated system, which City Link claims could potentially increase throughput by 50%.

Operations director Liam Tucker said: “City Link had one of its most successful peak periods in 2013 and we are looking forward to an even busier and more successful one in 2014. We’ve been planning since January and have worked with all of our larger customers to understand demand, put in place capacity and ensure contingency arrangements are there too.”