A big thing they could do for costs is reduce mail delivery to the final destination to once or twice a week. They would need anywhere from 1/2 to 1/5 the number of delivery drivers and vehicles that they have today.
The vast majority of first-class and bulk-rate mail is not anything can't wait a few days. For truly urgent deliveries, use a courier service or pay a higher postage that covers the expenses of that.
I like the fact that I can get mail delivered timely. I'd rather see the post office operate at a loss than stop delivering mail except for once or twice a week. If the post office wants to make more money, I'd rather pass a law that lets the raise prices for spam while requiring them to keep stamp prices for personal mail low.
> They would need anywhere from 1/2 to 1/5 the number of delivery drivers and vehicles that they have today
And that's why it (unfortunately) won't happen lol the USPS is as much of a jobs program as it is an actual mail delivery service.
As the guy above you pointed out, the postal workers union exists, and would fight this tooth and nail. Additionally, without legislation forcing it, management at USPS doesn't really have any incentive or ability to fire 1/2 to 4/5ths of their workers, those saved tax dollars don't really matter to them.
As much as I agree it could be made much more efficient, doing so would probably be very unpopular politically. For as often as people have negative experiences with the USPS, no one wants to see their friendly neighborhood post carrier (who walks around in a fun outfit dropping off letters and packages to them) get canned.
The vast majority of first-class and bulk-rate mail is not anything can't wait a few days. For truly urgent deliveries, use a courier service or pay a higher postage that covers the expenses of that.