Background While the U.S. Postal Service uses over 2,500 Contract Postal Units (CPU) and Village Post Offices (VPO) as alternative retail access points throughout the country, these locations have declined by nearly 20 percent in recent years. CPUs and VPOs are suppliers (such as convenience store operators) that contractually provide postal services at their locations,…
Background During emergencies or to address service needs, the U.S. Postal Service may require employees to perform work in excess of eight paid hours in a day or 40 paid hours in a week. Generally, hourly employees are entitled to regular overtime (OT) after working 40 hours in one week, while certain eligible employees are…
Background The Postal Service conducts background screenings to gather sufficient information about a personâs character, reputation, and allegiance to the United States to determine eligibility for appointment or suitability for retention as a Postal Service employee. Postal Service positions require a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI), which is the minimum background check needed for…
Background The Postal Service uses Terminal Handling Services (THS) to load mail into air containers and deliver them to the air supplier for transportation. As part of its Delivering for America plan to achieve financial stability and service excellence and meet the evolving mailing and shipping needs of the American public and business customers, the…
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Postal Service had workforce shortages while package volumes were surging, causing service performance for packages to suffer. In response to this critical situation, and to achieve its goal of expanding its share of the package delivery market, the Postal Service purchased and deployed new package sorting machines, including the…
Background U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) requested an audit of postal stations in the Kansas City area. Residents in the service area were experiencing significant delays and routinely waiting more than five days to receive mail. We reviewed ten postal stations and the Kansas City, Missouri, Processing and Distribution Center to determine issues impacting the…
Background Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are powered industrial vehicles modified to enable driverless operation. Beginning in June 2019, the Postal Service spent [redacted] to purchase and deploy 350 AGVs between October 2019 and April 2022. These AGVs move wheeled or palletized mail transport equipment for processing and dispatch operations within a facility. The Postal Service…
Background In November 2014, the Postal Service deployed the Automated Delivery Unit Sorter (ADUS), which automated the sorting of smaller packages in delivery units and small processing and distribution centers. Further, in 2021, as part of the 10-year Delivering for America Plan, the Postal Service kept its commitment to accelerate investments in new package sorting equipment to…
