What:

The USPS Phoenix Regional Processing and Distribution Center will offer local media an exclusive look at how advanced technology and dedicated employees work together to keep holiday mail moving. Reporters are invited to tour the Matrix East/West Sorter, a state‑of‑the‑art machine capable of processing up to 50,000 packages per hour, supporting timely deliveries during the busiest mailing season of the year.

When:

Thursday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m. MST.

Where:

Phoenix Regional Processing and Distribution Center
12250 W. Corporate Dr.
Avondale, AZ 85323

Acceptable footwear: Closed-toed (leather or nubuck), non-slip shoes; no mesh tennis or high heeled shoes permitted.

Event is open to media outlets and representatives only. RSVP with Sherry Patterson sherry.l.patterson@usps.gov to schedule participation.

USPS Holiday Package Counter

• Live Nov. 28, the USPS Holiday Newsroom is the exclusive home of the PostalService’s proprietary holiday package and mail counter which displaysthe number of letters, cards and packages accepted into the postalnetwork during the holidays – through Dec. 25. Please visit usps.com/holidaynews for holidaypackage counter, mailing & shipping, as well as links to the PostalStore for other holiday information.

For expected delivery before Dec. 25, the Postal Service recommends the following send-by dates:

2025 Holiday Shipping Dates for Contiguous U.S. (Lower 48 States)

• USPS Ground Advantage service: Dec. 17
• First-Class Mail: Dec. 17
• Priority Mail: Dec. 18
• Priority Mail Express: Dec. 20

2025 Holiday Shipping Dates for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories

• USPS Ground Advantage service: Dec. 16
• First-Class Mail: Dec. 17
• Priority Mail: Dec. 18
• Priority Mail Express: Dec. 20

For a complete list of suggested dates for customers sending packages to military or international addresses, the Postal Service recommends visiting the USPS holiday shipping page.

During the holiday season, customers should always plan to mail and ship packages early to ensure arrival by Dec. 25.

For tips on mailing and shipping preparation, ordering free shipping supplies, packaging guidelines (including restricted and prohibited item information), and Post Office location hours, visit usps.com or the USPS YouTube channel.

For Information to help prepare for the busy holiday season, please visit the USPS Holiday Newsroom at usps.com/holidaynews.

Key accomplishments and areas of progress ahead of the 2025 peak holiday season include:

• Increasingdaily processing capacity from 60 million to 88 million by deployingmore than 600 package sorters: USPS has expanded its dailypackage processing capacity by adding 614 state-of-the-art packagesorting machines over the past five years, including 94 installed thisyear alone. The machines have automated scanning capabilities thatensure tracking visibility for our customers as packages move throughthe postal system. These machines allow us to handle more and largerpackages than the legacy machines and prepare the Postal Service for theexpected surge in package volume for the holidays.
• By comparison, in December 2024, USPS delivered 45 percent more packages per operating day than its competitors, in addition to also delivering more than 350 million mail pieces per operating day.

• Hiring14,000 seasonal employees: USPS has stabilized its workforcesince 2020 through the conversion of nearly 232,000 pre-career employeesto full-time positions. This year, it plans to hire 14,000 temporaryemployees — down from 40,000 just a few years ago. The seasonalworkforce will complement the full-time employee base and betterposition the Postal Service to handle the extra holiday volume in keylocations throughout the nation.

• Expandingturnaround service: In July, USPS updated its service standards.The new standards allow the organization to expand its reach forturnaround service — processing and delivering mail and packages withinthe same region. The turnaround service enhancements will now have a2-day or 3-day service standard. This means local consumers andbusinesses can send holiday greetings in the region more quickly andreliably.

• New vehicles in the postal delivery fleet are now on routes: USPS hasreceived nearly 29,000 new vehicles this year and deployed more than24,000 of them on postal delivery routes. The Postal Service expects toacquire a total of 106,480 new vehicles, including 66,000 zero-emissionelectric vehicles, demonstrating the organization’s commitment tosustainability and environmental responsibility while ensuring reliableservice.

• Variety of products and services forshipping gifts: The Postal Service has a range ofconvenient and affordable options for customers to get their mail andpackages where they need to go during the holidays quickly and reliably.With $100 insurance and tracking included on most shipments, customerscan rely on USPS Ground Advantage (2-5 business days), Priority Mail(2-3 business days) and Priority Mail Express (1-3 business days) duringthe holidays.
  

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