Background
During the fiscal year (FY) 2022 peak mailing season, U.S. Postal Service management implemented a new year-round strategy focused on a consistent build-up of employee complement, multi-year leases for facility space, and processing capacity to help ensure a successful peak mailing season.
What We Did
Our objective was to evaluate the Postal Service’s performance during the FY 2022 peak mailing season and implementation of its peak season preparedness plan. For this audit, we obtained supporting documentation, evaluated processing service performance, and interviewed Postal Service managers.
What We Found
We found that the Postal Service successfully implemented initiatives from its FY 2022 peak mailing season preparedness plan and service performance increased between [redacted] and [redacted] percent for Priority Mail, First-Class Packages, First-Class Mail, Marketing Mail, and Periodicals over the FY 2021 peak mailing season (November 2020 – January 2021). The initiatives included (1) hiring over 51,000 additional temporary employees, (2) leasing 46 package support annexes, (3) leasing 51 temporary mail processing and logistics annexes, (4) adding six surface transfer centers to help alleviate dock congestion, and (5) installing 89 package sorting machines in processing facilities. While the additional machines enabled the Postal Service to meet its goal for increasing daily package processing capacity, 51 of the 89 package sorting machines they installed between July and November of 2021, were used but showed no activity in a key reporting system.
Additionally, the Postal Service reduced the amount of overtime used this peak season compared to last year. Specifically, while [redacted] compared to the FY 2021 peak season.