USPS offers extra discounts, staff for holiday delivery
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is taking multiple steps across its enterprise to bolster delivery capability during the holiday rush.
The USPS planned early for the holiday rush this year and is leveraging key investments made as part of its “Delivering for America” plan, which has expanded daily processing capacity to 70 million packages. Since 2021, the plan has included the installation of 348 new package sorting machines and the modernization of processing facilities and delivery networks.
In September 2023, USPS announced there will be no holiday surcharges when shipping with its services. The federal agency has converted more than 150,000 employees nationwide to full-time career positions since 2020, stabilizing its dedicated workforce and requiring only an additional 10,000 temporary hires for the holiday season.
In addition, USPS has implemented extended holiday working hours, including early morning deliveries in select markets.
"Our extensive preparations and dedicated team are committed to Delivering for America and ensuring exceptional service, affordability and reliability during this holiday season and beyond," said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy.
For deliveries with an expected arrival date by Monday, Dec. 25 in the lower contiguous 48 U.S. states, USPS recommends three-day Priority Mail and two-day Ground Advantage and Priority Mail Express shipments be sent by Thursday, Dec. 21. USPS also recommends that one-day Priority Mail Express shipments be sent by Friday, Dec. 22 for an expected delivery date by Monday, Dec. 25.
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The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.