How is us mail sorted

The United States Postal Service (USPS) uses a complex system to sort mail efficiently and effectively. Here's an overview of the process:

1. Collection: Mail is collected from post offices, mailboxes, and businesses across the country.
2. Sorting at the Post Office: Mail is sorted at the local post office level, where it is organized by zip code, city, and state. This is done using automated sorting machines and manual sorting by postal workers.
3. Destination Sectional Center Facility (DFSC): Mail is then transported to a Destination Sectional Center Facility (DFSC), which is a large sorting facility that serves a specific geographic area. There are over 250 DFSCs in the USPS network.
4. Automated Processing: At the DFSC, mail is processed using automated machines that read the barcodes on the mailpieces and sort them by zip code, city, and state. This process is called "optical character recognition" (OCR).
5. Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb): The USPS uses an Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) on each mailpiece, which contains information such as the sender's and recipient's addresses, the mailpiece's weight, and the postage paid. The IMb is read by automated sorting machines to ensure accurate sorting and tracking.
6. Sorting by Zip Code: Mail is sorted by zip code at the DFSC, using a system called "zip code sorting." Mail is sorted into bins labeled with specific zip codes, and then transported to the next facility for further sorting.
7. Facility-to-Facility Transfer: Mail is transferred between facilities using trucks, planes, or trains, depending on the distance and volume of mail.
8. Delivery Point Sequencing (DPS): At the final sorting facility, mail is sorted by delivery point sequence (DPS), which means that mail is sorted in the order it will be delivered to each address. This ensures that mail is delivered in the most efficient order possible.
9. Delivery: Mail is then delivered to the recipient's mailbox or post office box.

Some additional facts about USPS mail sorting:

• The USPS processes over 180 billion pieces of mail each year.
• The average mailpiece travels about 1,500 miles before it reaches its final destination.
• The USPS uses over 200,000 vehicles to transport mail across the country.
• The USPS has over 40,000 postal workers who sort and deliver mail every day.

Overall, the USPS uses a combination of automated and manual processes to sort mail efficiently and effectively, ensuring that mail reaches its destination quickly and accurately.