USPS sets a strict May 1 deadline for non-domicile truck drivers who move mail

This action restarts rules that were stopped in 2025
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is making stricter rules for drivers who move mail across the
country. In a letter on April 16, 2026, top USPS official Peter Routsolias told trucking companies
that starting May 1, drivers with out-of-state CDLs cannot move mail for USPS unless they pass
a background check and get a badge from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The letter says all drivers must complete background checks and get approval before working
for USPS. Trucking companies have to give the right forms and information for this process. If
they have questions, they should contact their usual USPS representative.

USPS first said in January 2026 that it wanted to stop using drivers with out-of-state CDLs who
have not been checked. This matches new safety rules from the Department of Transportation
and addresses problems found in recent inspections.

This new rule follows past problems. In October 2025, USPS stopped using drivers with
out-of-state CDLs for a short time. This caused big problems: cancelled deliveries, missed
routes, and sorting delays across the country. USPS officials later said they did not realize how
much they depended on these drivers, so they quickly ended the ban.

Now, the situation is even tougher. A major USPS contractor, 10 Roads Express, is closing in
early 2026, which means thousands fewer trucks and drivers. Reports have also found safety
problems, rule-breaking, and accidents with some companies that deliver mail, making these
new safety checks even more important.

Trucking companies now have only two weeks to get their drivers approved or find new drivers.
The purpose is to make mail delivery safer and more trustworthy. But this may make it even
harder to find enough drivers, as USPS is already facing high costs and service problems.
Trucking companies must act fast to keep moving mail for USPS.