In the end-of-year rush, La Poste plays an essential role in the economy and commerce. Between e-commerce purchases and traditional shipments, this year it will transport 1,472,000 packages in the month of December alone in Auvergne.
Despite the gloom and economic difficulties, the Christmas period remains sacred and the months of November-December are synonymous with increased activity for trade and deliveries. The Post Office is on the front line and has no room for error, because we know that a package arriving after December 25 can cause a little drama.
Although the period is not quite over, the La Poste group has already published its figures and announces a generally stable volume of parcels. The three entities Colissimo, Chronopost and DPD had processed 166 million parcels across France in 2023, a “score” which should be reached and undoubtedly slightly exceeded in 2024.
1,472,000 packages delivered by La Poste in Auvergne in December
Brought back to Auvergne, the trend is identical. Auvergne postmen will distribute 1,472,000 parcels in December. The bulk of the volume comes from Puy-de-Dôme with 611,000 packages, 396,000 for Allier, 294,000 in Haute-Loire and 171,000 in Cantal. Faced with this peak in activity, La Poste created a total of 213 reinforcement jobs on fixed-term contracts in November and December. 33 reinforcements were hired in Allier, 18 in Haute-Loire, 10 in Cantal but above all 152 in Puy-de-Dôme, including 100 for the Clermont-based Gravanches parcel sorting platform alone, which like the 17 centers Colissimo, located throughout France, operates 24 hours a day at the end of the year. The volume of sorted packages being significantly higher than the rest of the year, the Chronopost entity had to increase its road connections by 50% and its delivery rounds by 40%. In addition, La Poste has 671 contact points in Auvergne, post offices, municipal postal agencies or merchant post relays and 86 Pickup lockers, in Auvergne including 48 in the Puy-de-Dôme department.
Deliver without polluting
La Poste, like many French companies, is on the path to decarbonizing its activity. Two years ago it committed to ensuring 100% of its parcel deliveries in low-emission modes in the 22 French metropolises by the end of 2025. 17 cargo bikes are already circulating in Auvergne, we can also see them regularly in the streets de Clermont in addition to electric or low-emission vans. Currently 70% of packages, or more than 2 out of 3, are delivered in a virtuous manner. Note that for the past year, two daily connections have transported Colissimo from Clermont to Moulins and Montluçon, by 100% electric semi-trailer truck.
