Transportation

USPS OIG

 

The U.S. Postal Service’s national transportation network is intertwined with all of the Postal Service’s core operations and is one of the largest transportation networks in the world. Transportation activities can be separated into several major functions, covering air transportation, surface transportation, and logistical support activities. The Postal Service uses a complex transportation system that depends on the nation’s air, rail, highway, and maritime infrastructure to move about 175 billion pieces of mail worldwide. Transportation includes a fleet of more than 200,000 vehicles and more than 17,000 commercially contracted highway transportation routes driving about 3 billion miles per year. Major logistical activities support the movement of mail and include airport mail centers, mail transport equipment service centers, fuel procurement, vehicle acquisition, information technology, and various supplies. Transportation costs the Postal Service about $9 billion annually.

The Transportation Directorate seeks to determine whether transportation network operations and logistics are effective, efficient, and secure as well as to determine whether opportunities exist to save money. The Transportation Directorate accomplishes mission requirements through continual risk assessment; data analysis; continuous evaluation of data reliability and management control; on-going dialog with senior Postal Service officials and other stakeholders; and rapid response to high-risk conditions. Our work assists the Postal Service in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the transportation network and involves performance auditing of operations, procurements, information technology, investments, logistical support systems, and related programs.