Dec. 18, 2019

Holiday Stuffing: Monday is one of the Busiest Mailing Days of the Year

USPS Opens Post Office Operations for Once-a-Year Look Behind- the-Scenes

What:

We are opening up one of our busiest Post Offices to show the kind of mail that will be delivered on our busiest day (Dec. 19)

Denver Area Post Offices are handling up to 15 million parcels this holiday season. Volumes are double from just four years ago and more than 20 percent over last year.
Nationwide, more than 611 million pieces of mail will be entered into our system on that day --- that‘s 7,000 a second.
On Thursday, more than 2.5 million pieces of mail will be delivered in the Denver Metro area, including more than 200,000 packages

The Littleton Highlands Ranch Post Office is representative of more than 90 offices along the Front Range area. Visuals include semi’s unloading mail, clerks scanning packages with an overhead scanner, clerks sorting mail into carrier work areas, and carriers loading vehicles.

Who:

The opportunities include interviews with USPS spokespeople who will be on hand to talk about mailing tips and deadlines.

Visuals of busy USPS clerks and carriers with possible interviews later in the morning.

When:

Thursday, Dec. 19, 2016, 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Where:

Littleton Highlands Ranch Post Office, 9609 S University Blvd.

Contact:

Please Note: Call James Boxrud at 970 278 6607 for parking and entrance.

Live Shots:

Here are some possible live segments

#1 How to prepare a box. You’ve been doing last minute shopping; now you’re ready to do the shipping. Don’t just grab any old box. Use a sturdy box, with no other shipping labels on it.

We provide FREE boxes. If it fits, it ships. One flat rate price.  Print addresses correctly. Don’t guess at addresses. Add lots of cushioning so there is extra space. Print address with non-smudging pens.

#2 Volumes – USPS is expecting to deliver 800 MILLION parcels this month and 13 billion pieces of mail. 

IN COLORADO, last year, we handled nearly 19 million parcels during our Peak Holiday Season (Thanksgiving to New Year’s). So far this year, Colorado is up by double digits and are on track to handle an estimated 20 million parcels across the state

#3 How to save time. Our lobbies will be very busy this week. On Monday, the 16th, we expect 3 million customers in our Post Offices nationwide. There is no need to be part of the crowd. Come in and use one of our self-service kiosks. Or better yet, pay for your postage, print your postage, and have your carrier pick up your package from your home or office.

#4 Deadlines are approaching.  
December 20 — First-Class Cards and Letters
December 21 — Priority Mail
December 23 — Priority Mail Express

#5 Packages First in – First out. Packages are staged for delivery on a first in – first out. There are lanes designated for delivery order and keep the flow of parcels going.

#6 Follow a carrier as they load vehicle. See the technology that USPS uses to load parcels by address. The scanners that are used give loading instructions and give turn-by-turn directions for delivery.

Holiday Facts:

The Postal Service expects holiday mail and package volumes to increase dramatically after Thanksgiving and continue increasing until Christmas – traditionally busiest mailing and delivery days may no longer apply.

  • Busiest MAILING, SHIPPING and DELIVERY WEEK — Dec. 16-22
  • Nearly 13 billion total pieces of mail and packages are expected to be processed and delivered this holiday season — Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day
  • The Postal Service is projecting more than 800 million packages will be delivered this holiday season. Nearly 200 million packages are expected to be delivered during the busiest week, and about the same the week prior
  • More than 8 million packages are expected to be delivered each Sunday during the holiday season, beginning Nov. 24
  • Nearly 2.5 billion pieces of mail, including greeting cards and packages, are expected to be processed and delivered during the busiest week
  • Dec. 16 is expected to be the busiest day for usps.comwith more than 8.5 million customers predicted to visit on that day alone | Nearly 5 million people on regular days
  • Over the last five years, USPS package volume has increased by more than 2 billion – from 4 billion to 6.1 billion
  • The Postal Service has nearly 229,000 vehicles. More than 8,000 new vehicles have been added to the USPS fleet in the past two years.

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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