USPS hosted webinars this week on the service standard changes that are going into effect on April 1st. The slides and recordings are available on PostalPro. Slides. Recording.
The modifications were initially shared in the N2024-1 USPS Request for Advisory Opinion on Changes in the Nature of Postal Services. The docket consisted of over three hundred filings of witness testimonies, library references, intervention notices, interrogatories,technical conferences and numerous comments from multiple trade associations and interested parties.
The Postal Regulatory Commission submitted their opinion on January 31st stating that “The Postal Service’s proposed plan does not facially violate 39 U.S.C. § 403(c).” Although they did express concerns that the plans “disproportionate impact that the proposed changes will have on rural communities across America”.
USPS is clear in that these changes are a necessary part of the Delivery For America (DFA) Plan and they will “help support operational initiatives and simultaneously achieve substantial savings with no changes to the current five-day service standard window for the First-Class Mail product.”
On February 28th, 2025 the USPS published in the Federal Register Notices the final rule announcing the changes were moving forward in April 2025.
The USPS network was built to support First-Class mail, which peaked in 2001 at 103.7 billion pieces. In FY24 First-Class volume had fallen to 44.3 billion pieces (a -57% decline.)
Most impactful was the volume decline impacts of Single Piece First-Class mail of a -80% decline from FY97 to FY23. Costs associated with incoming single piece mail, especially in distant, low-density offices continue to increase.
The new standards will include a change from measuring mail from 3-digit zip code to 3-digit zip code to a more refined measurement of 5-d to 5-d. USPS proposes to save approximately $3.5 billion annually through enhancements to the network transportation, processing operations, reduction in real estate and optimizing local transportation utilizing Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO).
RTO will change the process of inbound originating mail pick ups from now twice daily to once daily for any origin site that is greater than 50 miles in distance from its origin RPDC.
The changes will begin on April 1st with the following changes:
- The volume of mail and packages outside of 50 miles from the origin RPDC will change from twice daily to once daily pick ups (adding +1 day to single piece FC and Ground Advantage).
- Sundays and Holidays will not be counted in measurement when mail is entered the day before a holiday or on a Saturday
- The new critical entry times (CETs) go into effect.
On July 1st, phase II will expand the service bands for First-Class mail and Ground Advantage, improving services due to less processing time at leg two. FCM will pick up four hours and GA will pick up 5 – 9 hours. Below shows the % of mail USPS is forecasting will see downgraded service, as well as the % of no impact and the portion expected to see better services.
Below breaks out the handling and delivery into three legs, leg 1 is where a portion of incoming mail will be slowed down, and leg 2 identifies how the network transportation changes will improve some of the mail movements, leg 3 proposes no change to the final delivery process or timing.
The Critical Entry Times (CET) are being adjusted based on the mail entry locations distance from the origin RPDC. For mail that is entered more than 50 miles from the ORPDC their CET is being moved up earlier anywhere from three to fifteen hours.
USPS is updating the USPS.com, About.USPS.com and PostalPro.com sites with new mapping tools and API developer tech specs to manage the new 5d by 5d changes. The API provides estimated delivery standard information for ZIP Code™s with 3 or 5 digits, while taking into account non-delivery days, such as holidays and Sundays. It covers multiple mail classes.
You can click into below to launch the new mapping tool and service standard specifications.
A new Postal Calculator estimates delivery across multiple products based on 5-d to 5-d entered and date and time of entry. https://postcalc.usps.com/servicecommitments
