The week that was: 18 May 2012

Rounding up the biggest stories of the week in the mail and express industry, including the latest USPS consolidation plans, Royal Mail’s Olympics delivery plan and

USPS modifies network consolidation plans

The US Postal Service has changed its plans to close more than 230 mail processing plants, and is now set to carry out the consolidations in two phases.

The first phase will see 140 consolidations carried out up until February 2013, with 48 plants closed in July and August, and a further 92 closed in January and February 2013. A second phase and “final” phase will see 89 consolidations carried out from February 2014, unless “the circumstances of the Postal Service change in the interim”.

The Postal Service also revealed that its president and chief marketing/sales officer Paul Vogel is to take charge of a brand new Digital Solutions unit, to develop a portfolio of digital products at USPS. Coca-Cola executive Nagisa Manabe starts as Vogel’s replacement as chief marketing/sales officer on Monday.

Royal Mail invests in flagship London processing plant

Royal Mail revealed details of its GBP 32m investment in the Mount Pleasant Mail Centre in central London.

The facility is at the heart of Royal Mail’s consolidation plans for its London operations, with a new mail centre completed over the past 18 months than can process 45,000 mailpieces an hour.

Royal Mail also set out some of its plans for operations during this summer’s Olympic Games in London, which could see some mail deliveries delayed, and delivery guarantees affected.

FedEx considering increase in fuel efficiency targets

Also this week we reported on FedEx Corporation, which has achieved impressive improvements in its vehicle fleet fuel efficiency, and is now looking to potentially increase its targets.

The company has achieved a 16.6% improvement in its fleet fuel efficiency compared to 2005, achieving around 80% of its target set for 2020 in half the time allowed.

FedEx was in the US Senate to testify on the importance of corporate social responsibility and explain its “practical environmentalism” philosophy this week, reporting that electric vehicles in particular are proving to have good potential, if only battery costs could reduce.

And finally…

Senior industry figures will be gathering in Geneva early next week for the World Mail and Express Europe Conference, and also for the much anticipated annual World Mail Awards. Post&Parcel will look forward to meeting some of our readers there…