Why doesn't the post office stop daily delivery and start delivery every other day to save fuel?

Question

Postman could also check water, gas, and electric meters while on their routes. I would think these modifications would save a lot of fuel. For that matter, mail delivery could be slowed by two days and reduce the amount of mail that is transported by air. It could be sent by rail instead and rail uses much less fuel per pound.

Answer 1

I believe there are some municipalities in Canada and the USA that have and are running trials of this concept.

Remember this will put people out of work who were donig the other jobs.

This does not sit well with unions.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

Yes, that could be a good initiative. Also, all the mails and parcels by different vendors could be integrated at sub-locations, from where they could be relayed to further common locations. It could save the efforts of each vendor, as all the common location delivery could be integrated by all saving a lot of fuel and power, and ofcourse TIME

Answer 3

in Belgium they had a sort of system that the postman was a central figure but the "open market"  policy blocked it. in Holland the post on Monday is not delivered

Answer 4

because i want my mail!!!!!!!!  people would not be happy with not getting their mail every day.

Answer 5

The duty of the postal service is to deliver mail not read meters.

Recently, the postal service has floated ideas about delivering goods besides mail and UPS raised a big stink.

Answer 6

If the check is in the mail and you need it ASAP, an extra day won't do.  They could promote or add mail pickup at the post office, and people could swing by on their way home or while doing errands to pick up their own mail.  As for doubling up, too much training, impacts on other jobs, etc.  And the fact is that often postal carriers add another route when someone is on vacation or during flu season.

But I like your line of thinking.  I don't if the postal service has done any studies to improve fuel savings.  I'd like to see them use a fleet of electric cars.  That would be a big step in the right direction.

Answer 7

not rain or snow or dark night (or people trying to put postmen out of work by complaining on Y/A) will keep the mail from being delivered

Answer 8

In my business, we need to cash our large checks on a daily basis so we are able to collect more interest.

So we gain a few cents more

Answer 9

Where I live the Post Office does NOT deliver.  

According to them I don't even have a zip code! (I am 'between' 3 different zip code areas and in none!)

I also don't have either a gas or electric meter, as mentioned by some others!!

Rail does NOT cover the nation NEAR as well as AIR, so MORE trucks would be needed to take it where rail doesn't go.

Answer 10

It is a government agency and the US economy depends on the daily delivery of the mail.