The United States Postal Service is tightening the reins on its third-party trucking contracts, announcing a new initiative to phase out non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) operators who have not undergone rigorous vetting by the Postal Inspection Service.
The move aligns with broader federal efforts to secure American roadways, specifically following the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recent interim final rule, “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses.”
By enforcing stricter standards for contracted drivers, the Postal Service aims to bolster accountability and add a critical layer of protection to its massive logistics network.
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“The safety of our employees, our customers, and the American public is of the utmost concern to the Postal Service,” said Amber McReynolds, chairwoman of the Postal Service Board of Governors. “In order to maintain the highest possible safety standards, we have decided to phase out any use of non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License operators who have not been thoroughly vetted by the Postal Inspection Service.”
The logistics behind the Postal Service are staggering. The agency moves approximately 55,000 truckloads daily, covering nearly 2 billion miles a year to reach over 170 million addresses. With operations running six to seven days a week, officials say the correlation between operational efficiency and safety is undeniable.
Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner noted that the new requirements come on the heels of a successful holiday rush.
“USPS just completed an extremely safe and efficient peak season delivering the nation’s holiday mail and packages,” Steiner said. “We believe this additional requirement will strengthen the safety, efficiency, and reliability of our services into the future.”
The crackdown on unvetted drivers is part of a larger strategy to promote a “culture of safety” within the agency, which includes continuous monitoring of government and industry data regarding contractors to minimize accidents.
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