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Pushing the Envelope Blog

Tracking Delivery Failures

Date: 01/16/23 | Category: Delivery & Collection

When you run a large operation or business, it’s just as important to know what isn’t getting done as well as what is. This very much applies to the U.S. Postal Service regarding its more than 233,000 delivery routes across the country.

The Postal Service is charged with delivering mail to every address on those routes six days a week. In fiscal year 2022, total volume of delivered mail was more than 127 billion individual pieces — letters, packages, periodicals, and more.

Sometimes, however, a route goes undelivered or partially delivered. On an undelivered route, no homes or businesses receive their regular daily delivery; on a partially delivered route, only some customers experience no delivery. Various reasons can be the cause — severe weather, for instance, or unavailability of carriers.

We recently looked at the Postal Service’s management of undelivered and partially delivered routes and found the agency has tools that identify delayed mail on routes, but the tools don’t identify the number of undelivered and partially delivered routes nationally. As we note in our recent audit report, one tool estimates potential route and delivery point failures but can’t identify undelivered routes.

We did, however, find opportunities for USPS to leverage existing tools and technologies to identify the actual number of undelivered and partially delivered routes. For example, the Postal Service could integrate delivery operations data with Informed Delivery. Also, data on delayed mail and undelivered and partially delivered routes could be used to notify customers of delays and service outages in near real-time. Notification of service interruptions is important to provide world-class, universal mail service.

Are there other areas where the Postal Service needs more management tools? Let us know in the comments below.

Leave a Comment

Your Name
Firstkey Homes
May 26, 2023
Your Comment
So much lost/undelivered mail causing exorbitant late fees. Not caused by the vendor, nor the customer, but USPS is sole cause of missing delivery of bill. This situation has only grown worse as we understaff our postal department with temporary workers or employed workers that are kept even though they provide sub-par delivery of items.
Your Name
Marie Gallo
May 12, 2023
Your Comment
My package was delivered to wrong address, now the person who lived there has moved. Been dealing with this since 4/21. Now the PO says there is nothing more they can do. Where do I go from here?
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
May 16, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. We are an independent agency of the Postal Service and unfortunately can't help with lost or damaged mail. You can file a claim with the Postal Service at https://www.usps.com/help/welcome.htm


Your Name
Joni Boudreaux
Apr 11, 2023
Your Comment
Packages marked unable to deliver because the business is closed. My home is not a business, access is never blocked.
Your Name
Alexander Blair
Mar 28, 2023
Your Comment
I’ve recently had two packages that were lost by USPS and even though they were insured you all won’t payout the claim. I had to appeal one of the claims twice and USPS finally accepted the claim. Only paying $100 of the $500 item you lost. But you all never sent a check. When I look at the claim is shows the payment address field is blank. After spending two hours on the phone and calling around to four different departments I spoke with someone at accounts payable who’s telling me the check was lost in the mail and now I have to mail in a request to have them send out another check. Why do I have to jump thru some many hoops to get a fifth of the money you lost? Seems like USPS is avoiding paying out any claims at all cost. No one at your company seems to care and just passed the responsibility with no real resolutions.
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Mar 29, 2023
Your Comment
Thank you for your message. If your issue has not yet been resolved by the USPS Office of Consumer Affairs, please file a complaint with our Hotline. You can access the online complaint form at https://www.uspsoig.gov/form/file-online-complaint. This will allow us to look into the matter for you.
Your Name
Betty-Louise Barrera
Mar 20, 2023
Your Comment
I paid for a 3-day shipping, on March 8, for a package going to Honolulu, HI. It's now over 10 days and my sister still hasn't received the package. It went from Galt, CA to Sacramento, CA to Dallas, TX. What is the status of my package?? At this point, I should have just paid for the lesser postage.
Your Name
Carlos vidal
Jan 23, 2023
Your Comment
I'm trying to locate a piece of mail please it's important. Thank you.
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 24, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. We are an independent agency of the Postal Service and unfortunately can't help with lost or damaged mail​. Please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm#international.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
AlabamaPostalCustomer
Jan 23, 2023
Your Comment
As a business owner, I'd like to recommend an adjustment to the way "signature required" items are handled.

We submitted a signed "signature release" for our large post office box when we started it. Yet, we're constantly having to go stand in line to pick up envelopes that could have been placed in our box. (This is particularly cumbersome when there's only one clerk working the counter.)

Oddly, the other post office (where we also have the same identical box) has no problem honoring the signature release. We rarely have to go to the counter to pick up an envelope requiring a signature...because our signature is already on-file.

I don't understand why the policy is being followed differently from one post office to the next. Which post office is mistaken? And how is the best way to communicate that to the box clerk so that we can get it resolved?
Your Name
Gwendolyn Ivey
Jan 23, 2023
Your Comment
I find informed delivery very helpful. However, there is no way to track what I mail out. I sadly found that one mailpiece I mailed on 12/30 did not get received. I also found that 3 mailpieces I mailed on 1/3 did not get received. Is there any way to have a system that will note when something you mailed will get delivered? These 3 mailpieces cost me a lot of late charge and interest.
Your Name
Gabby
Jan 23, 2023
Your Comment
I am getting package alerts fir my address in alabama but they are being delivered to an unknown address in greensboro nc
Your Name
Kenneth Graham
Jan 23, 2023
Your Comment
We were always getting a message saying that there would be mail in our box and then when we would check there wasn't anything so we would have to call the post office and tell them we never recorded mail .
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 24, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. We are an independent agency of the Postal Service and unfortunately can't help with delayed mail or packages. Please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or at​ https://usps.force.com/emailus/s/​. Just choose the tab marked "Where is My Package" or "Where is My Mail."

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Victoria Bench
Jan 23, 2023
Your Comment
Many employees are afraid of the Postal Inspection Service. If you do nothing wrong and perform your duties as prescribed in the job description there is nothing to fear. Last Manager we had at a 45+ carrier routes, employees were great and had integrity. New Manager was unable to perform his duties and had a nervous breakdown. He would leave his stamp stock safe open, I think on purpose, because he was incapable of performing Management Stock Duties. We were out of Clerk Stamp Stock to sell at Window and he told us to help ourselves to his Management Stamp Stock! Of course none of us did. I was a new Union Rep at the time and advised all window clerks to NOT touch managers stock! I told him to call his superior, a very nice lady, and he finally did. She also contacted me later and I filled in the gaps. He took immediate leave for mental stress. The Manager over Station and Branches came and placed our Manager on immediate leave. He never came back after the Postal Inspection Service went through stock records. Our very busy window unit was restored back to normal and we were able to resume business as usual. I was taught to always lock up your stamp stock issued to you and advised all window clerks to do so. Boss never returned and the Postal Inspectors restored our window unit with another manager so we were able to resume business as usual! Bottom line, some folks are placed in jobs they are not suited to perform! Bottom line employees must protect the integrity of the USPS and be honest!
Your Name
Donna M. Downes
Jan 22, 2023
Your Comment
I recently mailed a package of one perishable item from Rochester, NH to Ocala Florida. I paid for two-day delivery on January 17, 2023, at 12:23 pm. Today is January 22 and the package has yet. I checked the tracking only to discover that the package arrived in Jacksonville, FA on the 19th but was then sent to Thomasville, GA.
So now the homemade bread that I mailed to my son-in-law and grandchildren looks like they won't receive it until tomorrow. Being homemade there aren't any preservatives in the bread. I have no idea what the condition of the bread will be.Or why it was sent to Georgia especially with the package marked as perishable.
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 24, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. We are an independent agency of the Postal Service and unfortunately can't help with lost or damaged mail​. Please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm#international.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Kevin
Jan 22, 2023
Your Comment
Hire and train more carriers and also train the new managers better.
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 24, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. We are an independent agency of the Postal Service and unfortunately can't help with customer service issues. Please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or at https://emailus.usps.com/emailUs/iq/usps/request.do?forward=emailUs​. Just choose the tab marked "Personnel."

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Katalin Cammilleri
Jan 21, 2023
Your Comment
Any and all mail that is delayed, according to USPS Manuals, require a PS 1571 to be completed by the carrier, and Management is required to enter the information in the delayed mail report. No where on the 1571 does it ask how many deliveries were curtailed. Furthermore, the mail that was delayed in our office last week was to avoid Overtime. There was no weather delay. This is what the OIG should be looking at. I have the copies of the 1571's I completed. I can tell you approx. how many hours worth of delivery was delayed, but without the Edit Book, I can't tell you how many possible deliveries were delayed.
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 24, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. We are an independent agency of the Postal Service and unfortunately can't help with delayed mail or packages. Please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or at​ https://usps.force.com/emailus/s/​. Just choose the tab marked "Where is My Package" or "Where is My Mail."

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Patti
Jan 21, 2023
Your Comment
Over many years now our packages and important mail are delivered to the wrong customer. Utilizing the USPS tracking service has proved a HUGE waste of time as often it's not updated and there's no way to contact anyone about the status of a delivery. I'm certain no one would complain about the USPS's arbitrary and excessive increases if you actually cared about your customer's property and satisfaction. After many years of receiving our mail at 7pm, not receiving our mail, then returning neighbor's mail that has been delivered to us (and the address always clearly marked as their address so thats not the issue), loosing our local post office and putting up packages destroyed from being left in the rain when they could have been placed in the mailbox. I have little to no use for the USPS. Seems like price hikes are the priority with the USPS management and customer satisfaction is last if even a consideration.
Your Name
Justin Cook
Jan 20, 2023
Your Comment
I have been having issues with the mancelona mi, post office,

Delivery issues regarding m66 hwy mail lady,
She has harassed my family because she simply wanted to buy our home I guess....

Issues 2....no package delivered due to pets, so worked with them and did my best not to let the dogs out, also made the first acre or my 4 acres unaccessible to my pets via electric fence, was told about the pet policy and I understand it...it makes everyone safer so respect.

Delivery issue 3, again regarding my pets, but this time I drove to the post office and retrieved my packages, I then proceeded to ask if I got a package delivery box and placed it at the end of driveway by mail box if that would work so I can still get packages, but the post master started getting pissed and said that the driver doesn't have to deliver packages even if she sees our dogs, this is frustrating because my pets have never even barked at her and like I said I have a whole acre of land that my pets cannot reach but if they are out it doesn't matter, ask what do I do then build a fence around my property? Her response was very unprofessional....she said yes but if she can still see my dogs she doesn't have to deliver, I am not the only people dealing with this post office, check out the Google reviews, tells you everything you need to know....something needs to be done about this regarding strictly package delivery boxes that are in a designated safe location for driver to deliver packages regardless of my pets....I mean a whole acre of land should be safe enough for a mail person to deliver a package in a delivery box, maybe double fines if mail carrier is bitten as they are placing packages in a designated safe spot, maybe even have residence sign agreement with post office regarding this....idk just trying to get my packages and still have mail people feel safe
  
Your Name
Marie McIntosh
Jan 26, 2023
Your Comment
I am having a similar issue I have made multiple daily complaints since 01/10/2023 about not receiving packages. After my complaints to Consumer Affairs were redirect back to the local office they then lied about encountering my dogs who are inside dogs only out when I am out. I have offered to provide camera footage although they cannot provide a date for the incident as it did not occur my dogs were inside during her delivery hours. At best the carrier has seen my dogs when occasionally the dogs and I come out of the house some 30 foot away from the mailbox to collect the mail as she pulls away. Tracking scans confirm the falsifying of documents, camera footage can prove she did not encounter my dogs, corresponded can prove policy and procedural violations however my complaints are ignored by consumer affairs now that the carrier lied about my dogs. It is a great misuse of power to use such a clause to commit/coverup illegal acts and fraud within the USPS. Nothing is ever done no one is ever held accountable and everybody passes these complaints back to the local office to do what they please even if it is harassing, discriminatory, and/or bias.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Gerard Hempstead
Jan 18, 2023
Your Comment
I have studied this for several decades and tested my hypothesis over and over. My finding is that most Americans can live with mail delivery one day a week. ( note I said mail and not packages.)
I tested it this past 10 days. I had my mail held. After 10 days I had one piece of mail that was from my lawn guy , a bill for cutting the lawn, which I promptly paid in-line. By mail I’ll include all the discounted classes of mail which go into the circular file.