DHL U.S. Divisions Share Strategic Insights on Black Friday & Cyber Monday Amid Industry Shifts and a Historic Government Shutdown
Press Release: Plantation, FL, November 17, 2025
As the logistics industry braces for the peak holiday season, DHL reveals how its teams are navigating the dual pressures of the longest U.S. government shutdown and evolving regulatory and market dynamics. From customs clearance and cargo flow to last-mile delivery and warehouse automation, DHL leaders share exclusive insights into their strategies for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the rest of the holiday shopping season.
The government shutdown affected CBP and air traffic control staffing for an extended period. How has this impacted preparations for holiday shopping season and what specific measures did DHL Express take to mitigate impact?
“Despite the challenges posed by the now-ended U.S. government shutdown, DHL Express remains fully committed to ensuring uninterrupted service for our customers during the holiday shopping season. We anticipate an estimated 33% increase in volume during peak season, and we’ve taken proactive steps to prepare. Starting with our customers: It is clear that the import process has become more complex for shippers. To support our customers, we launched a global education campaign, including multilingual webinars and practical guidance, to help shippers and importers improve their reporting processes and ensure compliant, uninterrupted clearance.
These efforts have already led to measurable improvements in data quality and customs readiness. Our focus has been on helping customers navigate the changes, and the results have been a better experience for all.
Operationally, we’ve expanded our Customs team by hiring 600 specialists across Formal Entry and Billing Functions. Furthermore, we are leveraging weekend activity and overtime to maintain continuity and responsiveness.
Our global network and flexible infrastructure allow us to adapt quickly and minimize disruptions. In a year marked by geopolitical volatility and regulatory shifts, DHL Express has demonstrated resilience and agility. Our priority is to help customers navigate complexity with confidence—and to ensure their shipments move swiftly and securely, even in uncertain times.” – Andrew Williams, Americas CEO, DHL Express
With some large logistics companies using gig drivers this peak season to deliver packages, how do you think these competitors will fare this season and how is DHL eCommerce differentiating itself to deliver packages on time to the final consumer?
“As we observe the evolving landscape of logistics this peak season, the use of gig drivers by some large companies presents a fascinating development worth monitoring. The gig economy platforms enable anyone to take part in parcel delivery, but there are challenges in balancing that flexibility with the risks of inconsistent delivery performance, particularly when drivers may be inexperienced or have limited availability.
At DHL eCommerce in the U.S., we remain focused on delivering every U.S. parcel with the Postal Service, which has delivered outstanding performance year after year, supported by predictive analytics to anticipate peak demand.” – Scott Ashbaugh, Americas CEO, DHL eCommerce
Compared to 2024, are retailers running leaner inventories? How has DHL Supply Chain adapted its warehousing and fulfillment model to handle last-minute Black Friday demand spikes?
“This season, retailers have been managing a careful balancing act, maintaining inventory levels that support growth and demand spikes, while avoiding overshooting forecasts that could strain budgets. While many front-loaded inventories early in the year to hedge against tariff volatility, those levels were recalibrated by mid-year. What we’re seeing now is a shift toward precision, with retailers relying on real-time data and flexible fulfillment models to remain responsive, especially as Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaches.
At DHL Supply Chain, we’ve embraced this shift. Our acquisition of IDS Fulfillment and expansion of our ecommerce services have enabled our customers to adapt quickly, whether that means diversifying sourcing, repositioning inventory to reduce costs, or scaling operations to support promotions. Our advanced analytics give our customers the visibility required to make fast, informed decisions.
Additionally, with accelerated automation across our network, we’re able to respond to demand surges without compromising speed or accuracy. We believe success during this year’s peak season hinges on having the right partner with the right tools, such as scalable fulfillment, advanced analytics, and accelerated automation, to enable smarter decisions at every node of the supply chain.” – Kraig Foreman, President of eCommerce, DHL Supply Chain
DHL Americas prepares for Holiday Peak Season 2025
This peak season is unlike any other, shaped by inflationary shocks and shifting trade policies. What’s the one unexpected challenge or consideration you’ve kept in the back of your mind as you prepare?
As DHL braces for a peak season marked by inflationary pressures and volatile trade policies, its leaders are zeroing in on agility and precision. Scott Ashbaugh of DHL eCommerce Americas emphasizes unwavering service quality and capacity expansion to safeguard timely deliveries for online merchants. Kraig Foreman of DHL Supply Chain points to tariff unpredictability and shifting consumer behavior as catalysts for a renewed focus on real-time visibility and data-driven decision-making. Meanwhile, Andrew Williams of DHL Express underscores the disruptive pace of regulatory changes, driving businesses toward international diversification and mobile commerce. Across the board, DHL executives share a common theme: in a season defined by uncertainty, adaptability and operational excellence are non-negotiable.
One consideration we have kept at the forefront of our minds is ensuring absolute consistency in quality. Despite global volatility and uncertainty with some of our customers’ volumes, we are preparing our network for more capacity compared to last year. Our focus is sharper than ever on delivering our 2–3-day definite product, Expedited Max. It is one of our most competitively priced offerings, and timely delivery is critical for our online merchant customers who rely on us during this high-stakes period. After a year of market upheaval and uncertainty for many businesses, our priority is clear: no delays, no compromises, and no quality concerns within our control. - Scott Ashbaugh, CEO, DHL eCommerce, Americas
Flexibility and agility have always been central to how we operate at DHL. However, this year, they’ve taken on new meaning. One unexpected challenge has been the volatility of tariff policies. Retailers who front-loaded inventory early in the year to hedge against anticipated increases soon found that strategy harder to sustain, as shifting trade decisions made it less advantageous. Those who took a more conservative, “wait-and-see” approach may have missed early opportunities but gained ground as conditions steadied. In addition to responding to tariff volatility, inflationary pressures and changing consumer behavior forced retailers to rethink demand forecasts and inventory strategies. In the face of all of this, what stood out is the need for precision, clear visibility across the supply chain, and the ability to act quickly on data. That’s been our focus, helping customers stay agile with insights and tools that enable sharper decision-making at every turn. - Kraig Foreman, President of eCommerce, DHL Supply Chain
One of the most unexpected but critical considerations this year has been the sheer pace and unpredictability of regulatory changes, especially around tariffs and customs. These shifts have added complexity to clearance processes and forced many businesses to rethink their supply chains almost overnight. What we’ve kept in mind throughout our planning is the importance of agility, not just in our operations, but in how we support our customers. We’ve seen firsthand how companies, especially SMEs, are responding by diversifying their export markets and sourcing strategies. That kind of international diversification is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. At DHL Express, we’re expecting greater volume spikes on key peak days within the peak season, which should be between Dec. 15 and Dec. 19, and we’ve prepared accordingly. But beyond volume, what’s different this year is the mindset. Customers are preparing earlier, shifting inventories, and leaning more into mobile e-commerce. Our role is to help them stay ahead of the curve. So, while the headlines focus on disruption, what we’re focused on is opportunity. At DHL, we say that trade flows likewater;, it always finds a way. And our job is to make sure our customers can move with it. – Andrew Williams, Americas CEO, DHL Express
