Inside Look: How an Albany post office handles the holiday rush

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Processing and Distribution Center is in its peak holiday rush season right now, with over 1.8 million packages processed in the last few weeks. That number is expected to grow by hundreds of thousands of packages before Christmas Eve -- but how do they manage all of that?

“This is our busiest time of year and this in particular is our busiest week," said Rhonda Benton, executive plant manager of the Albany Processing and Distribution Center. “This year we’re much busier than we were the previous years, our package volume is up about 30% and that’s huge."

This holiday rush is something that Benton and her team have been preparing for all year round.

“From the time a package hits the dock, comes to our machines, and goes back out the door, we’re looking at a 24-hour turnaround," said Benton.

Typically, the mail trailers bring the packages to the dock door where workers unload them and bring them to the machines for processing. Benton said there are two processing machines, but only during the holiday rush does the second one get used.

"Once they’re processed we’ll send them back out to the dock we dispatch them out to the carriers, so they can deliver them," said Benton.

Kenny Scolaro, a mail handler at the Albany Processing and Distribution Center walked through his daily routine, highlighting things he does especially during the busy holiday season.

“Right now, we’re just going to load the belt so this button pauses it to stop things from going up and then I release the belt so mail can go up, and get read and when it gets too full I slow it down. We weed through the mail to find non-machinable mail like tubes or packages that are too big," said Scolaro.

Machines will be rolling 20 hours a day this week, but the crews are rolling 24 hours a day. Benton said there are three work shifts to ensure workers are here at all times.

"Our employees work around the clock, some employees are working extended hours," said Benton. "And we're all here together, myself included."

Benton also said they've added new equipment and increased their amount of staffing to make Christmas wishes come true.

"Just the satisfaction of knowing that we are getting packages and letters home to people, especially in this age where you’re looking at technology, people doing things online," said Benton. "But to have that personal touch, to get something physical whether it's a post card, a Christmas card, there’s just something special about that."

Mark Lawrence, strategic communications specialist with USPS urged customers to get their packages out now.

“If you are looking to ship something out we recommend tomorrow Dec. 18, to get your greeting cards, your first class letters out along with your ground advantage packages, Dec. 19 we recommend you have your priority mail shipped by and Dec. 21 would be our priority express service," said Lawrence.

For more information on shipping your packages, visit the USPS website.