Workers in the U.S. Postal Service view this as the busiest mailing, shipping, and delivery week of the year. Postal Service Spokeswoman Susan Wright said the final package count for the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day could hit 950 million. Wright noted portions of the U.S. Postmaster General’s ten-year plan are being implemented. “We’ve hired additional seasonal help and full-time career help. We’ve invested in our equipment throughout the country. We have installed 112 new package sorting machines. So, that helps speed the processing for our parcels,” said Wright.
Wright said the ten-year plan calls for constructing some new facilities. She said a new operation has been established in southern Indiana to service the Louisville distribution center. Delivery times have been expanded and extended into different areas. “We’ve been delivering packages on Sunday in our major metropolitan areas for quite some time. But we have expanded that during the holiday season to even smaller rural communities. So, customers need to be aware, if they’re expecting a package, it could possibly come on Sunday,” explained Wright.
Wright noted the Christmas holiday deadlines to keep in mind are December 17th for first class mailings of cards and packages, December 18th for priority mail, and December 23rd for priority mail express. Wright added procrastinators will pay a higher price.
