The Postal Service has warned of package delays at its Indianapolis regional processing and distribution center over the next two to three weeks. The facility is installing new sorting machines for large packages that were previously processed manually. USPS is also changing routes into and out of the region and hiring to support the changes.
Louisville, Kentucky, has also been running behind since mid-September while handling volume from Evansville, Indiana, where USPS is installing new equipment. Louisville was expected to be current by Sept. 20, but a later update said delays would continue “over the next few weeks” as new sorting equipment is installed.
The current moves include:
Evansville: Some volume is moving to Louisville while the facility is upgraded
Louisville: Handling additional Evansville volume while its own equipment is installed
Knoxville, Evansville and Lexington: Some volume is moving through Nashville and the Springdale, Ohio, Annex
Nashville and Springdale: Customers may see originating processing scans from these facilities as the changes take effect
A USPS notice listed 19 facilities getting new or modified package equipment starting in September, from Los Angeles and Tampa to Des Moines and Spokane. Twelve are shifting some package processing to other facilities during the work.
The upgrades are part of Postmaster General David Steiner’s push to handle more larger packages. “Our network was designed for lower-weight packages. We need to move that up,” he said. USPS averages about 1 to 1.2 pounds per package, versus about 5 pounds at FedEx and UPS, according to Supply Chain Dive.
USPS’s temporary holiday prices on its package products take effect Oct. 4 and run until Jan. 17.
