Mail processing

The pace of consolidation of mail processing facilities has accelerated over the past year. It’s a necessary step to bring our network in line with a dramatic drop in mail volume. From 1970 until 2006 — our peak volume year — our network capacity had expanded steadily. However, in response to significant market changes since 2006, the Postal Service has aggressively consolidated facilities to eliminate excess capacity. We have reduced the number of mail processing facilities from 673 in 2006, to 461 in 2011.

As part of this radical network realignment, an additional 252 mail processing facilities are being studied for potential closing or consolidation this year. By the end of 2013, USPS plans to operate fewer than 200 of these facilities. This new mail processing footprint will support the nation’s delivery needs for the next 30 years.