Postal Injection

Postal injection is the practice of transporting mail and packages via private carrier (truck, air) to USPS facilities closer to the final destination before entering the postal network. This “injects” mail deeper into the system, reducing transit time and costs.

How Postal Injection Works

Traditional USPS Flow

Origin Post Office
      ↓
Origin Processing Facility
      ↓
Network Distribution Center
      ↓
Destination Distribution Center
      ↓
Destination Post Office
      ↓
Delivery

With Postal Injection

Shipper's Facility
      ↓
Private Truck to Destination City
      ↓
INJECT → Destination Distribution Center
           ↓
         Destination Post Office
           ↓
         Delivery

Bypasses: Origin facilities, long-haul network
Saves: 2-4 days transit time

Types of Postal Injection

By Entry Point

DDU (Deepest Injection)

• Directly to local post office
• Final sort already done
• Delivered next day typically
• Highest discount
• Most logistics coordination

SCF Entry

• Regional facility
• Serves multiple ZIPs
• Good balance of discount and simplicity
• 1-2 days to delivery

Postal Injection Programs

USPS Programs

Hybrid Carriers

Benefits of Postal Injection

Speed

• Bypass slow USPS segments
• Skip origin processing
• Predictable transit
• 1-3 days faster typical

Cost

• USPS destination entry discounts
• Consolidated trucking efficient
• Avoid premium express services
• Leverage USPS last mile rates

Reliability

• Control more of the journey
• Avoid USPS network congestion
• Better tracking until injection
• Predictable delivery windows

Postal Injection Costs

USPS Discount Structure

Parcel Select pricing tiers:

Origin entry (full price): $7.50
NDC entry: $6.80 (10% savings)
SCF entry: $6.20 (17% savings)
DDU entry: $5.50 (27% savings)

True Cost Calculation

Traditional USPS from CA to NY:
Parcel Select: $8.00, 5-7 days

With injection to NY SCF:
Trucking: $2.00/package (consolidated)
USPS SCF entry: $5.50
Total: $7.50, 2-3 days

Savings: $0.50 + 3-4 days faster

Who Uses Postal Injection

Ideal For

• E-commerce businesses (high volume)
• Catalog mailers
• Subscription boxes
• Marketing mail senders
• Fulfillment companies

Volume Requirements

• Usually 500+ packages minimum
• Consolidated to destination areas
• Regular, predictable shipments
• Logistics infrastructure

Injection Logistics

How Shippers Do It

Option 1: Self-managed

• Own trucking network
• Multiple regional warehouses
• Direct USPS relationships
• Significant infrastructure

Option 2: Consolidator

• Work with mail consolidator
• They handle trucking
• Volume aggregated with others
• Simpler for shipper

Option 3: Hybrid Carrier

• Use UPS SurePost, FedEx SmartPost
• Carrier handles injection
• Easiest implementation
• Less control, predictable pricing

Postal Injection Challenges

Operational

• Logistics coordination
• Meeting USPS requirements
• Manifest accuracy
• Timing synchronization

Tracking

• Visibility gaps during transport
• USPS scan at injection
• Customer confusion possible
• Need good communication

Volume Requirements

• Minimum volumes to destinations
• May need to batch shipments
• Not efficient for scattered deliveries
• Works best with regional concentration

Implementing Postal Injection

Getting Started

1. Analyze shipping patterns
2. Identify destination concentrations
3. Evaluate consolidator options
4. Calculate ROI
5. Set up operations
6. Test and monitor

Consolidator Selection