Background

The U.S. Postal Service needs effective and productive operations to fulfill its mission of providing prompt, reliable, and affordable mail service to the American public. It has a vast transportation network that moves mail and equipment among approximately 315 processing facilities and 31,200 post offices, stations, and branches. The Postal Service is transforming its processing and logistics networks to become more scalable, reliable, visible, efficient, automated, and digitally integrated. This includes modernizing operating plans and aligning the workforce; leveraging emerging technologies to provide world-class visibility and tracking of mail and packages in near real time; and optimizing the surface and air transportation network. It further includes plans to create a modernized network based around regional processing and distribution centers (RPDC), local processing centers (LPC), and sorting and delivery centers (S&DC).1 RPDCs are multipurpose distribution centers with common designs, layouts, and processing equipment. Generally, each RPDC processes mail and packages originating in its service area and have one or more associated LPCs to sort letters and flats for delivery carriers.2 The goal of an RPDC is to merge mail processing into a central facility within a region to reduce transportation costs and improve service reliability. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviews the efficiency of mail processing operations at facilities across the country and provides management with timely feedback to further the Postal Service’s mission.

This report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of the efficiency of operations at the Macon LPC in Macon, GA (Project Number 25-014). We judgmentally selected the Macon, GA, LPC based on a review of first and last mile failures;3 workhours; scanning compliance;4 and late, canceled, and extra trips. The Macon LPC is in the Southeast Division and is serviced by the Atlanta RPDC. The Macon LPC processes letters and flats and services multiple 3-digit ZIP Codes in urban and rural communities.