the essential
During this period of great end-of-year holiday rush, we followed Laurent, a postal agent in Montauban who strives to satisfy each recipient. Astronomical number of packages, time to order, letter service to Santa: we explain the challenges of this “peak period”.
If Santa Claus existed, he would be a postman. Or delivery guy. Or both. In any case, southeast of the center of Montauban, his name is Laurent. Thirty years that this dedicated agent has worked on behalf of La Poste in a favorite sector of activity: delivery. This Monday, like his 62 other colleagues at the distribution center on rue Salvador-Allende, Laurent receives the 132 packages that he will have to deliver in one morning.
Boulevards Garisson and Herriot, avenues du Père-Léonid-Chrol and Charles-de-Gaulle, Beausoleil, faubourgs Lacapelle and du Moustier: fortunately Sapiac falls, temporarily, to another delivery person because the volume to be processed can reach 240 packages. Per day. So let’s get down to the sense of strategy.
DDM – GERALDINE JAMMET
DDM – GERALDINE JAMMET
After removing the packages that must be delivered to postal agencies, he charges his electric vehicle by size and sector. We see a barbecue, a Decathlon box, Zara, Veeppe or Asos bags and, unsurprisingly, toys. A fake microwave in this case. Hashtag 21st century… Once scanned, the first burst of its delivery is reflected on Factéo, the smartphone which ensures tracking on behalf of La Poste. “For large parcels, I call before because if the recipients are not there, it saves me from loading it. The telephone is a huge time saver,” smiles the delivery man as he updates his little directory.
DDM – GERALDINE JAMMET
Two passes or more
When the packages are to be delivered without a code or signature and, above all, they stay in the mailbox, it goes like clockwork. In the event of absence, place the notice of passage procedure. Knowing that Laurent will inevitably try his luck again the next day. But sometimes, he comes back at the end of the tour, banking on the fact that certain employees come home to eat. Here, he knows that it is a lady who looks after children. There, that the neighbors are from the same family. “I know almost all of them because 80% of them are always the same,” whispers this extremely well-dressed agent who makes his rounds at a running pace.
DDM – GERALDINE JAMMET
Set the warnings, scan, call, deliver, smile and off we go. The hardest part is dealing with the countless number of one-way streets and the numerous works that punctuate the route.
However, Laurent knows how to take the time. This Monday, while he was waiting with an Ikea package under his arm, not the lightest, he realized, while calling his recipient, that the latter had moved. So head to the Lalande district, outside the sector. And when we tell him that he’s really too nice, he laughs. “I get told that every day,” he said, holding out a little thank you note from a grandmother. “That’s what I like most: customer relations. »
How to write to Santa
Since 1962, La Poste has ensured the delivery of mail to the North Pole where the most famous bearded man will be showered with children’s missives. To be sure that he responds, you must write to him before Friday, December 20 inclusive. For the traditional letter, simply write “Santa Claus” on the front and mention your address on the back. For those who prefer email, go to pere-noel.laposte.fr. Last year, more than 700 letters were sent to Santa’s secretariat from Tarn-et-Garonne, including 352 from Montauban, 97 from Castelsarrasin and 68 from Moissac.
More than 25% of packages in recent weeks
DDM – GERALDINE JAMMET
“From November to the end of December, we call it the peak* period. In terms of mail, we were predicted a drop which is ultimately less massive than expected. Even though we can clearly see that in summer, there are fewer postcards and in winter, fewer greeting cards than before. On the other hand, in terms of parcels, we must call for reinforcements otherwise it is impossible to get through everything,” explains Louise Boureau, operational manager (ROP) at the postal distribution center on rue Salvador-Allende.
DDM – GERALDINE JAMMET
From November 27 to December 11, the Montauban site received, sorted and delivered 127,000 packages, or 25% more than the usual volume. Between January 1 and December 15, 1,733,479 packages were recorded in Tarn-et-Garonne. Or +13.2% for the equivalent period in 2023. And this will barely calm down at the beginning of January only to pick up again, in a smaller proportion than at Christmas, during the sales.
Last deadline to order
“Today, it’s 50% of La Poste’s activity. In France, one in two deliveries is provided by our services,” says the communications manager. Today, the postal service company has three branches for a whopping 170 million goods distributed for the months of November and December 2024 alone: Colissimo, provided by the mail and parcel service to individuals; Chronopost, whose vocation is express delivery; and DPD, which is more internationally focused. The latter two being managed by the Géopost branch. With the advent of “fast fashion”, it is a safe bet that their activity will continue to grow since the giants Shein and Temu are flooding Europe in staggering proportions: up to 20% of packages processed.
So notice to all latecomers who still think they can be delivered before Christmas: you must order between December 18 and 19 to have peace of mind. Without this, even the most benevolent postman will be unable to do anything.
* Culminate in French.
