January is return season. The gifts that didn't fit, didn't work, or just weren't right are flooding back into the system — and drivers are the ones moving them. More pickups, heavier manifests, and customers who aren't always sure what they're supposed to hand over. Here's how to stay on top of it.
Know the Difference Between Delivery and Pickup Stops
Your manifest will distinguish between drop-offs and pickups, but it's easy to miss in a long list. Before your shift, scroll your manifest and count how many pickups you have and roughly where they fall geographically. Pickup stops require space in your van — plan accordingly. Don't pack deliveries so tightly that you can't load a return box on the back end of the route.
For pickups, you need the customer to have the package ready and correctly labeled. Many won't. Have your process ready for partial-ready pickups — note it, scan it, escalate if needed.
What to Do When a Return Isn't Ready
You ring the bell. The customer says "hang on, I need to print the label" — and you're standing on a porch in January. Set a reasonable expectation: two to three minutes maximum. If it takes longer, let them know you'll mark it as attempted and they can reschedule. You cannot spend eight minutes at one stop when you have 75 more ahead of you.
Document the attempt properly. Your app should have a "customer not ready" or "package not available" exception. Use it. Don't mark it as delivered or delivered-to-neighbor.
Managing Extra Volume Without Burning Out
Return season adds real stress to the route. The key is not absorbing that stress into your pace. Don't try to run faster — you'll make mistakes. Instead, tighten your prep between stops.
While the van is at a red light, glance at the next three stops. Know whether the next address is a house, apartment, or business. If it's an apartment, what's the unit number and where's the entry? Ten seconds of mental prep saves a minute of confusion at the door.
Stay Organized With Your Return Cargo
Pickups need to be staged separately from remaining deliveries. A small physical separation — even just one side of the cargo area vs. the other — prevents you from accidentally delivering a return or losing a pickup in the pile. Label or stack pickups together and don't let them drift.
At day's end, your return count should match your manifest exactly. A discrepancy is a problem to catch now, not tomorrow.
January is one of the busiest months in final mile, and the drivers who handle it smoothly are the ones who stay calm, stay organized, and trust their process. JWA Logistics routes are built to account for return volume — and our dispatch team is available if a day goes sideways.