On-time performance in the First Class Mail Composite category was 79.2 percent, compared with the target of 88 percent and the prior year’s performance of 83.1 percent. Image: Colleen Michaels/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Postal Service missed five of six major performance targets for the late-2024 peak mailing season even though it had lowered many of them and had adjusted the data for measuring performance, an inspector general audit has said.
“Opportunities exist for the Postal Service to improve its peak season initiatives to better forecast for transportation needs in certain markets, strategically offload mail between processing facilities, and plan for the impact of increased package volume post peak season,” said a report.
The report for example said that compared with the prior peak season, on-time performance in the First Class Mail Composite category was 79.2 percent, compared with the target of 88 percent and the prior year’s performance of 83.1 percent. Marketing mail and periodicals also fell below both their targets and the prior year’s performance. Meanwhile, performance for Ground Advantage improved but performance declined for Priority Mail, although the goals and actual percentages were redacted, while no data were provided for Parcel Select.
The IG noted that last November in a report on preparations for that mailing system it had cited “risks associated with the significant changes the Postal Service is undertaking to its network”; in shifting more package volume from air transportation to surface transportation; and from potentially underestimating package volume, which “typically increases year over year.”
The latest audit found that “increased package volume did result in challenges to a successful peak season,” requiring the USPS to “purchase extra transportation to move mail from over-capacity processing facilities and over-filled planes. The Postal Service also did not continue peak season initiatives into the three weeks following peak season, despite package volume remaining as high as it was during peak because of returns.”
The USPS agreed with some findings and recommendations but disagreed with others. For example, it said that it had planned for higher than normal volume during the weeks following the peak period, but cited the impact of “unexpected conditions” including weather disruptions.
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