In September 2020 U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero directed USPS to submit a list of steps necessary to return on-time delivery scores for first-class mail and marketing mail to the 93% high reported for the week of February 8, 2020. Judge Marrero’s directive came after delays in mail delivery prompted congressional hearings, lawsuits, and a review of USPS changes by the USPS Inspector General.
During the week of August 8, on-time delivery scores dropped to 81%. Judge Morrero ordered a return of on-time delivery to the February level, and submission to the court of a list of steps designed to improve on-time delivery scores for First Class and Marketing Mail.
Those documents were submitted to the court by the USPS and its legal team on October 1. In addition to outlining steps the USPS will be taking, the document cited two pieces of background information. First, that the on-time delivery scores historically show variation, “which should be kept in mind when assessing the return to a specific historic score.”
And second, that delivery scores are affected by events outside of the control of the USPS. Those events include the effect of the pandemic in terms of both employee unavailability, and air transportation flight changes and cancellations. Also specified were weather and other natural events such as wildfires and hurricanes.
Steps listed by the USPS include:
- Completing mail processing no later than 60 minutes prior to the planned dispatch of a truck, allowing time to address problems and still get the trucks on the road on schedule.
- Completing mail processing no later than 60 minutes prior to the planned dispatch of a truck, allowing time to address problems and still get the trucks on the road on schedule.
- Completing mail processing no later than 60 minutes prior to the planned dispatch of a truck, allowing time to address problems and still get the trucks on the road on schedule.
- Completing mail processing no later than 60 minutes prior to the planned dispatch of a truck, allowing time to address problems and still get the trucks on the road on schedule.
- Completing mail processing no later than 60 minutes prior to the planned dispatch of a truck, allowing time to address problems and still get the trucks on the road on schedule.
- Completing mail processing no later than 60 minutes prior to the planned dispatch of a truck, allowing time to address problems and still get the trucks on the road on schedule.
A USPS October 2020 memorandum stressed that “Election Mail is the Postal Service’s Number One Priority.” For the week of September 26, 2020, the Postal Service reports 97.7% on-time delivery score for First Class Mail. This improvement was attributed to continued focus on the advancement of inventory, reduction in cycle times, and effective use of transportation.
I mailed a birthday card on Sept 9 from Kansas to Colorado using priority mail. It was delivered on Oct. 17. A few days ago, I received an email from the USPS stating they were still searching for my lost mail.