One-Week Until Post Office’s Busiest Day Of The Year

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Once you’ve finished putting stamps on the holiday cards, and taping gift boxes shut—it’s up to the United States Post Office to deliver.

December 15^th, USPS says, will be the busiest mailing day of the year.

The Miami International Service Center, ISC, is known as the “Gateway to the Caribbean.” If you’re sending a holiday gift to the Caribbean, it will be processed at the local center.

At ISC, international and military mail is processed—adding an extra bunch to the already-heavy load of holiday mail.

CLICK HERE to watch Walter Makaula’s report

“During the holiday season, it gets so busy at this facility that we have to hire over 100 extra employees for the holiday help,” USPS distribution supervisor Maria Santos told CBS4’s Walter Makaula.

The local post office is one of five mail processing facilities of its kind in the United States.

Makaula visited the center Monday for a behind-the-scenes look at how the load is handled.

First things first, packages that arrive are sorted by size. Then, a conveyor belt takes the packages to a worker who scans the bar code, which has details on the package’s destination.

“From Thanksgiving to Christmas we process over one million pieces of mail at this facility,” said Santos.

Those planning on sending packages should be aware as the busiest package delivery day of 2014 is December 18^th.

USPS Domestic Shipping Deadlines:

• December 15^th for standard post
• December 20^th for First Class and Priority Mail
• December 23^rd for Piority Mail Express

For specific information regarding international mail and military mail, click here.

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