Postal delays continue in Louisville, some left waiting for Christmas deliveries

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As some in Louisville are still waiting for their holiday deliveries, questions about the ongoing delays with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) remain unanswered.

Despite repeated inquiries, USPS officials have not addressed the cause of the delays on camera. With more snow in the forecast, some customers fear more delays are on the horizon.

WDRB News has requested numerous interviews with representatives from USPS to speak about recent mail delays. 

With more snow coming, some customers are preparing for more excuses and further hold-ups.

Brandon Newsome, a local businessman who sells vintage sneakers online, said while business is booming, his deliveries have been delayed. Some packages lack tracking updates, and others are turning up in unexpected locations, such as Georgia or Louisiana, without being scanned along the way.

"I just want to hurry and get it to the customers so that we can complete the transaction," Newsome said.

Last week, WDRB interviewed Art Campos, president of the union representing local postal employees. Campos noted that the delays began in January due to winter storms, but he said that postal workers have been working overtime to resolve the backlog.

“Employees have been working hard to get things back on track,” Campos said. “We’re getting to a point now where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Despite improvements at the Gardiner Lane Post Office, WDRB obtained footage that showed the facility is still facing significant internal delays. One employee described the situation as logistically overwhelming due to understaffing and the massive influx of mail and packages.

Steve Vaughn, a union trustee for Indianapolis postal workers, agreed that the issue is not related to weather.

“It’s not a weather issue,” Vaughn said. “It doesn’t stop processing mail inside a facility. It’s warm, it’s dry, and the lights are on.”

However, Vaughn criticized the USPS for its handling of the situation, saying that a lack of coordination has compounded the delays.

“Headquarters has a 10-year plan they’ve pushed on local facilities, but it’s been poorly implemented,” he said. “The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing.”

Vaughn also pointed out the logistical challenges, such as truck drivers having to wait for hours to unload, and the transfer of mail between Louisville and other cities like Chicago for processing.

While some local customers, like Newsome, are preparing for further delays, others, like Richard Venhoff, have already felt the impact. Venhoff, a postal customer, shared his frustration with late deliveries, which have affected important invoices and even medical appointments.

"I’ve had several times where I get an invoice and it’s already past the due date," said Venhoff. "And I’ve had a doctor’s appointment where they tell me it’s in three days, but I don’t get the notice until after the appointment."

As of now, USPS has not provided a formal response to WDRB’s latest requests for comment. Meanwhile, union representatives continue to work to address staffing shortages and improve service.