Mail delivery is about to get slower, temporarily more expensive

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is anticipating a slowdown in operations, telling USA Today the agency will be implementing new operating standards that could safeguard mail deliveries and pickups.

Beginning Friday, the USPS “will implement new service standards for first-class mail and periodicals,” USPS spokeswoman Kim Frum told reporters.

Some of the changes will result in increased transit times for international and other long-distance deliveries, although according to Frum, 61 percent of first-class mail and 93 percent of periodicals will not be affected by the changes.

One Piece First Class Mail will still have the standard two day delivery time. This usually includes mail which is smaller and lighter.

First-class packages, however, will be subject to new delivery standards and schedules by Friday.

The USPS previously warned customers of delayed delivery times in August, with Postmaster General Louis De JoyLouis DeJoyWatchdog Says USPS Regularly Tricks Wage Workers FreedomWorks Fails On Postal Service Postal Reform To Slow Some Mail Deliveries From October MORE citing logistics such as air transport as obstacles, as well as the agency’s new 10-year infrastructure plan to overhaul its operations.

Significant financial losses prompted the overhaul of the USPS, which includes the consolidation of facilities and the phased implementation of new electric vehicle delivery cars.

Frum confirmed that more ground transportation will be used by the USPS to deliver mail, which has more reliability and consistency than air transportation.

“With this change, we will improve the reliability and predictability of service for customers while improving the efficiency of the postal network,” she told USA Today.