The busiest week of the holiday season is here.
The Postal Service expects to process and deliver almost 3 billion greeting cards and other First-Class Mail pieces this week, along with nearly 200 million packages.
Altogether, USPS estimates it will deliver 15 billion total mailpieces between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Package deliveries are projected to hit 850 million, up more than 10 percent from last year.
Employees say they’re ready.
“We help people find the best way to send their mail and have them have a good experience with the Post Office,” said Dale Bakken, a mail handler equipment operator at the Madison, WI, Processing and Distribution Center.
To prepare for the holiday, USPS has leased 1,000 additional vehicles for its fleet and expanded Sunday package deliveries in select locations with high volumes.
The Postal Service has also offered recommended mailing deadlines, released instructional videos and promoted Informed Delivery, a free feature that allows consumers to view images of incoming mail, track packages and reschedule deliveries.
A Dec. 18 news release, available on the USPS Holiday Newsroom site, has more information.