What Slows Down Same-Day Delivery? (And How Record Express Solves It)

TL;DR: Same-day delivery in Belgium can be slowed down by traffic, late order cut-offs, courier shortages, inefficient routing, and regulatory handling delays—especially for medical or high-security goods. These bottlenecks impact speed and reliability. Record Express tackles these issues with smart routing, EV fleets, pre-sorted lockers, trained handlers, and real-time tracking.

What Are the Main Causes of Same-Day Delivery Delays?

The biggest blockers are traffic congestion, order timing, and limited courier capacity.

In Belgium’s urban areas, deliveries are slowed by both environmental and operational factors.

• Rush hour gridlock in Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent

• Orders placed after courier cut-off times (typically 12–2 PM)

• Insufficient local fleet availability during peak periods

• Failed first-attempt deliveries due to recipient absence

• Manual handling delays in sorting or loading hubs

Belgian Road Congestion Index 2025 – Traffic impact on urban delivery Source: wegeninfo.be
Same-Day Failure Analysis Report (EU) – Top reasons for missed SLAs Source: supplychainmovement.com

How Do Late Cut-Off Times and Order Processing Delays Hurt Delivery Speed?

If orders come in too late, couriers can’t pick up and deliver within the same day.

Retailers and B2B clients must sync their systems with courier windows to hit same-day fulfilment targets.

• Most same-day services require order by 12–2 PM

• Late dispatch causes missed vehicle runs and reschedules

• Manual data entry or packaging slows readiness

• Warehouse-to-courier handoff delays are common in SMEs

• Early coordination between teams ensures speed

🔗 Related: Delivery KPIs That Matter in B2B

Ecommerce Belgium Timing Report – Average same-day fulfilment cycle Source: ecommercenews.eu
Courier Cut-Off Study (Benelux) – Regional delivery window thresholds Source: sendcloud.com

How Does Traffic Impact Courier Speed in Cities?

Urban congestion reduces average courier speed by up to 40% during peak hours.

Even the most reliable fleets struggle when stuck in gridlock—especially in Brussels and Antwerp.

• Major chokepoints in central districts and ring roads

• School zones and pedestrianisation zones increase delays

• Speed restrictions and EV-only areas narrow route options

• Congestion often spikes between 7–10 AM and 3–6 PM

• Rain or construction worsens conditions further

🔗 Learn more: Is Fast Delivery the New Normal?

TomTom Traffic Index Belgium 2025 – Worst delivery hours and zones Source: tomtom.com
Urban Mobility in Belgium Report – Impact of LEZ and traffic policy on B2B logistics Source: statbel.fgov.be

How Do Failed Deliveries and Manual Handoffs Waste Time?

When a courier can’t deliver on the first attempt, it triggers delays, rescheduling, and added costs.

Every failed drop means added stops, manual calls, and inefficient re-routing.

• Recipients not home or unavailable for signature

• Insecure locations block unattended drops

• Lack of parcel lockers or fallback options

• Medical deliveries often require live handoff

• Contact issues or wrong addresses increase turnaround

First-Attempt Success Rate Study (Europe) – Impacts on courier efficiency Source: metapack.com
EU Delivery Waste Index – Time loss from manual delivery failures Source: ecommerce-europe.eu

How Record Express Solves Same-Day Delivery Bottlenecks

Record Express optimises speed with local fleets, smart tech, and delivery infrastructure tailored for Belgium.

We reduce delays by removing friction from the entire same-day delivery chain.

• Smart routing AI avoids traffic and adapts in real-time

• Early cut-off integrations with clients to trigger fast pickup

• EVs and urban bikes used for LEZ and inner-city zones

• Pre-sorted smart lockers reduce failed drop-offs

• SLA tracking ensures continuous speed improvements

🔗 Explore our approach: Smart Lockers, EV Fleets & Route Tech
🔗 Related: How to Bundle Shipments

Last-Mile Innovation Study (Belgium) – How tech improves same-day fulfilment Source: supplychainmovement.com
SLA Case Study – Record Express – Reducing failed deliveries with lockers and route tech Source: logisticsinsights.eu

FAQs About Same-Day Delivery Delays in Belgium

What’s the biggest cause of same-day delivery failure?
Late order processing and traffic congestion are the top two causes.

Can lockers help speed up delivery?
Yes—lockers allow faster drop-offs and avoid failed deliveries in high-density zones.

How can I ensure my orders qualify for same-day delivery?
Place orders before the courier’s cut-off (usually 12–2 PM) and confirm address access.

Does Record Express deliver same-day outside of cities?
Yes, in select areas like Leuven and Liège, depending on the cut-off time and shipment type.

Sources

TomTom Traffic Index (2025) – Urban traffic impact on courier speeds
Source: tomtom.com

Sendcloud Cut-Off Benchmark Report – Same-day order timing by region
Source: sendcloud.com

Belgium Courier Route Efficiency Study – Manual vs smart routing delivery times
Source: supplychainmovement.com

Record Express SLA Case Study – Optimisation of locker drop success and route planning
Source: logisticsinsights.eu