The United States Postal Service (USPS) is implementing refinements to service standards and has launched new online tools and a fact sheet to help customers prepare for the changes. [1]
What Will It Affect
The changes will affect first-class mail, periodicals, marketing mail, package services (including bound printed matter, media mail, and library mail), USPS ground advantage, priority mail, and priority mail express.
The Phases
The USPS will put the refinements to service standards in place with the first phase on April 1, 2025, and the second phase on July 1, 2025.
Saving Money
The enhancements are estimated to save the Postal Service at least $36 billion over the next decade through reductions in transportation, mail and package processing, and real estate costs. As part of the ongoing Delivering for America 10-year plan, USPS has already achieved $2.2 billion in annual transportation cost reductions by streamlining networks and optimizing air and surface options. Additionally, it has decreased work hours by 50 million — translating to $2.5 billion in annual savings.
Changes
For those looking to mail items through USPS, there are multiple tools to help you. There are detailed file specifications for downloadable files with the new standards available on PostalPro (Service Standards | PostalPro). The service standards Application Programming Interface (API) has been updated to include a new presort indicator for First-Class Mail standards. API specs are available now on the USPS Developer Portal (https://developers.usps.com/)
Also, Customers can look up service standards on usps.com for mailings from one ZIP Code to another on a particular mailing date. The search results will display the available mail classes along with the expected delivery dates for each. A new interactive map will be available that will display service standards. Customers will be able to enter the ZIP Code they are mailing from along with the mail class to view the expected delivery time.
Things Staying the Same
Although several things are changing, multiple things are also staying the same. With the changes, these services will become more efficient. Some of the things staying the same are as follows:
- Preserving the current service standard day ranges for first-class mail and USPS ground advantage.
- Enhancing service predictability and reliability.
- Offering 2-3-day turnaround service within regions and specific local areas.
- Allowing flexibility in regional transportation schedules, which may extend service expectations by one day for mail collected at certain Post Offices, while overall improving delivery speeds for mail and packages between regions.
