In an effort to better track performance, beginning next spring the Postal Service will require airline transportation carriers to scan mail from the time they receive it until it is turned over to the USPS.
This is part of the second phase of the USPS’ Surface Air Support System (SASS).
“The platform leverages technology used to collect, process and deliver mail to tell postal management ‘when and where the mail is,’ so we can place the right resources in the right place at the right time,” said Paul Vogel, vice president, network operations management in a statement.
The Postal Service is negotiating a new contract with commercial air carriers that coinciding with these enhancements. The contract, scheduled to begin in May 2003, will include incentives based on contractor pricing, contractor performance measurements and adjustments to mail assignments.
The first phase of the SASS program, completed September 2001, created a payment system for the FedEx Express contract to fly mail and track its performance, as well as track performance of mail on Amtrak.
Phase III of the program is being tested to determine the viability of including truck and rail carriers. Vogel also obtained funding approval for the network operations management portion of the enterprise data warehouse where the Postal Service will consolidate processing and network information into a single database to improve network planning and management activities.
