USPS Mail Delivery Times & Routes: USPS Marketing Analyzed

The United States Postal Service (USPS), otherwise known as U.S. mail, has been around since 1971 in its current form, although its origins go all the way back to 1775 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the nation's first Postmaster General. The U.S. Postal Service today is a federal agency of the United States that reaches every address in the nation and 160 million residents.

Most U.S. residents rely on it in one form or another to receive or send out mail and other deliverable goods. Although competitors exist in the U.S. for some of these deliverables, such as FedEx, the USPS is dominant and available across the nation, often regardless of where a resident lives.

It also has its own carrier routing system that can be noted and examined. This can be particularly useful for advertisers wanting to send marketing-related mail to as many residents as possible within a geographical area. 

What Is a Postal Carrier Route?

A United States Postal carrier route refers to specific geographical routes across the United States that mail carriers are responsible for delivering mail to. Each delivery route is assigned a unique identifier, known as a route number, which is used to identify the route and the carrier who delivers the mail on that route. 

The USPS uses a variety of tools and technologies to leverage these postal routes on an ongoing basis. This includes GPS tracking and route planning software. The goal is to ensure that mail is delivered efficiently and accurately to the correct addresses each time.

Also of note is that the postal carrier route includes a group of mailing addresses (i.e. neighborhoods) that receive the same USPS® code to aid in mail delivery efficiency.

How Are Carrier Routes Identified?

The United States Postal carrier routes are identified with the use of a unique route code that is nine digits long and assigned to each route by the USPS. These route codes are used to identify the specific geographical area that a mail carrier is responsible for.

The USPS uses various tools and resources to identify and define these delivery routes that the codes are assigned for. One important tool is the USPS Delivery Point Validation (DPV) system, which uses address data to identify the precise location of each delivery address.

Other factors that can influence the identification of USPS postal routes include population density, local geography, and other factors that may affect mail delivery in a particular area. Ultimately, the USPS uses a combination of data, technology, and human expertise to identify and manage carrier routes throughout the United States.

Example: 23060 R009

The first (5) digits indicate the ZIP Code, the next digit is a letter that defines the route type (i.e., R for Rural), and the last (3) digits are the carrier route code (i.e., 009)

How Many Carrier Routes Exist in the USA?

According to USPS data, The US Postal Service has 233,585 delivery routes across the United States. Approximately half of these carrier routes represent actual physical geographic boundaries where mail is delivered. The other half is dedicated to Post Office Boxes.

City delivery operations consist of two components, which are office and street operations. There are also intelligent, direct carrier routes to consider that are used to fill in any address gaps that may occur in certain counties, regions, states, or even the entire U.S.

The exact number of routes can fluctuate based on changes in population density, delivery volume, and other factors that may affect the USPS's overall operations. Additionally, the USPS may periodically consolidate routes in order to enhance delivery and reduce overall costs. Nonetheless, the USPS maintains an extensive network of carrier routes that enable it to deliver mail and packages to virtually every part of the U.S.

How Many Carrier Routes Are in Each ZIP Code?

There are approximately 31,000 ZIP Code boundaries within the US, and this averages out to about 8 Carrier Routes per ZIP Code. In urban areas, it’s more like 14 to 15 Carrier Routes per ZIP Code. 

The number of carrier routes per zip code depends on factors like population density and the geographical size of the area within the ZIP Code. This is also why in some cases, a single ZIP Code may have only one carrier route, but another one may have dozens. 

The number of carrier routes within a ZIP Code can also change over time. This is due to USPS adjusting its delivery operations to meet demands.

Can You Send Advertising Mail by Carrier Route?

It is possible to send direct mail advertising by the use of United States Postal carriers. Direct mail advertising is a popular and effective way for businesses to reach potential customers or leads through the mail and grow their brands.

There are companies specializing in delivering marketing material through the use of direct mail. It is a traditional method of advertising that has withstood the test of time. Check us out at Taradel, for example, to see our method of helping you in this regard, as it is one of a kind. 

To send direct mail advertising through the USPS, you will need to work with a third-party mail house or do it yourself using USPS's Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) program. EDDM allows you to target specific neighborhoods or ZIP Codes for your mailing without the need for a mailing list.

Carrier route mailing is often referred to as saturation mailing. Many advertisers wrongly think that a saturation mailing must be conducted at the ZIP code level; however, this is not true. Saturation mailing by carrier route (i.e. Every Door Direct Mail®) offers the maximum postage rate discounts from the USPS®.

When sending direct mail advertising, you need to ensure that the mail you send out complies with USPS requirements. Things like size, weight, addressing, and any applicable regulations specified for advertising content are examined. 

Are some zip codes better than others for delivery times?

Zip codes do not have a direct impact on the delivery time of letters or packages from one zip code to another. While the USPS strives to provide the fastest service possible, the actual speed of delivery is influenced by various factors.

These factors include the specific address, the day of the week, the volume of mail being processed, the mail in the local area, staffing levels, and several other variables. It is important to note that if there are no delivery delays, USPS mail and shipping services have standard delivery times. Therefore, it can be inferred that there is no way to categorize zip codes as being inherently better or worse for delivery times, as it depends on a combination of these factors.

How Can I View and Mail to Carrier Routes in My Area?

You can use Taradel's Mapfire app in order to find carrier routes within the United States. Some of the data or information it will provide you with includes counts of homes, businesses, and PO boxes in each route you look up. It will even provide you with demographic information (i.e. age, income, etc) of the people who live within the particular area you are interested in.

To use it, simply put in the ZIP Code you want to look up the carrier route to and click next. Then, select the budget you have at your disposal to see how many households you can reach with your advertising campaign. As you move the slider right and extend your budget, you can get data on how many households you can reach and the more you spend.

It then will allow you to select the audience type you want to reach, from business to consumer. Residential is required, however, and business is an optional bonus you can select with a check mark. You can even choose a radius or area within this geographical carrier route to reach your audience or, alternatively, drive-time minutes from your epicenter. 

The next screen will allow you to customize further the audience you are trying to reach from the medium age to household income and even if the resident is a homeowner or not. After you click next, you will see a heatmap of your local market or outreach potential spot. The red spots have the highest match rates to your target audience, besides green. 

Taradel’s technology will automatically select the top matches for you. You will see these as green areas on the map. You can even add or remove areas by clicking on them. Once you have your selection in place within your map, simply click on Save and Continue. 

How long does it take the USPS to deliver mail from one state to another?

When it comes to delivering mail from one state to another, the United States Postal Service (USPS) typically takes around two to three days, assuming there are no unexpected delays or issues. This timeframe is based on an average delivery time of 2.5 days nationwide. However, it's important to note that the actual delivery time can vary from person to person. Some individuals might experience a longer wait, while others may receive their mail sooner.

To set realistic expectations, the USPS generally recommends allowing two to five business days for delivery after the letter or package is initially mailed. This timeframe takes into account factors such as distance, transportation logistics, processing at various postal facilities, and other variables that may affect delivery time. While the USPS strives to deliver mail as quickly as possible, it's worth keeping in mind that unforeseen circumstances or external factors might occasionally cause slight delays.

What are the USPS delivery days?

USPS typically delivers mail Monday through Saturday each week of the year. However, please note that Saturday delivery is not guaranteed. To ensure better timing for your shipments, it is advisable to schedule outgoing mail during the earlier part of the week, preferably on Monday or Tuesday. Sending your mail closer to the beginning of the week increases the likelihood of it being delivered within the same business week.

Is Every Door Direct Mail® a Carrier Route Mailing Program?

Yes. Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) services allows you to promote your small business within your local community. For instance, if you are having a sale, opening a new location, or offering coupons, it can be used to send out postcards, menus, and even flyers to existing customers or potential leads.

When using EDDM, your mail offers delivery to every residential mailbox within the targeted carrier routes. You can include or exclude business and PO boxes at your own discretion.

You can use USPS’ EDDM online tool, which is available here, to map ZIP Codes and neighborhoods while filtering your results by age, income, or household size. This data comes from the U.S. Census.

Carrier Route Mailing Defined

USPS marketing mail is also known as ‘Carrier Route.’ In order to qualify for Carrier Route prices, you must sort your mailpieces to the individual carrier routes within a 5-digit ZIP Code.

All pieces of carrier route mailing must meet the basic requirements for USPS Marketing Mail; be part of a single mailing of at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of carrier route mail; be properly sorted to carrier routes and sequenced; bear a delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 Code; addresses must meet high-quality standards; be automation-compatible and bear a delivery-point barcode for some prices.

What Types of Businesses and Organizations Use Carrier Route Mailing?

EDDM is popular among small businesses, retailers, medical and dental practices, restaurants, churches, automotive dealerships and service centers, dry cleaners, car washes, insurance agents, realtors, home and appliance stores, and more. Service providers such as electricians, plumbers, and HVAC professionals successfully use EDDM as well. It is ideal for advertisers who require "blanket coverage" in local areas.

Mail Delivery Time from Zip Code to Zip Code

You may be asking yourself what the mail delivery time is from zip code to zip code when thinking of creating an advertising campaign. Generally, for standard mail, it takes three to four days for it to be delivered. Meanwhile, priority mail takes one to three days, and priority express mail takes one to two days.

Of course, this varies at times depending on where you live or the target audience lives you plan on reaching. Knowing your ZIP Code helps in knowing which of these shipping methods to choose. First-class mail is also worth considering if your package is under a certain weight or size, and it takes between one and three days anywhere in the United States to reach your intended target (however, it usually only takes one).

USP Mailmen Salaries and Job Outlook

USPS delivery men are known as mailmen or mail carriers. They are the foot soldiers of this branch and are the ones bringing and taking mail out of mailboxes across the U.S. Salaries for USPS mail carriers vary based on a variety of factors, including years of experience, location, and job responsibilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for postal service mail carriers in 2021 was $51,730 or $24.87 per hour. A high school diploma or equivalent is required for the position, and there is some short-term, on-the-job training involved in the employment process. 

In 2021, there were 507,100 jobs available for the position. Meanwhile, the overall employment of postal service workers was projected to decline by six percent from 2021 to 2031.

It's important to note that USPS mail carriers receive many forms of benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, and paid holiday leave, in addition to their base salary. Additionally, USPS often offers opportunities for career advancement and training for its employees.

Conclusion

As you see, there are a lot of nuances involved in USPS delivery times and finding ways to create advertising campaigns for different ZIP Codes throughout the United States. Check out our app to learn more about finding the right audience for you to target and be able to analyze.