What:

As packages have gotten larger, so has the machinery needed to process them. Where size matters, mail processing facilities have transformed the work area to accommodate a behemoth machine to handle and process over-sized parcels. The universal sort system (USS) is a robust, highly automated machine for handling the organization’s growing volume of very large pieces, a result of increased online shopping. 

The Oakland Mail Processing and Distribution Center has one such machine, in addition to machinery that handles parcels of a variety of sizes.

What used to be termed the “busiest mailing day” of the year has morphed into the “busiest week,” all driven by an increase in online retail purchases, which mean packages, bigger packages. More than 200 million packages are expected to be processed and delivered the week of Dec. 16-22, 2019 across the nation.

The final surge will be the week starting December 16, with 28 million packages expected to be handled per day. The Oakland mail processing facility is expecting close to 240,000 parcels to be run through the USS machine alone, not counting additional parcels flowing through other automated package processing equipment.

The Oakland Processing & Distribution Center is also equipped with a parcel sorting system (SPSS) to handle smaller packages. In all, more than 78 million cards, letters and packages will flow through the building during the “busiest week”, an increase of close to 4 million pieces from a normal week.

When:

Tuesday, Dec. 17, between 6 p.m. - 7 p.m., offers the best operating window to catch the action of automated parcel sorting in full operation.

Where:

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

MEDIA ALERT: For entry into the Oakland mail processing center, contact Eduardo Cuadra (c) 415 260-8694, eduardo.cuadra@usps.gov

Background:

The Bay-Valley postal district is moving packages much faster now that it has the newest in package sorting systems in its Oakland mail processing facility. The USS is specifically designed to handle over-sized packages weighing up to 70 pounds.

The USPS has deployed more automated parcel sorting systems when it began to experience a significant growth in package volume, largely driven by increased online consumer spending.

The USPS has the most sophisticated mail processing and delivery network in the world, which has positioned it as the leader in the package delivery business with a 47 percent market share as more shoppers and shippers rely on the Postal Service as the courier of choice because of three key factors – our price, our product, and our performance.

The Postal Service delivers more ecommerce shipments to homes than anyone else, with one notable exception on Christmas Eve.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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