Yodel has added 13 sites to its network for this Christmas as it prepares to handle 15% more parcels than last year.

The temporary sites include five standalone service centres, seven satellite depots and a returns centre in the Midlands. They are located at: Newbridge, East Kilbride, Preston, Selby, Sheffield, Cambridge, Borehamwood, New Cross, Newhaven, Bridgwater, Farnborough, Eastbourne and Tilehurst.

It has also extended existing sites by adding fixed canopies, and it has established a ‘control tower’ at its Wednesbury hub to monitor volumes and put weather contingencies in place if required.

An additional 200 HGVs and 500 trailers have been hired just for the Christmas peak, which will trunk between customer warehouses and the carrier’s service centres.

Last mile deliveries will be increased to seven days a week during the December peak, while operational hours at its three central hubs will be extended.

Executive chairman Dick Stead said: "For our retail clients this vital season is known as the ‘golden quarter’ and we are fully prepared for parcel volumes to reach record levels.  Our clients and their customers depend on us to deliver Christmas and we take that responsibility very seriously.

“We’ve worked closely with retailers and sourced additional sites, vehicles and staff to manage the surge in parcel volumes and have contingency plans to ensure we are well placed to weather the British winter.”

The carrier recently revealed that it was bringing in an additional 5,000 self-employed couriers and staff in driving and warehousing positions for the Christmas peak.

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