Have you found yourself frequently checking your mailbox, wondering why that package or letter hasn‘t arrived yet? You‘re not alone. In recent years, many Americans have noticed their mail taking longer than expected to be delivered by the United States Postal Service (USPS). While USPS typically does an impressive job handling over 146 billion pieces of mail annually, there are a number of factors that can lead to slower delivery times.
As a longtime advisor in the retail and consumer service industry, I‘ve seen firsthand how USPS delays can impact both businesses and individuals. Whether you‘re a small online shop owner trying to get orders out to customers promptly or a consumer waiting for an important piece of mail, USPS slowdowns can be immensely frustrating. In this article, I‘ll take an in-depth look at 10 key reasons behind USPS delays and what you can do to plan around them.
1. Implementation of a New 10-Year USPS Plan
One of the biggest factors currently affecting USPS mail delivery is a strategic plan recently put in place by U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. In March 2021, DeJoy announced a 10-year plan aimed at tackling USPS‘s major financial losses, which had reached around $9.2 billion in 2020 alone. As part of this plan, USPS is shifting its service standards for First-Class Mail, increasing the delivery time from the previous 1-3 business days to 1-5 business days.
According to USPS data, this change is estimated to impact around 40% of First-Class Mail. While USPS has stated that 61% of First-Class Mail will still be unaffected, that leaves a substantial portion delivered on a slower timeframe than in the past. Per the Washington Post, some of the most heavily impacted areas include western states like Washington, Nevada, Montana and Arizona, as well as Florida and Southern Texas. You can look up the estimated impact for your specific zip code using the Washington Post‘s interactive map.
This slowdown has proved highly controversial, with many criticizing it for harming USPS‘s most essential services. However, Postmaster General DeJoy has defended the decision as necessary to improve the Postal Service‘s financial sustainability, arguing that USPS should operate more like a business than a public service. The 10-year plan is expected to save USPS around $160 billion long-term.
2. Challenges Delivering to Certain Areas
Another factor behind slower mail is the inherent challenge of delivering to remote, rural, and spread-out areas. For Americans living outside the lower 48 states, such as in Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, mail can take significantly longer due to these locations only being accessible by air. With USPS making cuts to its air transportation network to save on costs, these areas will likely see delivery timeframes increase.
Even within the continental U.S., those in rural communities often face slower mail service compared to urban areas. A 2021 report from the USPS Office of Inspector General found that mail delivery has been "consistently worse" in many rural areas, with those serviced by about 10% of USPS‘s rural post offices facing average delivery times of over six days for First-Class Mail.
Geography isn‘t the only challenge – mail can also be delayed due to weather events like blizzards or natural disasters that make roads impassable for mail trucks. While USPS does its best to adapt, these events are often unpredictable and can temporarily derail delivery schedules until it is safe for workers to get back out.
3. Cost-Cutting Measures by USPS
Beyond the changes to First-Class Mail delivery times, USPS has also been implementing various other cost-cutting measures that can contribute to slower mail service. In 2020, DeJoy limited the use of late and extra delivery trips, requiring mail trucks to start routes on time and preventing them from making multiple trips in a day. While intended to improve efficiency and cut down on transportation costs, this change meant that mail arriving late to a facility would be left behind until the next day.
These truck trip limitations also make it harder for USPS to adapt to unexpected increases in mail volume. During the record 2020 holiday season, many Americans experienced major delays on their packages due to this policy combined with insufficient staffing to handle the surge in online shopping. While the restrictions on late and extra trips have since been walked back slightly, they remain an obstacle to USPS‘s flexibility.
Additionally, USPS has reduced staff hours at many post offices, implemented a hiring freeze, and eliminated a substantial amount of mail processing equipment as part of its cost-cutting efforts. According to USPS, these measures are intended to "align our processing network to the decline in mail volume" – however, some have argued that they limit USPS‘s capacity and efficiency.
4. Increased Package Volume and Holiday Delays
In our increasingly digitized world, USPS has actually seen a significant decline in letter mail over the past decade. However, the continual rise in e-commerce and online shopping has led to a huge influx of packages being sent through USPS, particularly during the holiday season. In 2021 alone, USPS delivered around 900 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
During these busy periods, facilities and workers can quickly become overwhelmed, leading to major backups and delays. While USPS does bring in seasonal workers to help manage the increased volume, there‘s a limit to how much these temporary hires can do. To avoid your packages getting stuck in the holiday rush, it‘s best to build in extra time and send items as early as possible.
5. How to Minimize Mail Delays
Now that we‘ve looked at some of the major reasons behind USPS delays, let‘s go over a few tips to keep in mind to avoid slowdowns when sending mail:
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Check the current USPS delivery timeframes for your mail class and plan accordingly. Be aware that First-Class Mail now takes 1-5 business days, while standard Parcel Select can take a week or more.
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If sending packages, consider upgrading to Priority Mail (1-3 business days) or Priority Mail Express (1-2 days) to speed up delivery. Just be prepared to pay a bit more than standard rates.
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Avoid sending mail at the absolute last minute, especially around busy times like holidays. Give your items some buffer time in case of delays.
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Properly address and label your packages, making sure to include the full zip code. Unclear labels can lead to mail being returned or misrouted.
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Consider using alternative delivery services like FedEx or UPS if you need guaranteed arrival dates for items – just know they can be pricier than USPS and don‘t service every area.
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Sign up for USPS‘s Informed Delivery to preview your incoming mail and track packages automatically.
While USPS delays can be irritating, a bit of proactive planning can help minimize their impact. By understanding the factors affecting USPS delivery times and taking steps to work around them, you can improve the odds of your mail arriving on time. Though USPS faces a challenging landscape, it continues to serve an essential role in keeping individuals and businesses across the country connected.
