Will it arrive on time? Shipping deadlines vary for each carrier

But, before Santa comes down the chimney with gifts, he's getting a little help.

Unfortunately for last-minute shoppers, the delay problems are expected to get even worse in the final weeks leading up to Christmas, according to one airline pilot.

Delivery companies are under pressure from soaring online sales this holiday season. "We are just making sure our networks are working as designed" says Mary Kate Yarn, FedEx Communications Specialist.

During this peak holiday season, FedEx workers handle double their average daily volume, shipping up to 26-million packages per day.

That's enough packages that could stretch around the world twice.

But, before they are shipped, they must be sorted on conveyor belts.

At the Memphis hub, there are 42 miles of conveyor belts, equivalent to almost 37,000, 6ft.

The United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx all have different deadlines for shipping in time for Christmas.

If you'd like to make sure your package or letter arrives while using UPS 2nd Day Air, you must ship it by December 20 and most deliveries will be on December 22nd.