The organization says it expects to improve upon last year’s peak season performance
The Postal Service announced that it is prepared to deliver for the holidays, thanks to its continued investment in new technology and infrastructure.
In 2025, USPS delivered mail and packages, on average, in 2.5 days, and the organization expects to improve upon this performance.
“The Postal Service performed very well during last year’s holiday season, and we are even better prepared this year for the upcoming peak mailing and shipping season,” Postmaster General David Steiner said. “We have been preparing all year for this peak season, and we have enough capacity to handle whatever comes our way.”
The Postal Service’s areas of progress ahead of the 2026 holidays include:
• Increasing daily processing capacity: USPS has expanded daily package processing capacity by adding 673 state-of-the-art package sorting machines during the past six years, including 164 installed this year. These machines can handle more and larger parcels than older machines.
• Hiring more than 10,000 seasonal employees: Improved staffing, reduced supervisor vacancies and lowered overtime rates have contributed to a more stabilized workforce. As a result, the Postal Service will hire a little more than 10,000 seasonal employees — down from 40,000 a few years ago.
• Introducing next-generation package tracking: In 2025, USPS launched its next-generation package tracking and reporting platform. The tracking is nearly four times faster than the previous version and can provide updates within a minute of scanning. The platform works with other USPS systems to let customers see a more accurate location of their packages using the tracking tool on usps.com or Informed Delivery and ensures packages are delivered to the correct address.
• Debuting new facilities: Since 2022, the Postal Service has opened a total of 182 sorting and delivery centers, 19 regional processing and distribution centers, 68 local processing centers and four standalone regional transfer hubs.
• Improving strategic planning in targeted markets: The organization recently created the Chief Solutions and Strategy Office, which is tasked with centralizing network planning and identifying ways to work more effectively and efficiently. The group is also working closely with customers to match their needs with postal solutions.
• Putting new delivery vehicles on the road: USPS has received and deployed more than 45,000 new vehicles nationwide over the past three years.
• Simplifying returns: Customers can drop off return packages at one of more than 31,000 retail locations, use one of more than 3,000 self-service kiosks, or schedule a free carrier pickup to help make returns easier.
• Installing USPS Smart Lockers: The Postal Service has installed hundreds of USPS Smart Lockers across the nation. The lockers offer a free, secure and convenient way for customers and businesses to send and receive packages when home or business delivery isn’t practical or preferred.
• Making products and services widely available: Customers can rely on USPS Ground Advantage (2-5 business days), Priority Mail (2-3 business days) and Priority Mail Express (1-3 business days) during the holidays, with $100 insurance and tracking included on most shipments.
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