Despite regular claims of “steady” service, the Postal Service’s own data shows that the only steadiness of service is in its worsening. Though the agency has granular service performance data, by weeks and months if not days; by geographic area if not by ZIP Code and processing facility; and by specific products within the classes of mail, what it chooses…
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As regular readers know, the Postal Service’s ongoing measures to implement elements of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-Year Plan seldom are revealed directly to ratepayers or commercial mail producers. Rather, because of contractual obligations, information about facility changes and other matters having a potential impact on unionized employees is presented to the labor groups. In turn, that information is often…
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As was widely reported last month after the Postal Service released it financial results for Fiscal Year 2023 (October 2022 through September 2023), the third year of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-Year Plan, the agency’s anticipated and actual financial performance numbers are far apart. Projections On page 46 of The Plan, the agency charted its projected net losses totaling $159.8…
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Everyone is familiar with “the dog ate my homework” as characterizing any proffered excuse that falls short of being an adequate explanation for the related circumstance. (Pity the poor kid whose dog really did eat his homework.) The latest example is in one of the Postal Service’s weekly news releases bragging about its “stable” service performance. In the December 11…
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That is correct! No more paper mail acceptance forms, the USPS is going 100% digital in February 2024. Paper forms 3600, and 3602 will not be accepted anymore. Acceptance must be digital; mail.dat, mail xml, postal wizard, or small business tool. Are you ready?Presented by Tom Glassman, Ricoh USA, and Kristen McKiernan, Accuzip
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Sometimes it might be better to retain a working process rather than implement something else. The article below is a report from one of our subscribers, and illustrates a situation in which a practical ad hoc solution was ended simply because it wasn’t “official.” If only the Postal Service would operate like a business! Here is the perfect example of…
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Ratepayers and commercial mail producers have long expressed concern over the negative effects of the aggressive price increases being pursued by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and his supporters on the Board of Governors. If one recent development is any indication, these concerns may finally be motivating similar expressions of concern by legislators. Familiar concerns As reported September 9 by Keep…
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Looking to reduce the Postal Service’s use of air transportation, and make feasible slower service for First-Class Mail, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy moved significant quantities of mail onto ground transportation routes for all but the greatest distances. Now, looking for ways to reduce the reliance on contractors for that service, the PMG is beginning to insource USPS transportation. As reported…
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In an August 14 filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Greeting Card Association moved for the issuance of an official information request as part of the Public Inquiry on Changes Associated with the Delivering For America Plan (Docket No. PI2023-4). Motion and opposition The GCA explained the reasons for its motion: “The DfA plan depends pervasively on certain projections.…
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Anyone familiar with the Postmaster General’s 10-Year Plan knows that part of the strategy to balance the agency’s books includes not only price increases but cost reductions from improved efficiency in USPS operations. Many readers, particularly noting the changes now underway in the Postal Service’s processing, transportation, and delivery networks, conclude that some of the forecasted efficiency and savings will…
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