Michigan news

Dec. 8, 2023

Traverse City Processing Facility Ramps up for the Holidays

Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at package sorting systems

What:

Media Open House: Traverse City Processing and Distribution Center

The Traverse City Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) will handle millions of pieces of mail and packages this holiday season. We will open up our doors to the media for one evening only, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023.

We will show high-speed letter sorting operations and large bins of parcels being separated and sorted on the most advanced equipment in the country.

The Postal Service is built for the holidays with affordable, reliable shipping services to help its customers send more joy this season. The ongoing transformation of the Postal Service includes efficient new facilities and a modernized delivery network to better serve its customers this holiday season, and year-round.

When:

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 5:00 P.M.

RSVP:

Please RSVP by December 12, 2023 to USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Elizabeth Najduch at elizabeth.najduch@usps.gov or (313) 268-0540.

Where:

Traverse City Processing and Distribution Center
1801 N. Garfield Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49696

Who:

Plant Manager Robert Hutchinson

Safety:

Please be aware proper footwear is required. Please avoid heeled shoes and pumps. Ensure that you are wearing closed-toed (preferably leather) shoes that are non-slip.

Background:

As part of the USPS Delivering for America Plan, 348 additional package sorting machines have been installed throughout the country since the beginning of 2021. The USPS has the most sophisticated mail processing and delivery network in the world and continues to maintain a keen eye on product, performance, price and most importantly people.

As a result of customer package demand, the Postal Service relied on manual by-hand sortation of packages to route them to our customers.

The installation of these additional machines is a game changer, allowing for a new daily package processing capacity of 70 million. These machines ensure that package sortation capability is improved and offers a more reliable service to our customers locally and beyond.

USPS continues to remain on the cutting edge by proactively thinking ahead to provide more predictable service to our customers ahead of the much-anticipated holiday seasons. Installing package sorting machines is not only part of a $40 billion dollar investment, it is a step towards modernizing operations to better equip the Postal Service to provide consistent and reliable service to customers.

  • No holiday surcharges for mailing or shipping this holiday season
  • Hiring 10,000 employees for Peak Season 
  • Deploying more than 348 new package sorting machines 
  • Increased daily processing capacity to approximately 70 million
  • Moving 95% of volume via more reliable ground transportation
  • New Shipping Solution – USPS Ground Advantage

For more information go to the Holiday Newsroom at https://about.usps.com/holidaynews/

# # #

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

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

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Media contacts