US Postal Service is ready for peak holiday mailing

LOS ANGELES – The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced it is ready to handle the expected surge in package and mail deliveries during the holiday season.

“Our commitment is unwavering, and our preparation is thorough,” said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy in a statement.

During the holiday season last year, USPS accepted more than 11.7 billion letters, cards, flats and packages for delivery. It took an average 2.5 days to deliver a mail piece or package across the nation.

“We have been strategically planning early and leveraging significant investments in our people, infrastructure, delivery network and technology,”  DeJoy said.

DeJoy said their “Delivering for America” plan provides the most affordable way “to ship and mail holiday cheer this year.”

Tips for effortless holiday mailing

USPS provides the following tips to help customers experience seamless shipping and mailing during the holidays and beyond.

• Send early. Avoid the last-minute rush. Send items well before the recommended holiday shipping and mailing dates. Check the schedule at USPS Holiday Newsroom.
• Use online tools– Customers can use Click-N-Ship to purchase shipping labels and order Priority Mail packaging. They can also schedule free carrier pick up directly from their home or office. The Postal Service also offers stamps, shipping supplies, collectibles and unique items at The Postal Store.
• Stay Informed– Sign up for Informed Delivery. This free service from USPS shows customers preview images of incoming mail. It also provides status updates about incoming and outbound packages.
• Ship safely– Metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices.
• Stay updated– Visit the online USPS Holiday Newsroom at com/holidaynews. Check out resources, tools and expert advice to help make holiday shipping and mailing effortless.

No holiday surcharges

The Postal Service previously announced it will not levy any additional surcharges for customers this holiday season.

There will be no additional fees for residential area delivery, Saturday delivery or for minimum volumes. USPS will continue to be the most affordable way to mail and ship this holiday season.

Key investments ahead of the holidays

To prepare for the 2023 peak holiday season, USPS made strategic investments under the Delivering for America plan:

• USPS Ground Advantage: This affordable, reliable and simple ground shipping solution enables delivery within the U.S. in about 2-5 business days.
• Hiring 10,000 seasonal employees: This is in addition to the 150,000 employees that have converted to full time career-positions with USPS in the past two years.
• 348 new package sorting machines: These machines enhance package processing capabilities with additional machines to be installed.
• Increased daily package processing capacity to 70 Million: This expanded capacity eliminates the need for the Postal Service to lease temporary annexes.
• More reliable ground transportation: This shifts 95 percent of volume to more reliable ground transportation, reducing reliance on expensive air transportation.

“In the face of the busiest shipping season, the United States Postal Service stands ready,” said DeJoy. “We are confident in our ability to handle the holiday season surge with the same efficiency and reliability that the nation has come to expect from us throughout the year.”