Five-Day Delivery

Five-Day Delivery Facts & FAQs

Fast Facts

Implementation of a five-day delivery schedule by the Postal Service after fiscal year 2010 (which ends Sept. 30, 2010) is contingent upon Congress not enacting legislation to prevent such a change in service. In addition, the Postal Service must request that the Postal Regulatory Commission review its plans and issue a non-binding advisory opinion. If the Postal Service implements five-day delivery, it would take effect in fiscal year 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 30, 2011).

  • Implementation of a five-day delivery schedule by the Postal Service after fiscal year 2010 (which ends Sept. 30, 2010) is contingent upon Congress not enacting legislation to prevent such a change in service. In addition, the Postal Service filed a request for an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on March 30. If the Postal Service implements five-day delivery, it would take effect in fiscal year 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 30, 2011).
  • The Postal Service will submit its advisory opinion request to the PRC in spring 2010, and it will be subject to public examination.
  • The Postal Service has conducted a study to determine the costs and benefits of implementing five-day delivery operations. The results of the study will be made public in spring 2010.
  • The Postal Service is a self-funding organization operating independently of taxpayer support.
  • The increased use of the Internet and the economic recession have severely affected Postal Service revenues. From fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2009, mail volumes declined 16.4 percent.
  • The Postal Service concluded fiscal year 2009 with a $3.8 billion loss, despite Federal legislation that deferred a payment to its future retiree health benefit trust fund by $4 billion.
  • The Postal Service’s operating losses will be reduced in part by eliminating Saturday delivery, which will save about $3 billion annually. Five-day delivery operations will help the Postal Service bring costs in line with declining revenues, and allow it to continue to serve the American people well into the future.
  • If five-day delivery operations are implemented, the Postal Service plans to provide business and household customers with a variety of options to send and receive mail on Saturdays.
    1. P.O. Boxes will receive Saturday delivery.
    2. Express Mail service will not be affected — Express Mail will continue to be delivered seven days a week.
    3. Post Offices will remain open on Saturday and additional alternative retail channels will be available.
    4. The Postal Service website, usps.com is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information, refer to our downloadable five-day delivery planning guides for household customers, for business customers, and for other facts about the Postal Service.

FAQs