Post Office Asks to Cut a Delivery Day

The U.S. Postmaster General asked a Senate subcommittee Wednesday to allow the U.S. Postal Service to reduce its six-days-a-week delivery schedule to five days, news services reported.

Potter said the postal service delivered 4.5% less mail during the 12 months ended Sept. 30, a decline of more than 9 billion pieces, Bloomberg reported. That drop combined with high fuel prices added up to a loss of $2.8 billion, greater than expected,

Six-day delivery is mandated by Congress, and Postmaster General John Potter said the USPS may no longer be able to afford to do it given the drop in volume. He said that at most mail service would be curtailed by one day a week, Bloomberg reported.

The post office purchases transportation services for its operations in addition to running its own fleet. It also combines with parcel couriers to provide “last mile” delivery after the commercial couriers perform the linehaul segment.