Post office dreads Dec. 18

The U.S. Postal Service expects Mon., Dec. 18 to be the busiest mailing day of the season.

It’s the last weekend before the holiday and many people shop then, write their cards and mail everything on Monday. The Postal Service expects volume to increase this year by 3 percent. More than 20 billion pieces are expected this holiday season.

The Postal Service extends hours at many post offices, adds three Holiday Network Hubs with more than 80 supplemental airplanes dedicated entirely to moving the mail; hundreds of added truck connections; and dozens of additional trains. More than 60 million mail sacks and trays are also added to the service.

Nationwide, about 40,000 temporary employees are hired.

Free shipping boxes for Express Mail and Priority Mail are available for customers. Delivery confirmation is available for Priority Mail and Parcel Post.

PC Postage, the name used for products that let customers purchase and print postage onto envelopes and labels using their personal computers and the Internet, is valid on domestic First Class Mail, Priority Mail, Express Mail and Parcel Post. Customers have access to postage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information on postal products and services, please call (800) ASK-USPS or visit www.usps.com.