Start Date: Monday, January 5, 2015
Estimated Report Date: Friday, July 3, 2015
The U.S. Postal Service uses highway contract routes (HCR) to transport mail between its post offices and other designated points where mail is received or dispatched, such as mailers’ facilities. Extra trips are in addition to those normally provided under the terms of the contract that result in more costs to the Postal Service. Management schedules extra trips to prevent serious delays of preferential mail or as a result of high mail volume. PS Form 5397 authorizes extra trip occurrences and PS Form 5429 provides contractor additional payments.
The OIG has been monitoring HCR extra trips as part of its quarterly Surface Transportation Risk Model. The risk model consistently ranked Greater South Carolina District as one of the 10 most at risk districts for extra trips for fiscal year (FY) 2014, Quarter (Q) 3.
We welcome your comments and insights on how the Postal Service could more effectively monitor and track its Highway Contract Route Extra Trips. If you like, please provide feedback to the following:
1. Are there any specific issues with the way the Postal Service manages HCR Extra trips and can you suggest any potential improvements?
2. Do you know any ways or methods similar private sector companies limit their use of extra contract trips when making their deliveries?
We welcome and appreciate all your comments.