USPS Office of Inspector General

When it comes to trailers that are hauling mail, the Postal Service prefers to lease — it only owns about 23 percent of its fleet of more than 12,000 trailers.

That’s a lot of trailers to manage, especially when you consider USPS leased trailer policies. For example, any leased trailers that aren’t consistently used 10 days or more in a month are supposed to be returned or relocated, meaning regular monitoring of usage is pretty important.

How’s the Postal Service doing?

Many of you likely use Global Position System (GPS) on a regular basis, driving to someplace new or maybe using a GPS-driven app to avoid traffic. But did you know the Postal Service uses GPS to manage its highway transportation contracts?

Three years ago, the U.S. Postal Service began replacing 7-and 11-ton cargo vans and adding new lift gates — equipment on the rear that helps load/unload containers of mail. Transportation managers could choose between a tuck-under lift gate or a rail lift gate. The former tucks beneath the cargo van when not in use while the latter folds up against the back of the van.