USPS Getting Ready for an Extra Busy 2023 Holiday Season

As numerous stores launch early holiday promotions, the USPS is also preparing for the upcoming busy season.

As the holiday season approaches, major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target are gearing up for the festivities, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) is also taking steps to ensure smooth holiday deliveries.

In recent months, USPS has been proactive in its efforts to guarantee timely and cost-effective package deliveries. One of the most significant highlights for the upcoming holiday season is that USPS will not impose any additional surcharges on holiday deliveries. This includes shipments with minimum volumes, deliveries to residential areas, and even Saturday deliveries.

Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy expressed confidence in USPS’s preparedness for the holiday rush. He stated, “Our peak season in 2022 was a tremendous success. We are well-prepared to provide exceptional and consistent service during the holidays. Our early planning and investments in our workforce, infrastructure, transportation, and technology, thanks to the Delivering for America plan, have positioned us strongly. With no holiday surcharges, we are poised to be the most affordable delivery provider in America this holiday season.”

USPS Enhancements and Strategies for a Smooth Holiday Shipping Season

As the holiday season approaches, it’s essential for consumers to be aware of the USPS’s efforts to enhance delivery efficiency. The postal agency has taken several steps to improve its operations and ensure timely package deliveries.

Firstly, the USPS has expanded its daily processing capacity and upgraded sorting facility technology across the country. These advancements facilitate quicker movement of packages through the postal network, enhance sorting reliability, and expedite deliveries.

To cope with the expected surge in holiday packages, the USPS will be hiring an additional 10,000 seasonal employees, bolstering its workforce.

Earlier this year, the USPS introduced a new shipping option known as USPS Ground Advantage. This service promises delivery in two to five business days and offers cost-effective rates for packages under 70 lbs, making it an attractive choice for holiday shipments.

Furthermore, the USPS has shifted its focus to ground transportation for 95% of all deliveries, favoring reliability over air transport. This transition is expected to contribute to smoother holiday shipping. Although the USPS has yet to announce the final holiday delivery deadlines, it’s advisable for consumers to refer to last year’s timeline when planning their holiday shipments in the coming months.