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Hello Dougal, I used to haul mail for a Trucking company based in Wisconsin that was contracted out to the "USPS" (United States Postal Service). The USPS can be very quick or very slow at times. For instance I was at the "BMC" (Bulk Mail Center) in Chicago IL. unloading at one of the docks & while I was waiting I was able to see the automated sorting line, ( A track conveyor with flat carts about 2' x 2' square & spaced apart aprox. 1' on a tracked conveyor moving nonstop , A computer system operates it. There are hundreds of chutes , Each one having a different destination, Each chute has a box about the size of a refridgerator that catches the mailbags & packages , The computer has the information, & when the cart gets to the correct destination chute it trips a trigger that tips one side of the cart & then the mail will slide onto the chute & into the box.) Well anyway some of the times things don't go quite as planned, Some of the time the mail gets hung up & goes farther down the line unexpectedly & drops into the wrong chute , So let's say instead of going to you it might get sent somewhere else like maybe Anchorage Alaska ect. & then they find the mistake & they have to redirect it back & then more time goes by , Next thing you know it's way past due your location. Here's an example on how fast they can be also , Every two weeks I did a run designated , The Eagle Run, Madison Wi. -to- Indianapolis Int. Airhub. Depart Sunday mornings 1:40am - Arive 7:06am with no time to stop. They had a crew waiting for me & generaly had the whole truck unloaded in 5min. They would process it & send it out on various aircraft ( passenger, cargo, ect.) to be sent all over the world. Almost over night. It's a pretty impresive system that the USPS has, & they ship by rail also , I've dropped alot of trailers at the BNSF yards to be sent westbound from Chicago . " Go Rail With The Mail " Oh Yeah! I just thought you'd like a little info. "Happy Rails..... To You " & I forgot to mention, The USPS has their own aircraft too Boeing 727s ect.
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