Page 11 - IAV Digital Magazine #613

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
USPS Announces Changes To First-Class Mail, Other Services
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns7b-KUb67I
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced it is adopting new service standards that are projected to save the government agency at least $36 billion over the next 10 years.
USPS has lost more than $100 billion since 2007, including $9.5 billion in the 12 months ending September 30, 2024.
The outgoing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy warned in November that the agency had to contin- ue cutting costs or it
would face a govern- ment bailout or "the end of this great organization as we know it."
Starting April 1, serv- ice standard adjust- ments will be made for first-class mail, periodicals, marketing mail, and package services, according to the USPS.
USPS will deliver 75 percent of first-class mail at the same standard. Fourteen percent will be upgraded to a faster standard, while 11 percent will have a slower standard. All first-class mail will still
be delivered within the current one to five business day range.
As part of the changes, postal work- ers will now use a five-digit regional add-on after the ZIP code to enhance delivery accuracy, replacing the current three-digit add-on.
Postal workers will also be permitted to leave facilities earlier and travel greater dis- tances for deliveries, enhancing reliability and revenue, particu- larly for customers in rural areas.
Mail tracking will be
broken into three phases so customers have a clearer under- standing of how the mail process works.
"The changes will maintain service at existing levels for most volume and upgrade standards for more market-domi- nant volume than is downgraded," the USPS said.
"The changes will enhance service relia- bility nationwide while maintaining the exist- ing five-day service standard day range for first-class mail, whereas the day ranges for end-to-end marketing mail, peri- odicals and package services will be short- ened."
The amendments are projected to save $36 billion over the next 10 years "from trans- portation, mail pro- cessing, and real estate cost reduc- tions."
Postmaster General
Louis DeJoy said in a statement on February 26: "By implementing the new standards and the operational initiatives to which they are aligned, we will be better able to achieve the goals of our mod- ernization plans and create a high-per- forming, financially sustainable organiza- tion, which is neces- sary to achieve the statutory policies and objectives established for the Postal Service by law."
The cost-saving measures come at a time when Trump is considering merging the USPS into the Commerce Department, and bringing it under the authority of the exec- utive branch.
"We want to have a post office that works well and doesn't lose massive amounts of money. And we're thinking about doing that," Trump said last week.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine