USPS adds Texarkana, other regional cities to fast delivery program

Local same-day and next-day shipping areas, part of the U.S. Postal Service's Connect Local program, are shown in this undated photo. The program lets businesses and organizations drop packages off directly to a postal facility shipping dock, bypassing processing centers and speeding delivery within ZIP codes the facility serves. Several East Texas cities, including Texarkana, recently were added to the program.
Local same-day and next-day shipping areas, part of the U.S. Postal Service's Connect Local program, are shown in this undated photo. The program lets businesses and organizations drop packages off directly to a postal facility shipping dock, bypassing processing centers and speeding delivery within ZIP codes the facility serves. Several East Texas cities, including Texarkana, recently were added to the program.

TEXARKANA, Texas - The U.S. Postal Service has added Texarkana and several other Texas cities in the region to a pilot program that makes local same-day and next-day shipping possible.

Called Connect Local, the program lets businesses and organizations drop packages off directly to a postal facility shipping dock, bypassing processing centers and speeding delivery within ZIP codes the facility serves. USPS promises delivery rates usually only available to large-volume shippers.

Once enrolled in the program, businesses and organizations can print a prepaid shipping label, affix it to their package, and drop the package off between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. for same-day delivery. Packages dropped off after 7 a.m. and by 30 minutes before closing will be delivered the next day. There are no size or quantity restrictions on packages.

"Everybody's all about faster shipping and getting things out. We heard a lot from small businesses, medium-sized businesses, and they said, 'Hey, what can you do for us?'" a USPS spokesperson said Tuesday.

Connect Local launched in July at seven Dallas and Houston sites and is now available at 200 Texas postal facility locations. East Texas cities just added to the program include Texarkana, Atlanta, De Kalb, Hooks, Linden, Maud, Naples, New Boston, Omaha and Queen City.

(For more information, call 855-698-7772, email [email protected], or visit uspsconnect.com.)

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