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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.

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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.
Your Name
Danielle Duncan
Jan 18, 2023
Your Comment
I believe that it is a inside job on many occasions I monitor my mail. Along with the time I receive the mail any my gaming box has been bocken multiple times had keys duplicated. They say if you not going to do something about don't complain. So right now I feel like that there need to be more background check on employees and new technology improvement to monetary system. Its crazy how U S mail is being compromise on many accounts. Mail been sent out and you don't receive it to two to three weeks late you can miss deadline. However Im over it its been for so long and if you complain you harassed by employees inside the department so do it even mater why even mention its all a monopoly if you ask me
Your Name
David Wright
Jan 18, 2023
Your Comment
The idea of using informed delivery as a tool to notify customers of service issues is a great idea. Customer accountability is paramount to good service. If mail cannot be delivered it is of critical importance the USPS is transparent and honest with customers as to WHY their mail was not delivered. This means accurate scans reflecting why a package wasn't delivered as it should have been. As an example I had a package scanned as out for delivery and I got it several days later. Reason given: weather delay - on a 50 degree day with no snow on the ground or any adverse weather conditions. The reason given was an outright lie. There needs to be accountability for undelivered mail and direct HONEST accountability to customer inquiry when these situations are questioned. Further there should be some sort of a review process when mail that should be delivered is not. Postal employees at all levels have accountability to ensure mail is delivered promptly and should be held accountable when appropriate. Aundrie Cross was murdered over a "no access" scan when a package suspected of containing illegal drugs was not delivered as expected. I guess his customers held him accountable whether he was guilty or not.
Your Name
Anu Nair
Jan 18, 2023
Your Comment
So frustrated with the mail tampering and corrupt mail carrier in our area. Mail is deliberately delivered to the wrong addresses. Been the case for years. Driver’s license, credicards atm cards and sensitive documents. Only time any sort of investigation was done was when debit card was used! Everything else is shrugged off. The neighbors involved with the mailman in this venture challenges us - go to the police - good luck with that! My time sensitive pre- paid mail is the main issue! My insurance information was delivered 10 days late causing my insurance to lapse! The time sensitive mail pre- paid mail is stolen and then mailed at a later date! There is no way of determining when it was posted or processed! I wish there was. Please please come down hard on these thieves! I am worried about identity theft and physical safety!
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 19, 2023
Your Comment
Thanks for your message. The best thing to do would be to file an online complaint with our Hotline. You can access the online complaint form by visiting our Website, clicking the "Contact Us" tab on the top and selecting "Hotline." This will allow us to look into the matter for you.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Christopher Grillone
Jan 17, 2023
Your Comment
we have not received our mail in Southlake Tahoe, California for two weeks. This is not weather related. When we went to the post office and waited in line for three hours, we were told that they would not give us our mail.
  
Your Name
OIG Webmaster
Jan 19, 2023
Your Comment
Thank you for your comments. The OIG is an independent agency of the Postal Service and many of these issues fall outside of our jurisdiction. However, we do read all blog comments and pass on relevant information to our auditors and investigators. If you have not already done so, please try contacting your local Post Office. If you have already done that, try contacting USPS Customer Service, 1 (800) 275-8777, or to file an online complaint with Customer Service (and for frequently asked questions), go to the USPS Website and enter "Customer Service Help" in the search function.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)