We acknowledge and understand your frustration with the Mail Transport Equipment (MTE) issues you have shared with us over the last few weeks in certain pockets of the country. We will not bother you with the whys or reasons as you are more concerned with the how and when it will be fixed.
Our Headquarters Network Operations and MTE offices have undertaken several steps to fill gaps in our shortages and improve our processes where they have broken. The demand for certain products is at a four year high which adds to the issue.
To start with, we purchased 200,000 presswood pallets in the final weeks of FY 2011 to meet needs till our FY 2012 orders started arriving. Currently, our FY 2012 orders of pallets, sacks, and flat tubs are arriving and entering the mail stream. We expect the first orders of trays and sleeves to start arriving very soon.
We realize this is only stemming the tide of your needs at present, so we have undertaken two additional steps to meet your needs. First, we have placed an immediate order for slat wood pallets to get into the system immediately. We realize these pallets are not your first choice but they can be made immediately available. Secondly, we have advanced our Quarter 2 pallet purchases so we can build up the volume in the network and eliminate the roving shortages.
We have also extended weekend hours where appropriate at some of our MTESCs to enable them to process equipment from our plants and maintain our supplies. We also have put processes in place with the Area and District Operations to monitor and move product from one location to another with peak demand. Finally, we are continuing to work with our Supply Management team to move up timeframes for delivery of other products in high demand that were originally planned for Qtr 2.
Your concerns have been heard loud and clear at all levels of our organization. We welcome your continued feedback so we can continue to improve the situation. We value your business and we value your partnership with the USPS.
Susan M. LaChance
Vice President
Consumer and Industry Affairs