What:

The USPS is flexing its network to meet peak volumes during the most hectic mailing period of the year. What used to be termed the “busiest mailing day” of the year is now the “busiest week” for shipping and delivery. This holiday season the Postal Service expects to process and deliver 200 million packages per week for the two weeks leading up to Christmas, representing a 10% increase in package volume this holiday period.

Of the 15 billion total pieces of mail expected to be processed and delivered between Thanksgiving and New year’s Day, more than 850 million will be packages, 100 million more than the 2016 holiday period. The final surge will be the week starting December 18, where two Bay-Valley District mail processing facilities have the newest package processing equipment to handle the increased flow.

The San Jose Processing & Distribution Center has an automated package processing system (APPS) to handle peak package volumes. In all, close to 7 million cards, letters and packages will flow through the building, an increase of 1 million pieces from a normal day. Of that, 169,000 will be Priority parcels processed on the APPS.

The Oakland Processing & Distribution Center is equipped with a small parcel sorting system (SPSS) to help handle the expected volume increase. In all, more than 11 million cards, letters and packages will flow through the building, an increase of close to 2 million pieces from a normal day. Of that, 240,000 will be package volume.

When:

Monday, Dec. 18, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., is the best operating window to catch the action of automated parcel sorting in full operation.

Where:

San Jose Processing & Distribution Center
1750 Lundy Ave
San Jose, CA 95101

Oakland Processing & Distribution Center
1675 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94615

MEDIA ALERT: For entry into the San Jose mail processing center, call Augustine Ruiz (c) 415-640-1447.

For entry into the Oakland mail processing center, contact Lelton Gibson (c) 415-602-6448, lelton.d.gibson@usps.gov

Background:   

The Bay-Valley postal district is moving packages much faster now that it has the newest in package sorting systems in two facilities. The systems are specifically designed to handle packages that weigh 20 pounds or less — the kind that many retailers use to fulfill orders from online shoppers.

The USPS is flexing its network to meet peak mail volumes. What that means is we are flexing our processing and delivery muscle through the use of sophisticated package sorting systems that the USPS deployed when it became apparent there was a growth market driven by increased online consumer spending.