There is no doubt that we have all experienced changes to our usual way of life as a result of the COVID-19 situation. The APC network continues to adapt to an ever changing situation. Both depots and the central sortation centre have coped with staffing levels affected by illness and self-isolation and continue to have to apply social distancing wherever possible to try to keep everyone safe.
Additionally the change in the nation’s buying habits have led to a phenomenal growth in the number of home deliveries, and meant APC has had unprecedented levels of freight travelling through the network
APC have recognised that customer demands have continued to increase and also the need to make sure there is additional capacity within the network for what is anticipated to be the busiest Christmas period ever for the logistics sector.
With this in mind and in order to adapt to the needs of our customers APC are implementing some important service profile changes, these changes will take effect from Monday 19th October 2020.
- Live fish are only permitted to be sent on a Wednesday and Thursday
- NC (non conveyable) consignments will be capped to 2 items per consignment
- XS consignments will be capped to 2 items per consignment
- Any unboxed consignment must be sent as XS
We would like to thank our customers for your patience and understanding as we work closely with our network member depots that have faced difficulties in providing consistently good service levels. We have appreciated the support of many of our customers who have phased their despatch volumes over a full week and re-set expectations with their customers about despatch/ delivery that are reflected of the challenges we are all facing and have also been tolerant of the service adjustments we have temporality made.
Change to ND Box Size
With immediate effect, APC are pleased to confirm that our main belt sorters can now permit parcels up to 60cm x 60cm x 60cm to travel as ND.
Please see our updated product guide to show this additional ND box size and other adjustments relating to the profile changes. Please note that our existing ND dimensions still apply, however if the longest dimension reduces to 60cm or under, it allows the 2nd and 3rd dimensions to increase to max 60cm each.
Collect From Depot- Option suspended
To prevent footfall into depots, from Wednesday 25/3/2020 until further notice, APC Overnight have suspended the collect from depot option across the APC network. redeliveries can be arranged but not a collect from depot option.
Drop into Depot- Option suspended
In an effort to limit the possible exposure to office staff, we have also taken the decision to suspend the practice of dropping items into our depots nationwide.
Account customers can still continue to book collections online in the usual way and customers without accounts can use the pay online solution APC Direct at
https://www.apc-direct.co.uk/ where a collection can be arranged on a collect next day, deliver next day service (ND1600 only, no liquids/fragile).
Consignments Addressed to Depot for Collection- Engineers/Mobile Workers
Similarly, where customers are manifesting consignment’s to depots for their mobile workers to collect, please wherever possible manifest to an address other than that of the depot e.g. the mobile workers home address.