Transportation

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 (or, networks), covering air transportation, surface transportation, and logistical support activities. The Postal Service uses a complex transportation system that depends on the nation’s air, highway, rail and maritime infrastructure to move about 165 billion pieces of mail worldwide. Transportation includes a fleet of more than 200,000 owned vehicles, 12,000 leased trailers and 15,500 commercially contracted highway transportation routes driving about 3 billion miles per year. Major logistical activities support the movement of mail and include mail transport equipment service centers, airport mail centers, fuel procurement, vehicle acquisition, information technology, and various supplies. Transportation costs the Postal Service about $8 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.

 

The Postal Service uses air, highway, rail and maritime transportation to move the mail. The Postal Service assigns mail to a specific type of transportation based on the type of mail and its service standards.