Overview
DHL eCommerce announced an exclusive, multi-year contract with the United States Postal Service to handle last-mile parcel delivery across the United States. The agreement carries an expected value exceeding $10 billion and is described by both parties as the largest contract in their 25-year working relationship.
Scope of the arrangement
Under the terms laid out, DHL eCommerce will be responsible for nationwide pickup and sortation, routing parcels through its 19 fully automated hubs. The company will also operate the air and ground linehaul network that transports parcels to regional distribution points. For the final-mile leg of deliveries, USPS will complete delivery to customers, leveraging its existing final-mile network.
The Postal Service’s final-mile infrastructure reaches more than 41,550 ZIP Codes and serves over 170 million delivery points six days a week, according to the companies.
Executive statements
Scott Ashbaugh, CEO of DHL eCommerce Americas, said the agreement "creates a dependable, long-term platform for our customers." He added that partnering with USPS allows DHL to "serve communities nationwide in a highly efficient way, minimizing additional vehicles on the road and supporting our commitment to reducing emissions."
Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner characterized the deal as an "extended and exclusive agreement" that reflects a "shared commitment to innovation, operational alignment, and delivering greater value to the shipping marketplace." He said closer alignment with the Postal Service’s transformed network creates "a stronger, more efficient last-mile solution that expands customers’ access to the Postal Service’s unmatched reach."
Business profile and market reaction
DHL eCommerce, which is backed by DHL Group, is positioned as a major participant in the U.S. domestic and export e-commerce parcel market. The company’s network and technology are oriented toward serving medium-to-high-volume business-to-consumer online retailers. Following the announcement, DHL’s over-the-counter stock rose 1.3%.
Implications for logistics and e-commerce
The agreement formalizes a structure in which DHL manages pickup, sortation and long-haul transport while relying on USPS for final-mile delivery. The arrangement emphasizes operational alignment between a private parcel operator and the national postal network and frames gains in efficiency and emissions reduction as objectives. The recorded stock movement indicates an immediate market reaction to the announcement.
Conclusion
The exclusive contract between DHL eCommerce and USPS represents a significant commercial commitment by both organizations. It pairs DHL’s automated hub and linehaul capabilities with the Postal Service’s extensive final-mile footprint and is positioned as the largest agreement in two-and-a-half decades of collaboration between the companies.