So, you’re standing by the window, peering through the blinds like a neighborhood watch captain, wondering if the mail truck is ever going to round the corner. Honestly, we’ve all been there. Whether you’re waiting on a tax document that should have arrived three days ago or a pair of shoes you definitely didn't need but absolutely had to buy, the question of does USPS run today is basically a national pastime.
The short answer for today, Thursday, January 15, 2026, is yes. The United States Postal Service is open, and mail is moving. It isn't a federal holiday. There aren't any massive nationwide shutdowns. However, just because they are "running" doesn't always mean your mailbox is going to be full by noon. Life—and the federal government—is rarely that simple.
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The 2026 Holiday Wall: When the Trucks Actually Stop
Most people get tripped up because the post office follows a very specific federal calendar that doesn't always align with our personal lives. We are currently sitting in that weird mid-January gap. New Year’s Day is in the rearview mirror, but we haven't quite hit the next big stop.
If you are asking does USPS run today because you're worried about a holiday, you’re safe for now. But mark your calendar: Monday, January 19, 2026, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On that day, the blue trucks stay parked. No regular residential mail. No retail counters. If you show up to the post office that Monday, you’ll be staring at a locked glass door.
Here is the thing about 2026 specifically: it’s a year of mid-week holidays. We just had New Year’s on a Thursday. Later this year, Veterans Day falls on a Wednesday. These mid-week breaks tend to cause "logistical ripples." Even when the post office reopens the next day, the volume of mail backed up from that one-day break can slow things down for the rest of the week.
Why Your Mailbox Might Still Be Empty Today
If today isn’t a holiday, then why is the mail late? It's a fair question. According to recent service alerts from the USPS Newsroom, today (January 15) is seeing some significant weather-related disruptions.
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- The Winter Factor: There is currently a massive swath of winter weather hitting the Northern Plains and stretching into the Northeast. If you’re in North Dakota, Minnesota, or upstate New York, your carrier might be literally stuck in a snowbank. USPS policy is "safety first," which means if the roads aren't cleared, the mail doesn't move.
- Staffing Shortages: This is the elephant in the room. Some local branches are struggling with what they call "vacant routes." If your regular carrier is sick and there isn't a sub available, your mail might not go out until the next day. It’s frustrating, but it’s a reality of the current labor market.
- Light Volume: Kinda weird, but sometimes you just don't have mail. Tuesdays and Thursdays are statistically the "lightest" days for letter mail. If you don't have a magazine or a bill due, the carrier might just skip your house entirely because there’s nothing to drop off.
Does USPS Run Today for Packages vs. Letters?
It’s a common misconception that all mail is treated the same. It isn't. If you’re waiting on a Priority Mail Express package, that operates on a different level of urgency. Even on some holidays when regular mail is cancelled, Priority Mail Express often still moves because people pay a massive premium for it.
For today, January 15, all services are operational. This includes:
- First-Class Mail: Those envelopes and postcards.
- USPS Ground Advantage: The standard way most of those online orders arrive.
- Priority Mail: The 2-3 day service.
- Post Office Boxes: You can go check your PO box as usual.
If you’re checking your tracking number and it says "Arrived at Hub" but hasn't moved in 24 hours, don't panic. The system handles millions of pieces of mail every hour. Sometimes the "scan" just doesn't happen until it hits the final delivery vehicle.
What About the Competition? (FedEx and UPS)
Sometimes we say "the mail" but we really mean "that package I ordered." It’s important to remember that FedEx and UPS do not follow the USPS holiday schedule to the letter.
While USPS is a government-adjacent entity (it’s self-funded but follows federal holidays), UPS and FedEx are private. For example, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (this coming Monday), FedEx will actually be running most of its services, even though the Post Office is closed. UPS is a bit of a hybrid; they usually don't do regular pickups on that day, but they might still deliver certain "Critical" air packages.
If you’re in a rush today, verify which carrier is actually holding your box. If it’s USPS, and you haven't seen them by 5:00 PM, there is still hope. During peak seasons or bad weather, carriers have been known to stay out as late as 8:00 PM to finish their routes.
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Actionable Steps for Your Missing Mail
If you’ve confirmed that does USPS run today results in a "yes" but your box is still empty, here is what you should actually do:
- Check Informed Delivery: This is a free service from USPS that emails you a grayscale image of the mail that is supposed to arrive today. If the email shows a letter but it’s not in your box, give it 24 hours before calling.
- Look for Service Alerts: Go to the official USPS Service Alerts page. They list specific zip codes where delivery has been suspended due to weather, fires, or even aggressive dogs.
- The 24-Hour Rule: Almost every "missing" piece of mail shows up the following day. Sorta annoying, but usually, it’s just a minor processing delay at the local distribution center.
- Contact the Postmaster: If you go three days without any mail at all, call your local branch—not the national 1-800 number. The local folks actually know which routes are down.
The postal system is a gargantuan machine with a lot of moving parts. On a standard Thursday in January, everything should be business as usual, barring a blizzard or a local staffing crisis. If your flag is still up and the box is empty, it’s likely just a delay, not a shutdown.
To stay ahead of future delays, you should sign up for USPS Informed Delivery through their official website; it gives you a digital preview of your mail and allows you to track packages without constantly refreshing a browser. If you're planning to ship anything urgent, aim to get it to the counter before the Monday holiday (January 19) to avoid the inevitable Tuesday backlog.