Customers wait to mail holiday packages at the Cedar Rapids Main Post Office in December 2002. FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service have released their shipping deadlines, anticipating higher volume this year. (The Gazette)

If you’re hoping to get holiday gifts to relatives and friends in distant places this year, “mail early” is the advice of FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service.

In an effort to inform customers of shipping deadlines, all three carriers have released their deadlines to get packages to their intended destination by Christmas, Dec. 25. Overseas packages and those shipped to military personnel have deadlines that are nearer than those being shipped to domestic addresses.

Click here for FedEx shipping deadlines and information.

Click here for UPS shipping deadlines and information.

Click here for U.S. Postal Service shipping deadlines and information.

The U.S. Postal Service has a Nov. 13 shipping deadline for international shipping of parcel post.  This would include military personnel at APO/FPO addresses.

All three carriers are projecting increased volume this year.

FedEx and UPS offer automatic tracking, insurance and time definite delivery dates.  The U.S. Postal Service can add those services for additional charges.

Items that cannot be shipped include alcohol (beer, wine or liquor) and firearms of any kind.

Potentially combustible household items, such as aerosols, perfumes, cleaning supplies and cosmetics,  may be shipped by ground but not by air.

Authorized shipping outlets like Mailboxes of Iowa City, 308 E Burlington St., can provide additional information regarding what can be shipped as well as specific pricing information.