Shortly after I moved s couple of years ago, I actually twice called and asked for Fedex to re-route a package that was being sent to me at my old address (in the same city), and was already on the truck for delivery. Somehow the dispatcher got the right address to the driver and the packages were delivered the same day. That little performance really impressed me, I can't even imagine asking a UPS dispatcher to do that.

If you have a regular driver you should get to know him or her, and clue them in to your at-home schedule. They don't want to waste time attempting if you're not home. Although I've heard there is a policy that one delivery attempt has to made before they'll hold at the hub.

On Fedex domestic airbills (the kind you fill out, not the computer generated ones) they have written in tiny letters under one of the address lines "to HOLD at Fedex location print Fedex address". I believe you could probably just have your packages addressed to you at the Fedex hub or storefront, and pick them up when it suits you. Anyone do this on a regular basis?

Also, does anyone know if UPS stores (formerly Mailboxes etc in my city) will accept UPS packages for pick up, if you are not actually renting a box from them? That could be another option if you aren't home when the truck comes, (although somehow I don't think it works that way with UPS).