USPS to file Proposal to lower service delivery standards
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2011 — The U.S. Postal Service today announced it will move forward with its proposal to change service standards. This action is being taken in response to on-going financial challenges caused by the dramatic and continual decline in First-Class Mail volume and the resulting revenue loss.
“The U.S. Postal Service must reduce its operating costs by $20 billion by 2015 in order to return to profitability,” said David Williams, vice president, Network Operations. “The proposed changes to service standards will allow for significant consolidation of the postal network in terms of facilities, processing equipment, vehicles and employee workforce and will generate projected net annual savings of approximately $2.1 billion.” This is part of the overall savings expected from the network optimization initiative, which is projected to save up to $3 billion by 2015.
The size of the existing Postal Service network is dictated by the current overnight transit time in existing service standards. The Postal Service is proposing, through the rulemaking process, to move First-Class Mail to a 2-3 day standard for contiguous U.S. destinations; however, there would be an opportunity for mailers who properly prepare and enter mail at the destinating processing facility prior to the day’s critical entry time to have their mail delivered the following delivery day.
On Sept. 15, the Postal Service announced it would begin studying 252 out of 487 mail processing facilities for possible closure. At that time, the Postal Service also announced it would be considering changes to service standards in an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register. The Advance Notice filing was a formal effort to gather input from the public early in the process to ensure their views can be factored into the service change proposal.
The Postal Service will send to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) a request for an advisory opinion regarding service standard changes associated with a significant rationalization of its mail processing network. Shortly thereafter, the Postal Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comment on the specific proposed changes.
Protest USPS delivery standard downgrade
USPS is proposing “eliminating the expectation of overnight service for First-Class Mail and Periodicals, and, for each of these classes, narrowing the two-day delivery range and enlarging the three-day delivery range.” Varying opinions on the subject say the change of one day delivery standard could possibly be the beginning of the end for the Postal Service. Check out some views below: Read more
Twin Falls, ID Mail Operations move will change service standards from overnight to 2-day
Filed under: consolidations, delivery, mail delivery, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
As a result of the consolidation, service between ZIP Code areas 832, 833 and 834 will change from overnight to 2-day
TWIN FALLS, ID – As a result of a study begun April 13, the Postal Service has made the decision to move mail processing operations from the Twin Falls, ID, Customer Service Mail Processing Center to the Boise, ID, Processing and Distribution Center. Read more
OIG Report: USPS Could Save $Billions By Eliminating Door-To-Door Delivery
OIG: USPS does not require Congressional approval for this policy change. USPS could save $$Billions more by converting curbside delivery into centralized delivery.
USPS OIG Audit Report – Modes of Delivery (Report Number DR-AR-11-006)
Notwithstanding these limitations, the Postal Service should develop a comprehensive
strategic plan to aggressively move from existing door-to-door delivery to curbside
delivery, which could save more than $4.5 billion a year. Future strategies should also
evaluate savings opportunities associated with conversion of curbside to centralized
delivery — which could save the Postal Service an additional $5.1 billion — and
mandate centralized delivery for new delivery points.
This strategic plan would significantly reduce delivery costs and could be implemented
internally through policy changes. It would not require congressional approval, unlike
other significant cost-savings initiatives, such as moving from 6- to 5-day delivery. At the
same time, these changes would increase fairness and consistency of service to
customers, as curbside delivery would be the primary delivery mode.
Navistar Awarded Diesel Re-Power Development Contract For USPS Delivery Vehicles
WARRENVILLE, Ill., Jun 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Navistar, Inc. has been awarded a development contract by the United States Postal Service (USPS) under which Navistar will engineer a diesel powertrain replacement for USPS delivery vehicles. Navistar’s re-powered diesel vehicle effort is designed to significantly reduce the escalating service and fuel costs associated with the USPS’s aging fleet.
Under terms of the contract, the USPS will deliver one of its Long Life Vehicles (LLV) to Navistar Engine Group’s Engineering and Technical Center in Melrose Park, Illinois, where the company’s in-house re-power engineering department will develop, install and test a diesel powertrain that features Navistar’s MaxxForce(R) 3.2-liter turbodiesel engine. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“When the USPS current fleet was first put into service, diesel fuel and advanced diesel powertrain technology were not widely available,” said Andrew Dondlinger, vice president, North America operations, Navistar Engine Group. “Now, by replacing its gasoline powertrains, USPS could realize diesel’s benefits of fuel efficiency, long operational life and low service and operating costs.”
A proven diesel re-power solution could be used to upgrade USPS vehicles over the next decade. It is not uncommon for diesel powertrains to achieve fuel economy gains of up to 35 percent when compared to gasoline powertrains. Further savings would be gained from diesel’s lower maintenance requirements, longer service life, and overall lower cost of ownership. Navistar estimates the USPS could realize payback on each re-powered vehicle in as little as two years depending on maintenance and fuel costs.
Beyond Navistar’s history of development work on USPS diesel re-power, the company’s reputation as an integrated truck and engine manufacturer and its proven capabilities for on-time, on-budget work for the U.S. military also influenced the contract award.
source: Navistar International Corporation
PMG Comments On GAO Report on Five-Day Mail Delivery Readiness
Filed under: delivery, GAO, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has produced a thorough and comprehensive review of the Postal Service proposal to move to a five day per week delivery schedule. We are pleased to see they agree that the Postal Service is likely to achieve significant cost savings if this change were to be effected and that much of its success depends on how efficiently it is implemented. We agree and believe that having completed a lengthy planning process; we are prepared to make that happen.
We are aware of the concerns certain stakeholders have expressed to GAO. We consulted extensively with our customers as we developed our operating plans. They can be assured that any decision to go to a five-day schedule will carefully balance our universal service responsibility and our statutory duty to operate in an efficient manner in light of prevailing volume, cost and revenue trends. Consideration of such matters will help ensure the financial stability of the Postal Service well into the future.
source: USPS
USPS Seeks Supplier For Replacement Of Delivery Vehicles (LLV)
USPS posts Solicitation for Repowered Fuel-Efficient Gasoline Long Life Vehicle (LLV)
The USPS is actively evaluating various alternative vehicle technologies for the eventual replacement of our fleet of delivery vehicles. Our technology with a good potential is a fuel-efficient gasoline drive train. The USPS intends to award one contract to this solicitation and the Postal Service is not required to to purchase from the supplier requirments [sic] in exess [sic] of this contract.
Highlights from documents submitted to Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website:
Intended Use – The vehicle shall be used on multi-stop delivery, relay, collection, and parcel post routes. They shall be operated in all weather conditions found in the United States. The vehicle shall carry payloads up to 454 kg (1,000 lbs) and operate over hilly terrain, semi-improved roads, as well as city streets, and make as many as 700 starts and stops per day to deliver letter mail, parcel post, relays, and to collect mail from street letter boxes in addition to stops and starts required by traffic conditions. The operator may dismount and remount, start and restart the vehicle up to 700 times during these stops and starts.
Scope – This specification covers the repowering of a provided right-hand drive vehicle with a new fuel-efficient gasoline powered engine and new transmission, along with a new rear axle system, new exhaust system and all related accessories. The provided Long Life Vehicle (LLV) has a minimum of 3.06 cubic meters (108 cubic feet) cargo capacity, and a minimum rated payload capacity of not less than 454 kilograms (kg) (1,000 lbs). The provided vehicle body is constructed of aluminum.
Description – The repowered vehicle shall be equipped with a new fuel-efficient gasoline-powered engine, a new automatic transmission and new rear drive axle system. The repowered vehicle shall be complete with all existing operating accessories furnished and installed on vehicle to enable the vehicle to function reliably and efficiently under all conditions of service.
Road Speed – The repowered vehicle shall have road speed of not less than 104.6 kilometers per hour (km/h), 65 miles per hour (mph), in high gear (the minimum gear ratio), and be capable of maintaining a minimum sustained road speed of not less than 104.6 km/h (65 mph) when operated on smooth, hard-surfaced roads, on grades from 0 to 1.0%, and at altitudes of up to 914.4 meters (3,000 feet). The vehicle, when operated under these conditions, shall be capable of accelerating from 0 to a speed of 24 km/h (15 mph) within 5 seconds, from 0 to a speed of 80.5 km/h (50 mph) within 22 seconds, and from 0 to a speed of 104.6 km/h (65 mph) within 35 seconds.
High Speed Gradeability – The repowered vehicle shall be capable of maintaining a sustained road speed of not less than 72.5 km/h (45 mph) while ascending a minimum 2.5% grade on smooth, hard-surfaced roads.
- The repowered vehicle shall be capable of stopping on and then ascending in both forward and reverse drives, with a grade of not less than 20%.
Design and Construction – Vehicle furnished under this specification shall be ruggedly constructed and highly maneuverable, offering the least possible demand on parking and platform space during loading and unloading operations. Total design shall incorporate the best principles of ruggedness, roadability, safety of operation, ease of handling, cargo loading, and minimum scheduled preventative maintenance servicing.
Curbside Delivery
Total Route Distance (miles) 20.8
- Total Route Number of Delivery Stops 500
- Average Route Speed (not including stop time, mph) 13.6
- Total Route Drving Time (hour) 1.5
- Total Pre/Post Route Drive Time (hour) 0.5
- Total Route Stop Time, not including breaks (hour) 3.8
- Average Route Delivery Stop Time (sec) 27
- Average Driving Time Between Stops (sec) 11
- Time on Route per Day (hour) 6
- Route Break Time Per day (hour) 0.667
See all documents via Federal Business Opportunities
Georgia Congressman Says Moving Columbus To Macon Will Cause Mail Delivery Delays
Filed under: consolidations, delivery, postal, press releases, usps
Rep. Sandford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga. , issued the following press release:
July 29 2010
Washington, DC – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-2) today sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Representative Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10), regarding the U.S. Postal Service operations transfer from the Columbus Customer Service Mail Processing Center to the Macon Processing and Distribution Center. In the letter, dated July 28, 2010, Congressman Bishop stated a series of concerns about the transfer and its negative effects on the Columbus area.
“Attempts by the Postal Service to improve productivity and increase efficiency have resulted in new procedures which have severely impacted postal service in the Columbus area,” wrote Congressman Bishop. “Especially impacted is mail originating from Columbus, Georgia and destined for Columbus, Georgia.”
Congressman Bishop expressed his concern that the new system will force mail to be postmarked in Macon, 96 miles away, before it can be sent back to Columbus to be delivered, adding up to three days to delivery schedules. In addition, the transfer was approved May 26, 2010 and the process was to be completed by the first of this month.
“According to conversations with mail employees at the Columbus mail facility, there have been significantly more delays with mail, even though the Postal Service study suggested there would be an improvement in service,” wrote Congressman Bishop.
While a study of mail delivery systems in the Columbus area was conducted, it did not include Fort Benning, which is scheduled, under the BRAC process, to greatly increase in size. This increase in population, combined with the 96+ miles of mail travel distance will only further mail delivery delays.
“It appears that the Macon facility, which now has idle equipment, cannot deliver mail to Columbus in a timely fashion,” added Congressman Bishop
Plan to scrap Saturday mail delivering angst
It’s not just letters, bills or greeting cards that Joan Sherman of Ronan brings to her postal customers on her daily 110-mile jaunt through rural Lake County. Try checks from cattle sales, prescription medicines, parts for farming equipment — even live chicks once.
She won’t be making those deliveries on Saturdays anymore if the U.S. Postal Service has its way.
Full story: Plan to scrap Saturday mail delivering angst | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune.
AT & T Ships Products To Postal Employees Using USPS Discount Program Via FedEx, UPS
The U.S. Postal Service has an “agreement with AT&T Wireless to provide discounted wireless phone service, phones, and accessories to postal employees.” However, whenever Postal Employees order products online at AT & T’s website, the items are shipped via FedEx or UPS. An AT & T representative explained that shipping costs are cheaper using FedEx or UPS.
So let me get this straight, Postal Employees order products from AT & T online and its boosts the shipping volume for its largest competitors? If USPS signs an agreement with a company (which may include shipping) shouldn’t one of the prerequisites be that products are shipped via the U.S. Postal Service?
The USPS also has wireless phone service, phones, and accessories agreements for its employees with Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel Wireless, T-Mobile Wireless and U.S. Cellular. It will be interesting to find out if any of these companies utilize USPS for shipping its products to Postal Employees.
AT & T Ships Products To Postal Employees Via Fedex, UPS