USPS Tests Same-Day  Package Delivery Program

The USPS launched a pilot program in November 2012 to test a new same-day delivery service called Metro Post. During the pilot, Metro Post will deliver packages for online retailers to and from participating locations.

The pilot program will take place in San Francisco and will run for approximately one year, unless the Postal Service decides to request an extension for an additional year; establishes Metro Post as a permanent product on a quicker timeline, or terminates the test early.

The Postal Service’s preliminary goal is to deliver packages between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. if a customer makes a purchase from a participating online retailer by 2 p.m. In addition to weekday deliveries, Metro Post deliveries will be made by 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

To qualify to participate, a company must have at least 10 physical locations in the United States and at least one of the locations must be in the test area. The USPS plans to partner with up to 10 companies for the duration of the test. During the first phase of testing, each participating company may receive same-day delivery of up to 200 packages per day.

Several other online retailers, such as Amazon, e-Bay and Wal-Mart, also have been experimenting with same-day delivery.

While there will be tremendous demand for this type of service, price will probably be the determining factor in the success of the program. The USPS anticipates that revenue could reach $10 million dollars in the first year.

In response to inquiries from the APWU, the USPS wrote in a letter to President Cliff Guffey that Metro Post would use a mobile device with a GPS navigational application to optimize deliveries. The location of delivery points will be transmitted to the device, which will provide audio turn-by-turn directions to city delivery personnel — primarily Transitional Employees — to each pick-up and delivery point.

The USPS further stated the new program would be tested the same way Express Mail was tested before it was introduced to a larger customer base.

APWU Employees

The APWU has expressed disagreement with the Postal Service’s decision to assign the work during the pilot phase to TE Letter Carriers. We believe the duties coincide more closely with the work of Clerk/Special Delivery Messengers and Delivery/Sales Services & Distribution Associates (DSSDAs), who make deliveries in any area within a city. By contrast, Letter Carriers make deliveries along a prescribed route during their r normal Tour 2 work hours.

In response to our concerns, the USPS said that no craft determination has been made at this point because the program is only a pilot. During the testing phase, managers said, the Postal Service wants to utilize employees who have USPS uniforms.

We believe this work should ultimately belong to the Clerk Craft, and we intend to fight for it.

Rob Strunk
Clerk Division Director

(This article by first appeared in the January/February 2013 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)