USPS is taking additional actions to improve its service reliability by implementing changes to service standards for First-Class Package Service, effective May 1.
This initiative is part of Delivering for America, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence.
Modifying these service standards will allow for additional transport time for long-distance package deliveries, increased network efficiencies and improved use of surface transportation, which is more reliable and affordable than air transportation.
“Modifying select service standards is a key growth element and enabler of our 10-year plan. This action will contribute to our cost savings efforts and improve our reliability across all product classes, including our growing package market,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
“By implementing the elements of our 10-year plan, we will deliver the consistent, reliable service that the American people and our customers expect and deserve and grow package volume, spurring revenue growth that can be invested back into the Postal Service.”
USPS previously received an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) regarding these service standard changes.
Additionally, the Postal Service is removing an extra day for Priority Mail transported via ground.
The extra day was temporarily put in place in April 2020 to account for ongoing global supply chain, transportation and employee availability challenges throughout the organization’s network posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Given the continued high demand on the overall air network, the Postal Service is retaining the extra day for Priority Mail transported by air until the reliability of the organization’s key providers improves.
As part of implementing the new service standards for First-Class Package Service, USPS is removing the extra day that has applied to that service.
Service standards are delivery benchmarks for how long customers can expect the Postal Service to deliver different types of mail from origin to destination — point A to point B. Service standards are not the same as the percentage targets or the actual measured service performance.
The Postal Service’s news release and a fact sheet on the proposed changes to service standards have additional information.
