Delivery

Almost half of Postal Service personnel costs are directly attributable to delivery. The number of addresses we deliver to continues to increase even as mail volume declines.

The Postal Service continues to seek ways to be more efficient and reduce delivery costs in response to changes in volume and composition of mail delivered. During 2013, the number of total routes was reduced by 1,847 from 226,999 to 225,152. This was done while absorbing 773,882 new delivery points. Field management continues to inspect and adjust routes as necessary to provide cost saving while preserving delivery service.

Additional actions taken in FY2013 to improve delivery efficiency include:

• Continuing with delivery unit optimization by relocating delivery operations from 510 smaller offices to more centralized facilities.
• Completing 43,333 conversions of business deliveries to centralized deliveries.
• Completing 36,302 conversions of residential deliveries to centralized deliveries.
• Improving customer service by:
• Keeping mail affordable and convenient. Although we have increased efficiency by consolidating routes and absorbing new deliveries, we continue to provide the same quality service to every business and household. Carrier pickup requests have increased by 20 percent thus increasing volume by 36 percent.
• In addition, during Hurricane Sandy, the USPS found alternate delivery sites in an effort to continue serving its customers.

Delivery points, by type of delivery

Number of routes, by type of delivery