Controversies

State Post Bureau Opens Case Investigation into STO Express

In August 2026, the State Post Bureau opened a case investigation into STO Express Co., Ltd. in accordance with the law, because its franchise outlets had successively experienced safety accidents and safety hazards, and the headquarters had not implemented unified safety management responsibilities. Reports said that from 2023 to 2025, STO Express-related penalty cases reached 52, with fines and confiscations of RMB 3.045 million. The investigation is ongoing, exposing insufficient headquarters control under the franchise model.

Employee says Shentong dismissed him after he refused 996 schedule

Issue disclosure

An employee said Shentong Express dismissed him after he refused the department's requirement to work past 9 p.m.; the report states he was told on September 9 that he was dismissed for failing his probationary period.

Shanghai Outlet Work Stoppage Over Unpaid Wages Causes Serious Parcel Backlog

In March 2016, about 60 to 80 delivery workers at STO Express’s Sanlin outlet in Shanghai stopped work over unpaid wages, leaving about 20,000 parcels backlogged; some parcels had still not been delivered after five days. STO Express headquarters paid wages on their behalf and dispatched personnel to make deliveries. Similar unpaid-wage work stoppages at outlets later occurred in Changsha and other places; STO Express outlets’ high-penalty system has also repeatedly drawn complaints from couriers. The incidents exposed unstable operations at franchise outlets and insufficient protection of couriers’ rights.