DPD is preparing for a package tsunami: up to 50% growth expected in December

As the first Christmas lights appear, the most intense time of the year begins for DPD. After the Black Friday promotions, parcel traffic is increasing day by day: every box contains a story, a gift, a small thought. As part of one of Europe’s largest parcel delivery networks, DPD couriers are on the road like modern-day Santas, ensuring that every gift reaches its rightful destination as quickly and in the highest quality possible.

December traffic can exceed the annual average by up to 50%

The end of the year period is the busiest week for parcel logistics. On average, more than 600,000 parcels pass through the Hungarian small parcel logistics network every day. Traffic in December is up to 50% higher than in an average month, so couriers and the dispatchers, warehouse workers and customer service representatives working in the background perform real feats to ensure that every package arrives on time.

“December is not only a month of love for us, but also a month of performance”

– says Szabolcs Czifrik, CEO of DPD Hungary.

“In the last weeks of the year, the entire team works towards one goal: to ensure that packages, which are often personal gifts, stories and feelings, arrive on time and intact. The courier, like an extreme athlete, throws himself into the tasks ahead with incredible perseverance and enthusiasm.”

A new era in in parcel delivery: the first e-trucks have arrived

As a strategic step, DPD Hungary has put five fully electric Scania R 400E B6x2*4NB CR20H vehicles into service in 2025, which will carry out overnight parcel deliveries between depots. The trucks, which operate with a 624 kWh battery, have a range of up to 450 kilometers at full load and can be fully charged in one and a half hours at high-performance charging points. The vehicles can operate with a gross vehicle weight of 42 tons, and Scania’s own developed electric drivetrain guarantees efficient, reliable operation.

The introduction of e-vehicles is closely aligned with DPD Hungary’s sustainability strategy: in addition to the e-trucks carrying out inter-depot deliveries, the proportion of electric courier vehicles in the delivery fleet now exceeds 50%. In this way, DPD not only contributes to improving urban air quality, but also reduces the environmental burden in the entire logistics chain.

Video about the new electric trucks: DPD | A new era in parcel delivery: the first e-trucks have arrived

“The introduction of e-trucks is a milestone in domestic small parcel logistics and sets an example for the industry. Sustainability is not only a strategic goal for us, but also everyday practice,”

says Dr. Gergő Soltész, CEE Chief Compliance Officer

Technology behind the parcels

DPD’s Christmas peak load reduction is also supported by advanced technological solutions. The myDPD application offers real-time package tracking, time changes and parcel point redirection, while the PickApp interface enables quick and easy posting, even from a parcel machine.

DPD’s nationwide network consists of more than 1,500 collection points, the number of which will soon double, so customers can conveniently collect their shipments without queuing.

The couriers’ work is assisted by route optimization algorithms that plan based on real-time traffic data. This not only saves time, but also reduces emissions.

Preparing for the peak

DPD is preparing for the holiday rush with capacity expansion, new depot openings and flexible operations. In 2025, new depots were opened in Kaposvár, Mosonmagyaróvár, Törökbálint and Vecsés, further accelerating service and increasing network coverage.

The company will publish the end-of-year delivery deadlines on its website in November, which will help ensure that every gift arrives on time.

Behind every package is a human story

Many couriers have been working at DPD for 5–10 years, and they have all developed their own “Christmas survival routine”: getting up earlier, new routes, little tricks to keep the spirits up.