JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s the most bustling time of the year for the United States Postal Service. Across the country, USPS says it is expecting to process and deliver more than 12 billion pieces of mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This USPS distribution facility on Main St has 425 seasonal workers, including Erin Finn.
“I enjoy working at the warehouse so it’s you know, we’re on our feet, we’re moving, there’s always something to do,” she said. “We’re helping people get their packages for Christmas and the holidays so it’s just really exciting.”
It’s her second time working during this season.
“I have three kids so it’s just to help get stuff for Christmas pretty much,” she explained.
But this year, she’s noticed some new automated friends.
“It’s really cool to see the robots running around,” she said.
USPS brought in new technology less than a month ago, like the Flexible Rover System, which is a set of robots that help with sorting.
“It’s helpful because you don’t have to scramble finding a box,” Finn pointed out.
When Action News Jax went to the warehouse facility on Jacksonville’s Northside, there were about a dozen or so robots on the floor following a designated grid pattern to streamline the sorting process. Together, they’re working to increase package capacity by 600 an hour.
There is also a brand-new conveyor belt that’s quickly scanning packages and helping increase capacity by 3,000 packages an hour.
Of course, it’s the helpers operating them who make it possible.
“We could not survive without our seasonal help and our regular employees,” said Michael Willard, Executive Plant Manager at the Jacksonville Network Distribution Center.
And with their help, this center hopes to beat its previous numbers.
“Last year, we did 18.9 million packages,” Willard said. “This year, we expect to do 21 million packages.”
Extra packages that represent some extra holiday cheer for Finn.
“It’s good for my family for Christmas and then I’m able to help other families for Christmas as well,” she said.
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