Many Americans are familiar with the motto of the United States Postal Service (USPS). Many of us, however, are unaware of how that motto translates into USPS delivery days and times. It mentions “gloomy nights,” but do they actually deliver at night?
Does USPS Deliver at Night?
Letters and parcels are delivered between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to the USPS. As a result, USPS does not guarantee any deliveries during the night.
There are, however, certain deviations to this schedule, which are detailed below:
Does USPS Deliver at 8pm?
Holiday Hours: During periods of high postal activity, such as holidays, USPS has been known to extend the delivery window to 8:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m. in order to complete more deliveries in a single day.
Finishing the Route: USPS postal workers are noted for their unwavering commitment to completing their daily delivery routes. This means that your delivery could arrive after 5:00 p.m. if the truck is delayed due to weather or events, or if the journey takes longer than predicted.
There has been an increase in the frequency of delivery after 5:00 p.m. in recent years. Evening deliveries were determined to be caused by “insufficient staffing, late or inappropriate mail arrival, inaccurate route changes, and insufficient monitoring,” according to a USPS review. The amount of evening delivery is projected to drop as the USPS works to resolve these concerns.
How to Control Your USPS Delivery
Unfortunately, the United States Postal Service does not allow you to schedule your delivery on the day it is due to arrive. USPS does, however, provide USPS Delivery Instructions. You can direct your mailman to: using this online form.
- Your package should be left at a certain location.
- Your package should be left with a neighbour.
- Send your package to a different address within the United States.
- Keep your package at the Post Office until you can pick it up.
- Upgrade to Priority Mail as your service type.
- Increase the value of your bundle by adding extra services.
To use the USPS Delivery Instructions, follow these steps:
- Visit https://www.usps.com/manage/ for further information.
- Enter the tracking number for your package.
- Fill out the form with your selected delivery instructions.
You can plan a redelivery or have your parcel held at the post office for pickup if you miss your package delivery. To reschedule your delivery, follow these steps:
- Visit https://tools.usps.com/redelivery.htm for more information.
- Fill in your personal details.
- “Check Availability” is the option to choose.
- Choose your chosen method of redelivery.
How to Track your USPS Package
Given USPS’s aversion to guaranteeing a specific delivery time, making a plan to ensure you’re home when your package arrives can be difficult. Fortunately, tracking your package will allow you to determine when it will be delivered.
You may trace your USPS package using the USPS Tracking Service, which is available online. Simply input your tracking number to get real-time information on your package’s whereabouts.
The Argument for Daytime Deliveries
The USPS policy is for 95 percent of postal workers to return to the stores by 5:00 p.m., and 100 percent by 6:00 p.m. This standard was established by the USPS for two reasons:
Worker Safety: As the sun sets, the dangers of driving and making deliveries increase. As a result, USPS is able to reduce the risk connected with the job by limiting the amount of evening deliveries their employees do.
Budget: Because the USPS is a government agency, it is subject to the federal government’s budget. Keeping employees on a tight 8-5 schedule reduces overtime and ensures that the agency stays within its budget.