Factoids from the 2007 National Postal Forum

• The USPS is seeing a significant shift from air to ground packages as ground transit times improve and shippers look to lower costs.

• UPS estimates that it consumes 0.1 gallons of fuel per EACH delivered package. The USPS estimates that it uses 0.002 gallons of fuel per delivery stop (0.75 gallons per stop annually). This is why you don't get fuel charges with the USPS...you get the leverage of the USPS tremendous mail delivery network cutting down fuel costs to a vanishing impact per package.

• The USPS views "reverse logistics" as a great growth opportunity. The USPS can leverage its huge network of drop boxes and post offices to collect packages that consumers want to return to manufacturers or retailers -- conveniently and economically.

• Growth in online postage sales is projected to jump from $1 billion in 2006 to $1.5 billion in 2007.

• Over 70% of USPS packages are shipped a distance of less than 700 miles.