The United States Postal Service is gearing up for the busy 2024 holiday season with confidence, citing major advancements from its 10-year Delivering for America plan.
In Georgia, the Postal Service has been under fire for missed mail and slow service after its recent reorganization, leaving many Georgia residents to wonder if their packages would be delivered on time during the holidays.
Postal officials, on the other hand, say they are ready and that their recent reorganization plans will make deliveries better for the 2024 holiday season.
What USPS Says:
• USPS has revamped 83 sorting and delivery centers, increasing daily package processing capacity and operational efficiency.
• A total of 506 new package sorting machines have been installed, 158 of which were added since the last holiday season.
• Daily package processing capacity has risen to approximately 60 million packages.
• The organization is moving more than 95% of its volume through a redesigned ground transportation network, reducing reliance on air transport.
• USPS has hired 7,500 seasonal workers for the holiday season, fewer than in previous years, citing a stabilized workforce.
• The Postal Service has introduced more than 27,000 new delivery vehicles, including more than 500 battery-electric models.
How You Can Prepare: USPS encourages customers to plan early and use online tools at usps.com for scheduling, packaging tips, and finding local post office hours. Free shipping supplies are also available through the website.
Shipping Options and Rates:
• USPS Ground Advantage offers delivery within 2-5 days at rates that are lower than competing services.
• Priority Mail remains a key service, priced on average 35% below comparable competitor options.
What’s Next?: The Postal Service says it is continually working on improvements as part of its Delivering for America plan to meet increasing demand and enhance service reliability during and beyond the holiday season.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
