The U.S. Postal Service is preparing to make a major change that could reshape how final-mile freight moves across the country. Beginning in early 2026, USPS plans to open access to its final mile delivery network to a broader range of shippers, giving more companies the ability to inject packages directly into local delivery units.
For last-mile delivery drivers and fleet managers, this shift signals potential changes in volume flow, routing strategies, and how delivery work is structured at the neighborhood level.
What USPS is opening up
USPS announced it will allow shippers of all sizes to bid for access to its more than 18,000 Destination Delivery Units nationwide. These DDUs are the local facilities where mail carriers stage and launch daily delivery routes.
The solicitation process is expected to begin in late January or early February 2026. USPS said it will release additional details in the coming months.
While USPS has offered DDU-based delivery services for years, access has traditionally been limited to a small group of large customers such as UPS, FedEx, and Amazon. The new approach expands eligibility beyond those major players.
The Postal Service said it is opening the network “to all business types, big and small,” and explained the goal is “to help shippers reduce their costs, while generating much-needed revenue for the Postal Service,” according to Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner.
How the program is expected to work
Shippers seeking access will be able to submit proposals that specify volume commitments, pricing, and tender times at individual DDUs. For bids that are accepted, USPS would handle the final delivery, typically on the same day or the next day after induction.
This structure allows shippers to offload the most expensive portion of delivery while maintaining control over upstream transportation and linehaul operations.
Steiner emphasized the scale of USPS coverage, noting that USPS currently delivers to more than 170 million addresses at least six days a week.
“So we are the natural leader in last-mile delivery. In the logistics business, the most expensive part of delivery is generally the last-mile portion of a route,” he said.
Why this matters to final mile operations
For fleet managers, opening access to DDUs could change how routes are designed and how labor is deployed. More volume entering the USPS system at the local level may reduce the need for private fleets to run deep residential routes, especially in dense urban and suburban areas.
For drivers, the impact may vary by market. Some areas could see steadier volume flows and fewer stops on dense routes handled by private contractors. Others may experience shifts in start times or workload as freight is injected closer to delivery points.
USPS said it has the capacity to absorb more shipping volume and believes better utilization of its existing infrastructure is necessary.
“We need to utilize and better monetize our assets efficiently and effectively, and doing so will benefit the sustainability of the Postal Service as a whole,” USPS said in a statement.
Financial pressures behind the move
The Postal Service reported a net loss of nine billion dollars in the most recent fiscal year. Expanding final-mile services is part of a broader effort to generate revenue without adding new delivery days or building new infrastructure.
Steiner said the intent is to give customers more flexibility.
“We want to allow customers to custom-build their last-mile solution,” he added. “We want to make the service as convenient, cost-effective, and efficient as possible. We have achieved impeccable service performance scores for our last mile, which reflects the simple, quick-turn processing that occurs at a local DDU… Because our delivery operations are already visiting every home and business daily, we can help shippers reduce their costs while generating much-needed revenue for the Postal Service.”
What fleet managers should watch next?
Details around pricing structures, volume thresholds, and geographic rollout will determine how widely this program is adopted. Fleet managers should monitor how the solicitation process is structured and which markets see early participation.
For last-mile drivers, the key takeaway is that final-mile delivery is continuing to evolve. As USPS opens its network more broadly, the balance between private delivery fleets and postal delivery routes may shift, especially in markets where cost pressure is highest.
More information is expected as USPS releases solicitation documents ahead of the early 2026 bid window.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
