About USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) plays an important role in the transportation of written correspondance and other items. As an independent branch of the United States government, they are free to operate as a stand-alone business, but can benefit from government protection and subsidies. The USPS is the largest employer in the country and employees one of the largest private vehicle fleets of any company in the world. They use these resources to perform the remarkable task of transporting millions of items to millions of people each day.

History

The United States was home to a postal service before it was even established as a country. In the late seventeenth century, as British subjects began to colonize America, England instituted a postal service in the U.S. based on the one back in the home country. At the Second Continental Congress, the existing system was deemed the "United States Post Office" by order of the U.S. Constitution. The USPO was designed to help organize post offices and mail transporting systems. Over time, mail was carried by horseback, rail, air and road. In 1971, the Post Office was declared an independent agency under the Postal Reorganization Act.

Function

In the past, mail was delivered by horseback, rail or boat. Today, it is shuttled across the country by USPS pilots aboard company aircraft. It is then distributed by state, town, and zip code where it is coded and prepared for delivery. There, individual mail carriers transport the mail to homes and businesses, a process that is repeated Monday through Saturday, excluding major holidays. The USPS also accepts packages and sells shipping related supplies.

Types

There are several types of USPS branches. The largest is a distribution and sorting center. These facilities act as central hubs, and serve dozens or hundreds of local branches. Mail is sorted and shipped to local post offices for delivery to individuals. The second major type of postal facility is the town post office. There, mail can be dropped off or picked up by consumers, mailing supplies can be purchased, and P.O. boxes can be rented and utlized. Finally, there is a special type of mail facility throughout the U.S. called a Classified Mail Center. Here, government and military correspondance is handled by specially trained staff who have been granted security clearance to work with these sensitive documents.

Considerations

There are several different types of mail delivery available. The most common is first class or parcel. This is the traditional method of sending an item, and one of the most economical. Mail will be delivered in roughly 7 to 10 days. The USPS also offers Priority Mail, which guarantees delivery in 2 to 3 days. Finally, there is Express Mail, which is the most expensive, but comes with a guarantee that your mail will be delivered on the very next day. The USPS also offers insurance and delivery confirmation programs along with all of these mailing methods.

Effects

Because it is an independent branch of the U.S. government, the USPS is offered certain protections against competition. This was done to ensure the country will always have a cohesive mail system. Despite these protections, several competitors have sprung up that offer quick delivery. These include Fed-Ex, UPS and DHL. All three of these companies offer programs similar to the USPS Priority and Express services, but because of high volumes and excellent service records, they can command high prices and repeat business.