USPS Revises Service Measurement

In a May 30 filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Postal Service announced changes to its service measurement process.  As stated in the filing: “In this filing, the Postal Service provides notice to the Commission about revisions to the SPM Plan and Methodology Documents related to necessary changes to allow the Postal Service to collect and report service performance…

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They Who Do Not Thirst – Commentary

Everyone likely is familiar with the saying that “you can drag a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”  Often, the saying is used as a metaphor for persons who are given opportunities but fail to take advantage of them.  The implicit basis for both is that the horse – or person – either fails to understand the…

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Despite Lower Targets, Service Performance Worsens

PQ II/FY 2025 service performance continued an unimpressive pattern; the Postal Service’s own data reveals that most district and area scores continued to be below targets, even though the targets were significantly lower than in FY 2024. Moreover, only mail “in measurement” is reflected in USPS service scores and, for Marketing Mail, little other than destination-entered mail is measured, clearly…

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Remote Control – Commentary

In the past, when a postmaster general left, that person went into retirement or found other work but had no further involvement in the Postal Service.  Most would say that’s how it should be – but the departure of Louis DeJoy has been different. Having been moved out his role unceremoniously and definitely not on his schedule, some people might…

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Another Board Vacancy Adds to the Speculation

There’s another vacancy on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors: Robert Duncan resigned effective March 27.  According to his letter of resignation that was included in the Postal Service’s press release, Duncan is now “coping with a chronic and progressive health condition that is preventing me from giving this role the full time and attention it deserves.” A supporter of…

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Lipstick on a Pig – Commentary

It’s doubtful that anyone doesn’t know the meaning of the analogy that something is “like putting lipstick on a pig.”  With no offense intended to pigs, it simply means that the fundamental nature of something isn’t changed or improved by the addition of superficial or cosmetic devices. The analogy applies to the recent press release (and accompanying Industry Alert and…

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PRC Rebuts DeJoy’s Claim it’s “Unnecessary”

The Postal Regulatory Commission wasted little time responding to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s claim in his March 13 letter (see p. 2) that it’s an “unnecessary agency.”  In a press release issued later that day, the commission said: “The Postmaster General’s statements about the Postal Regulatory Commission’s role during the recent mismanagement of USPS are false.  The Commission follows the…

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DeJoy Turns to DOGE for Help – Analysis

In a three-and-a-half page letter sent March 13 to the leadership of the House and Senate and the respective committees with USPS oversight, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recited – again – the many faults he found with the agency when he arrived, and listed seven areas in which his 10-year Plan has led to “impactful” accomplishments. The task list In…

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USPS Rejects PRC Advice, Proceeds with Service Changes

In perhaps the least surprising announcement since the last rate case, on February 26 the Postal Service stated it would proceed with implementing the network and service standard changes it revealed last October 4 in a filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission. That 55-page filing, seeking an advisory opinion from the PRC, explained how the USPS is reorganizing its processing…

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