Combined, these expand capacity by an additional 4.5 million packages per day, officials said. Also, more than 50 package systems capable of sorting large packages are expected to be deployed before December. The Postal Service installed more than 100 new package sorting machines as of early November, part of $40 billion of planned investment over 10 years. To get a handle on the volume, the Postal Service is transitioning more than 30,000 non-career employees to the ranks of career employees by peak season, hiring 40,000 seasonal employees, and leasing extra space at more than 100 locations to ensure there’s room for parcels. More workers and more space were needed – and both are being addressed.
Delays grew by days, and then weeks, in many instances. Packages and letters piled up in distribution hubs. Tractor-trailers stuffed with mail were left idling outside some postal-sorting facilities. “We are ready, so send us your packages and your mail,” he said.Ī year ago, more than a third of Postal Service first-class mail was late by the time Christmas arrived. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who faced withering criticism last year but reported on-time improvements and reduced operating losses this month, says the service is ready for the crunch. Most importantly, the shippers are adapting after their rough-and-tumble experience last year, he said. Also, with workers returning to offices, there are fewer office supply shipments being made to homes, he said. More people are shopping in stores compared to last year, and people have been placing online orders earlier because they’re keenly aware of supply chain problems, Mr.
The supply chain is a challenge that’s going to impact how people shop and how products move,” said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, which represents more than 200,000 postal workers.ĭespite the precarious situation, the Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx are in better shape to handle the peak volume, and several trends could work in their favor, Mr.
Postal Service said it’ll be delivering more than 12 billion items. When cards and letters are included, the U.S. Nearly 3.4 billion parcels are expected to crisscross the country this holiday season, representing an estimated increase of about 400 million compared to last year, said Satish Jindel, from Pennsylvania-based ShipMatrix, which analyzes shipping package data. So why, and who, are they still fighting? Postal Service and private shippers UPS and FedEx are bolstering their hiring – bringing in about 230,000 temporary workers – and taking other steps to ensure they don’t become overwhelmed by packages. Here we go again,’” said Scott Adams, local president of the American Postal Workers Union in Portland. “A lot of the workers are saying, ‘Oh no. But low product inventories and port and supply chain disruptions are creating new uncertainty about getting gifts delivered.Īlready, workers are seeing a surge in holiday packages that began several weeks ago. Postal workers who recall packages and letters piled up in distribution hubs are better prepared this time as they gear up for another pandemic crunch. Postal Service: Sick and quarantined workers, a flood of packages from shoppers loath to set foot in stores, and a last-minute dump of packages from overwhelmed private shippers. The last holiday season was far from the most wonderful time of the year for the U.S.