Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid backlog from Canada Post strike [Video]

Amid an influx of packages that would normally be sent through Canada Post, Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies in order to catch up. 

Purolator told CBC News on Thursday that severe weather and a surge in package volumes prompted it to freeze service for some partners, citing the need to “prioritize critical shipments.”

Couriers such as eShipper act as middlemen between smaller e-commerce businesses and large carriers. But now eShipper is among the outfits temporarily barred from sending packages through UPS and the Canada Post-owned Purolator.

In a notice sent to clients on Thursday and obtained by CBC News, eShipper stated that “no shipments will be processed or moved by these carriers” for 48 hours, starting Wednesday. The update came after eShipper informed clients on Wednesday that Purolator was considering a daily limit of 1,500 shipments. 

In a statement Friday, Purolator said that the timeframe …