Shipping companies think outside the box to deliver holiday gifts on time

Less than two days before Christmas, shipping companies are getting creative to get packages delivered on time. FedEx and UPS are even resorting to rental trucks.

"They're shipping so much that they don't have enough vehicles, so they came to us," said U-Haul dealer Edgar Pleitez.

Shipping companies are recovering from a rough start to the holiday season. Many were caught off guard by huge Cyber Monday sales, and deliveries were 20 percent slower than last year.

Some shippers were hurt by retailers' promises of guaranteed deliveries.

"They are doing a disservice to the consumer," said Satish Jindal, President of Ship Matrix. His company tracks on-time delivery performance.

"They may be taking a day or two before they give it to a UPS or FedEx, and the consumer thinks it's the carrier."

Still, shipping companies hired hundreds of thousands of seasonal workers, and it appears to be paying off.

The latest numbers from Ship Matrix show UPS delivering nearly 97 percent of it's packages on time. FedEx was at more than 97 percent, and the U.S. Postal Service more than 99 percent.

Last-minute shoppers may still be able to have a package delivered by Christmas Eve, but there's a price for convenience.

Stacie Smith was hoping to get a gift to her niece in Wyoming by Christmas, but it was going to cost her $164.74. On second thought ...

"I guess Santa's not coming till the 30th at their house," Smith said.