Machines of the USPS - U.S. Post Office automating sorting of letters and packages
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- čas přidán 2. 12. 2010
- Every wondered what kind of machines the USPS uses to sort your mail? When I worked for the USPS, I made this video to show some of the systems used to sort letters, flats (magazine-sized), and packages.
Note: I resigned from the USPS in 2013 to focus on my CZcams channels and to be a content creator!
I hear people complain about the USPS but honestly it's amazing how few packages they actually lose or whatnot considering the millions of packages they have to process. I've used them for ebay since 2007 so I had to watch and see how it was done.
Their system is truly remarkable. I've been on eBay since 1998 and I've only lost 1 package and that could have been the seller. UPS has also lost one of mine but I rarely use them. It's USPS vs. Others 100:1. For just a few dollars they can 99.99% of the time get anything anywhere sometimes the very next day no matter what. Remarkable. They need more CZcams videos highlighting stuff like this.
It may be silly but I feel proud that I am doing a job that serves the American public! Plus, I am thankful to have a job =)
IM WORKING ON A SUPERPAC TO HELP USPS. ILL FIGHT FOR YOU BROTHER💪🏽
You should feel proud! We depend on you guys! Thank you!
Wow this is one of your best videos ever, and I just now found it! 🤣 I’ve been tracking a lot of packages lately, and I was wondering what it’s like in the USPS Distribution Centers, versus the Logistics Centers, how packages get onto planes and trucks, all that stuff. I’m even trying to build one of those long conveyor belt sorters for another hobby. So thanks for giving us a glimpse of how big and busy it all is!
Nice, I'm a clerk a parcal sorter.
Shhh! I'm still working at the USPS but not at the building in this video =)
I was careful to not show any customer's addresses or employees. I didn't reveal any security concerns and I also showed the USPS in a positive light too.
Thanks for your video. I had a night job at a mail processing facility in Omaha in 1989 or 1990. It's great to see the mail sorters and DBCS machines again. Gosh, it was just like Willy Wonka's factory.
I was told I was not allowed to talk to you Mail Handler guys :) and to just stay out of your way.
@@douglasheld I am glad I made this video while I was still working for the USPS. I resigned in 2013 after 23 years of service to focus on being a full-time content creator =)
I feel like it's take a kid to work day. Thanks for making me feel young again
This was AWESOME! Thank you. Our homeschool lesson was about mail carriers. This video was so wonderful to share with the kids! Thank you so much.
You're welcome - Thanks!
Everyone I talk to thinks of carriers when it comes to the USPS. There's far more to it. Stations and bulk mail receiving areas get the mail. Mailhandlers get the mail moving to it's respective areas to be processed by clerks. Once processed it's the job of Mailhandlers to get the mail to the dock where it's loaded on to trucks and taken to airports or by truck to the next processing destination then the process begins again, mailhandler, clerk, mailhandler, clerk, carrier and delivery to you the customer. It's a 24/7 operation to get the mail out. I forgot to mention the carriers also collect mail along their routes in addition to delivering. Can't forget maintenance of the machines by mechanics and electronic techs. Custodians keeping all of the floors clean of debris and trash taken out. Takes a big team.
Yes, I was a clerk for two years and then transferred to the mailhandler craft in 1992. Right now, I am working in the Van Nuys FSS facility. Those are some pretty big machines too =)
Oh you a friendly CA neighbor!
Yes, these machines help us process more mail and faster too. Some help with the heavier work.
2:55 Weeee!!! That part was fun. I strapped the camera to a tray and let it go =)
Ahhhh as a recently retired clerk who worked in the plant for my entire 35 yrs I did wonder if that’s what you did. Great job, on the entire video, btw😉
I worked @ the Merrifield Plant in Northern Virginia 22081
Very cool video and information, Mark! I wondered how'd the mail system worked, and now I know a bit more! Also I wanna ride that slide a few more times! Gonna use Rewind!
I'm glad you enjoyed it =)
@unmarkedtrails I am changing jobs/work location for the USPS in january so I'm glad that I got this footage now.
The bikes are for the mechanics. It is a large building so it makes it quicker for them to get around and they can have some tools in the basket with them too.
Yes, I have seen Hot Wheels boxes in the past but for the past few years, I have worked in the departments that process magazine-sized mail.
I don't memorize the terms but I believe that DPS means Delivery Point Sequence. That means that the mail is in the order of the carrier's route. I couldn't say why a DPS mail truck run is so important because I work on an evening tour. It's the early-morning tour that would have critical dispatches to the stations and somebody from that tour would be better suited to answer your question.
That was AMAZING!!! I NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH WENT INTO MAIL AND PACKAGES UNTIL NOW ! THANKS!!!
You're welcome, thanks for watching and thanks for packing our goodies for the safe trip =)
That was a great idea for you to show him this video so he can get an idea what's happening with his package. That is an awesome story! Thanks for letting me know =)
Watching your video really has given me a new respect for all of the work that goes into shipping a product.
I can easily foresee an instance where Amazon and some of the other big box retailers setup shop right next to the original mail sorters. Because no matter how many jobs can get cut for the purposes of automation, it'll never be enough..
One day most work will be done with robotics and advanced AI and when that happens, they'll have to pay us all a living wage.
Hey guy, thanks. I'm an RCA and have never got to see the huge DPS, flats, etc sorted.
Keeping all of that machinery working flawlessly day after day, 24/7, is unbelievable to me. I literally can’t understand how it happens.
I worked at the PO as a machine mechanic for over 20 years. With the need to process so much mail and still get a chance to work on the machines, we couldn't understand how it happened either!😁
@@stillnessbetween5103 I just got hired on as a Maintenance Mechanic, doing orientation soon any tips?
Thanks for the awesome video, Its nice to see inside the USPS. Holy crap, thats a lot of friggin mail. I cant believe my package went through that.
I know right？😂
Far better than UK's Parcel Force owned by Royal Mail which is suppose to be the world's first mail service. Awful service haven't seen my watch for a couple of years. They also blame and charge you for the loss. Just read the reviews. It's the 1# worst mail service, even worser than China. USPS is still government owned and they sometimes have honest workers.
Amazing! Thankyou for all you do to keep the mail going!
I use to complain about the service before I started working for USPS. The other shippers have standards, USPS lets you do whatever you want and that's why there's so many screwups...for those asking. I toured a plant in my district and the foreman did everything he could to do things right. There's a long list of things you shouldn't do, but a few things to cut down on mistakes: Print your label, make sure the address is correct, and use a stiff shipping box. And, buy a huge mailbox!
Really cool video, you filmed and explained that well. It's fascinating watching those machines work.
This video was AWSOME,thanks for the experience of the mail!👌😊
You're welcome and thanks!
@jake815718 I stuck the camera in between the plastic strap and the tray and set it free on the rollers. I made sure to keep an eye on it to make sure that I didn't lose the camera! As far as did the USPS mind, I don't know if they know... yet...
I can't wait to find my first wheel error like that! Thanks for the tour Racegrooves!
GROOVES! It's been a while since I last watched your channel, but I'm back to watching! I'm commenting on this particular video because I recently applied and today, finished the 2nd part of the 473E Exam! PSE Mail Processing Clerk! I scored a 77 on it, so I'm hopeful! I hope all's well with you!
@MissPinkPanther222 Please note that I am not authorized to speak on behalf of the USPS. But some situations that could happen is that the mail gets delivered to the wrong address and is not returned. It could wind up stuck in a magazine and that person didn't realize it and it is thrown away. It could wind up in loose empty equipment that is stored elsewhere and not found for years. But since it was lost, we wouldn't know what happened to it. If we did, then we could get it back for you =)
Excellent job! Your sense of humor is fantastic, too. I really enjoyed it even though I've been to many a P&DC and GMF. (Postal employee since 1985.)
I work at Australia post and the equipment we use is very similar. Awesome stuff.
Thank you so much for the tour, so hard to find any behind the scenes info on what happens with my mail. Funny narration too. :D
sized4spills You're welcome.
@Connor Bailey Both the 7up and Pepsi trucks were released by Jade a few years ago.
@ASMagnuson97 When your letter goes through the sorting machine, it does go around large belts but it doesn't get bent very far.
Looks like tough work i can now appreciate and will never complain why a package comes a day after the expected arrival date thank you for sharing:)
Thank you for making the video! I learn more about the Postal Service operations now!
This is a great tour of what goes on at a USPS sorting facility. Sadly some people want to call it a DPS. I blocked those who did that. This is to be a teaching tool about how our mail is sorted. The USPS has so many machines that sorts our mail and they want to make sure that it is safe to ship.
What a fun video. I very much enjoyed the tour and hot wheels segments.
I recently flew United Airlines from Newark, NJ to Seattle, WA and was sitting in the back of the plane with a view of the luggage being loaded. Before the luggage was loaded 2 foot and 1 foot USPS sleeved mail trays where being loaded.
Yes, the Santa Clarita facility is pretty large but not quite as big as Los Angeles.
The package unloading dump made me cringe so hard, as a frequent shipper. Likely going to enhance packaging from now on.
Lol you think that is bad you haven't seen an SSIU or the APPS unstacker / package destroyer module.
Go watch China post
Oh man me too lol
Very good video Mark, It's amazeaing all the machines and process that make in the American postal service
Thanks for clicking on the Card and checking out this video too =)
Thanks! It was a fun project =)
Excellent video, Mark! Also, I press like on this video!
ha I had forgotten about the catwalks with the mirror windows in the ceilings... big bro is watching you! Great tour!
Good video. I am a mechanic on conveyors in Austin Tx, 15.5 years. We don't have a robot but we have a tray management system that uses robotics. Best job I ever had.
Pretty sure there is an APPS in Austin I seem to remember doing the EN-Retrofits to it back in 06 or 07 something like that?
Yes we have one. It is getting another modification soon. I work on Barney, PPCs and the LCUS.
Well you might get APPS BINS bin expansion more or less just more bins to sort to. We just did some supplimentary induct addons all across the US. Which is basically a dumper with an incline then optional conveyors to a work station where two people can face the mail bar code up then feed the pieces one at a time there is a dedicated scale (same as the new one on your semi-auto you just installed(last year as well right?)). I want to say your is an open loop, but it has been years since I was in that facility. Should you all ever need some help let me know seems like this site I am on is the last thing lockheed has scheduled for this year other than a bin expansion somewhere. I have applied at the USPS for maintenance positions, but have never even gotten a call to take the test.
I don't know what it is, but there's something I like about this video
Thanks. It was a fun project =)
@Elite2424A Correct! That's a very cool mixed-wheels error!
@k12sdude Congrats! I started as an LSM clerk in 1990 but switched to mailhandler in 1992.
@123456hotwheels I had an idea on how to send cars down the spiral but there were a couple problems. One problem is that there is a gap that the cars would fall through. The other problem is that I stood up on something and let the cars go by hand, everybody would see me up there. Not only that but the cars might make a lot of noise rolling down and people might here that too. The plastic tubs and cardboard trays don't make any noise at all.
1:05 to 1:35 is the APPS. I'm not familiar with an ABPS. I may have heard about a different machine, an Automated Bundle and Parcel Sorter, but it is not at my facility.
I'm glad that the USPS safely delivered your Thomas =)
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Very interesting, I wasn´t aware of all the procees for mailing, cool job you have!!!!
I really enjoy your video!
my "soon to be" father in-law has been with USPS since the 70's! Y'all are a rare breed. lol Great video.
Thanks for your support =)
Such an awesome video!
Good tips!
Very cool video!
At least he was honest that they handle your mail like crap.
Thank you for the video
ThatWasSexyPit You're welcome.
My kids loved this video, especially my 3 year old son who is a Hot Wheel lover! Thank you!
'What facility is this? I'm a mail handler @ the Baltimore GMF (Main Post Office). Our APPS machine doesn't look anywhere near as clean as the one in this video. Good video though.
Santa Clarita, CA.
Dude I have never seen a clean APPS(after moving one I always end up turning the hotel shower black from the dust) trust me there is no such thing in existence(it is impossible to clean ~80% of the machine because of the chutes / sack racks). Look at the horse heads probably enough tape to mail 50 packages on those things(I would be amazed to see an APPS that stayed clean after install and test). I thought that they went to only NDCs and BMCs / P&DCs now?
No doubt! It gets to be a drag walking back and forth carrying heavy sacks!
The mixed wheels are pretty cool to me as well as the rest of the USPS building
Thank you! Very interesting!
@520thDesertRats Thanks! It was a fun project. Thankfully, I haven't got into trouble... yet...
@MrDaleJr2011 Correct! The Lambo had mixed wheels.
Post offices are one of my fav places! wish I worked there, it just look so fun back there! Especially for the mail!
@racegrooves I hear ya' mr. grooves. Hearing how others have been out of work and in need of work makes me appreciate my job that much more.
very very very cool! you should have a live cam of these machines.
Thank you for your time.
Protecto's are only good for casual handling, the accidental dropping of the item. If during processing, the shipper used a bubble envelope, and it landed sideways into the container, and a heavy box landed on the side, the Protecto may not be sufficient to prevent damage to the card.
Great look at some cool machines! Fun video - this is what youtube is all about!!
You are a mailhandler hahaha, wow that processing center looks brand new, unbelievable
Cool...this is the coolest video ever on how things are process through usps. Im a carrier and even I don't know this stuff. This is so interesting.
Thanks!
RaceGrooves please is there any machine at post office that detects cash in a parcel, i mean could a machine know i have 100$bills in a parcel if its well sealed?
DjSauceUkraine No, the USPS can not detect if cash is in a parcel.
RaceGrooves so i hope am safe if i put $100 in every page of 2magazines that sums up to 10k, well packaged. i actually need a way to send cash via post office, using a magazne or a bible or big novel, and which do you feel is better: usps,ems or dhl... please explain more on this, i know its modern time and no one will open up my magazine if its not detected by a machine that it has cash in it. so i feel its safe but you should know better. thanks reply ASAP.
DjSauceUkraine Sorry, this goes beyond what I am willing to talk about.
1:13 You can't see the person operating the dumper, they are standing just to the left out of the camera. You don't want to dump all of the mail on the belt at once. You want to dump a portion at a time and spread it out so that it doesn't overload the conveyor belt.
@supertoadhayden Your Uncle works at the Post Office or he works at the plant that I work at? What does he do?
I've been using the USPS to ship donated items to a future museum in the Deep South. All of the gifts I send to friends and family have also been shipped via the USPS.
@TINO ACR Thanks. I am definitely thankful to have a job!
@mrAaron491 My co-worker's error is an awesome piece! I love wheel errors and it's on a collectible model!
That was awesome!
Thanks!
Yup! Some behind the scenes action =)
@MrDaleJr2011 No, there are hundreds of mail processing facilities in the U.S. The USPS processes over 600 million pieces of mail a day. That is way more than one facility could handle =)
1:19 This footage is taken where the cone used to be. Well, what I'm told because I didn't arrive in Santa Clarita until 2005. DBCS are standard equipment. I don't believe that any of the machines are called OCR anymore. I am a mailhandler and I don't work on that side of the building. I think that the OCR capabilities of the OCR are just incorporated into another machine. I am not familiar with DPRC. By the way, they are closing the Pasadena office and Santa Clarita may not be far behind.
Awesome Video!!! The one wheel was wrong!! haha
wow that was a better tour than the one NBC did.
I still can not understand how its possible to overnight a package from Wash DC to the middle of nowhere Iowa, and its gets there in 24 hours. It absolutely HAS to be magic, has to be.
Awesome video! How are large flat rate boxes handled (The Game board one)? I have 15 of them with over 50lbs of stuff in it, I'm just worried one of them bursting open because they are so heavy.
I haven't worked in the Priority Mail area in several years. As far as I know, those boxes would be handled the same way. I would suggest that you use appropriate padding to protect your items.
@Nitrosoultaker777 Nope. I work in a mail processing center. They do have window services but they close at 5:00 or something like that. I'm nowhere near there at that time.
There are lots of different jobs so I wouldn't know if you are going to have an easier or harder one. As for tips, I have three. 1. Show up for work. 2. Be on time. 3. Do as you're told. Oh yeah, stay off your cellphone too while on the clock =) Best wishes for you!
That was great .... thank you so much ! Your video should be on the official website!! Hey I guess it is! Lol
I just was laughing ...my first day or night rather at the plant ( after twenty years of delivery) I took pictures of DBs running and some guy walked by and said ..... o don’t do that....freaked me out. But everybody especially mechanics do it . How do you double check those belt patterns....ya think?
That was great !
We are supposed to get permission. I didn't but I also knew to not show any addresses or people without their permission. I resigned in 2013 to do CZcams full time.
Hey if I could send some of mine I would but I am not a steward lol and I don’t think it would be as funny to management as it is to me ! Did you actually film this from your mule? Amazing ..... I will be showing this to others tonight , thanks for your creativity! We are maintenence mechanics in Palatine plant by Chicago midnight
Tour.
Thank you for taking the time to me..
@mrAaron491 I only found one last year but I have found couple this year already. They are way cooler than basic Treasure Hunts!
Sorry, I haven't worked near that section for a couple years. I don't recall what airlines are used.
I have been working for the USPS for over 20 years. My salary is over $50 K per year.
You have way more than a couple APPS by the way I have been installing/moving/retrofitting these for years. In Chicago nearly done with an install this week too. DIOS/AFCS/CIOS are pretty mesmerizing to watch the first time you see them after seeing them a few times it's just another normal day in the USPS. The only machine off the top of my head that has the APPS beat on pure size is SSIU I think there are around 20 in the country give or take, but only at the NDCs now those would be interesting to see being installed. I also understand that there will be a new contract (possibly next year) and the bidding is down between Lockheed and Siemens. With any luck solid work for three whole years for me if Lockheed gets it. There are also some tricks that the USPS could do to up the amount of processing on an APPS, but it would require removing a a whole side FSD/Inducts and installing three supplementary inducts in it's place - unlikely they would toss out all that equipment though.
And to note that would be a closed loop APPS we have 3 different versions of the machine closed, open, and L some even have walk overs some go up an incline.
This video is actually pretty cool!
@formulaonehotwheel I feel for you bud! These are tough times!