Do Usps Make Separate Deliveries For Registered Packages

Background

The U.S. Postal Service offers Registered Mail for customers sending valuable or irreplaceable items through the postal service. Registered Mail provides added protection for valuable and important client and internal mail with evidence of mailing and delivery.

Tracking service begins from the fourth dimension the sender presents the mail to the Postal Service to the point of delivery. An answerable private must sign for the Registered Post slice each fourth dimension it changes easily and each intermediary role must set command logs. Registered Mail pieces also crave specific packaging and sealing methods for security and protection. When not in transit, Registered Mail pieces must be stored in a locked safe, room, or cage separated from other mail.

During financial year 2016, the Postal Service candy [redacted] 1000000 pieces of Registered Post and collected revenue of about [redacted] million.

We used geographical information organization mapping, insurance claims, and Registered Mail volume to judgmentally select xv postal service offices and two registry sections from 4 areas for review.

Our objectives were to review current operational controls over Registered Mail for effectiveness, follow-up on prior recommendations from a 2012 audit, and identify potential process improvements and efficiencies.

What the OIG Found

Postal Service operational controls over Registered Mail at 14 of 15 mail offices visited were non always adequate, effective, or followed. Some of the post offices had multiple issues such as:

Half-dozen post offices had safes storing Registered Mail and other answerable items that were open and unattended during business hours.

Two doors to the registry room or cage were open and unlocked when not in utilise and the safe central was non secure at one of the post offices.

One post office'due south Registered Postal service for daily bank deposit was not secured routinely while pending dispatch and remittance.

Half dozen post offices left Registered Mail pieces unattended in an open area.

4 post offices did not maintain logs recording personnel access to the registry room or cage.

Fourteen post offices had employees who did non complete required training courses for acceptance, transfer, and security of Registered Mail.

We also determined that the Postal Service did not complete corrective activeness on prior U.Southward. Mail service Office of Inspector Full general report recommendations related to Registered Mail.

Specifically:

Two of iii post offices in the Southern Surface area did not provide a step-by-pace procedure toolkit to employees responsible for Registered Mail or consummate the Registered Postal service compliance checklist. Southern Area direction agreed to provide a copy of the toolkit to employees in response to a prior audit recommendation.

Ii of nine post offices in the Capital Metro and Western areas did not appraise vulnerability and chance associated with facilities, including those related to Registered Post. Area direction agreed to complete the assessments in response to a prior audit recommendation.

As a effect of the issues identified, the Postal Service is at an increased run a risk of delayed mail, theft, or loss which could also increment insurance claims and customer dissatisfaction with the Registered Mail service, potentially impacting its brand.

Further, opportunities exist for postal service offices and registry section offices to better the Registered Mail procedure and efficiencies past implementing evolving technology. These improvements should strengthen information sharing, provide more efficient services, and minimize risks associated with unlocked cages, cabinets, or safes.

What the OIG Recommended

Nosotros recommended management verify that employees responsible for Registered Mail complete the required training; monitor Registered Mail operations to ensure employees comply with policies and procedures; update the manual portions of the procedure; and monitor technology to modernize the Registered Postal service process.

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