Can anyone explain USPS package routing?

UPS has done the same thing to me. A recent package took 11 days to get from Montana to Arizona by way of the east coast.
 
I prefer USPS. I live in a small town and the service is excellent.

UPS is OK.

I avoid FedEx if at all possible. I have placed orders and cancelled them when I saw that FedEx would be the carrier.

Tom
 
As one of the managers who ran it, without government assistance, I don't think much of your opinion.
USPS is supported by its own stamps, products, and services, not by tax dollars.
As a moderator here on Bladeforums, I don't think much of your vulgarity, either.

I apologize for the vulgarity....won't happen again. As for the USPS being tax-payer supported.....may not be yet, but it will be soon because it can no longer support itself based on stamps, products and services. Regarding my opinion of USPS....you can have your opinion and I can have mine; whether you think much of mine or not is also your opinion.
 
USPS is the best carrier I've ever used and my hat is off to those who work to get me my mail! I've been to every USPS hub around my area and it is quite an operation. The people are nice and I get to spend time with tiny chicks twice a week! (cheep cheep cheep!)

I just had a giant box delivered by USPS that looks like it hasn't even been touched after being boxed up by the shipper. It shipped from Montana to the midwest.

I had several very expensive antique bridge lamps, packaged to prevent extremely rough handling, arrive via Fedex destroyed. Fork hole all the way thru one box (the lamp cut in half) and that other run over by some kind of vehicles, twice. 2 separate tire marks. They were so kind as to ask me to sign clear bills. NOT!

UPS is OK but slow and although they haven't destroyed anything as bad as Fedex did, some boxes arrive looking pretty bad.

Never had a problem with DHL.


As someone who works in surface transportation, I can tell you that some of the routings you see that don't make sense are done on purpose, at least in the LTL trucking business.
 
I can't explain USPS package routing, but I have used USPS for about 35 years and rarely had a problem... a few missent packages that ultimately were delivered to the correct address. I still marvel at how USPS and APO worked together to get packages to us in some of the most remote and sometimes hostile parts of the world.
 
I still marvel at how USPS and APO worked together to get packages to us in some of the most remote and sometimes hostile parts of the world.

1968, stationed in Turkey, my grandmother would send me boxes of home made cookies.
One box arrived and I didn't notice the postage till later. She had used S&H Green Stamps. :)
 
At least your packages usually make it to you. When I was 18, I took a Christmas job at UPS as a jumper on the delivery truck. The following Christmas, I got a job working in the UPS depot. Just because a package is marked fragile does not mean it gets the soft touch. You also would not believe how many packages end up on the ground around the delivery bay. Also, you better use insurance. They want you to unload a truck as fast as you can go. A box fell on my foot and crushed it, putting me on WC. They wanted me to go take a rest, and get back in the truck. I still use them for shipping, have friends that work for them.

I am so glad that the ladies at my PO take great care of me. They are sweethearts. It is a small country PO, and they know everyone. I try to conduct all of my business there. I've had packages from the west coast make it to me in MD in two days, and packages from VA or PA make it to me in two days. No complaints here.
 
So, I have been tracking a package and the routing is baffling me and my google-fu is apparently weak at the moment.

It's an international package from Canada to a US address (Alaska). Shipping began with Canada Post and I guess switched to USPS when the package hit the US. Apparently the last place the package left Canada from Toronto and entered the US in IL, where it spent three days before bouncing to MA, and then NH - apparently finally enroute today to "destination" but USPS customer service can't tell me how much longer it's going to take or if there are any other stops along the way. Since the destination is AK I'm confused why it went all the way to the East Coast from IL when the delivery address is the opposite direction.

If anyone has any idea how the routing process works I'd be interested in hearing it - especially since USPS "customer service" couldn't tell me.
Twice I sent my son a card to Ohio from New Orleans and both times it went west and ended up in California! Second one "still in transit to next Facility" which means they don't know where it is???
My local USPS team are awesome but mailing out of state, a real heart attack!
 
For the most part USPS has been good. Louisiana to Louisiana through Spokane, not so good. Lantern from NH to Louisiana been missing for 5 years now. At least when USPS delivered a knife to the wrong house, they used the GPS delivery receipt to go get it back the next day. So B+ grade.
 
I'm starting to question using USPS anymore recently.

it took almost 6 business days to have a package deliverey reattempted... seems like a simple thing..... toss it in the next days deliveries and go from there...
🤷‍♂️🕵️‍♂️
 
Let's just say their not as efficient as Santa.. zig zags are a favorite on the continental map also
 
I'm starting to question using USPS anymore recently.

it took almost 6 business days to have a package deliverey reattempted... seems like a simple thing..... toss it in the next days deliveries and go from there...
🤷‍♂️🕵️‍♂️
Not when it falls outta the tote, sits in a postal van, lost under the seat parked in the back of the lot until the worker gets back from Vacation and cleans his van out next 😀
 
That said I'm still 100% usps they don't rob me with made up fees at customs like FedEx and ups. I've had 150.00 brokerage fees on less than a dollar paid. The scammers just calculate on the total value based on item and hit you in full fixed rate regardless :(
 
But seriously the stuff is all sorted to distribution hubs. With the changes to USPS recently there are fewer hubs.

That means stuff crosses the US in weird jumps vs. someone just putting a package in a Trans Am and driving straight from Texarkana to Atlanta in 28 hours.
 
But seriously the stuff is all sorted to distribution hubs. With the changes to USPS recently there are fewer hubs.

That means stuff crosses the US in weird jumps vs. someone just putting a package in a Trans Am and driving straight from Texarkana to Atlanta in 28 hours.
Great business idea.. trans am express
 
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