Delivering Christmas: Here's a look at a day in the life of a mail carrier during the holiday season.

San Diego

During the holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service experiences its busiest period, delivering to nearly 179 million addresses and handling over 7 billion pieces of mail since Thanksgiving. In San Diego's North Park neighborhood, veteran mail carrier John Morones demonstrates the pace and commitment required to deliver to 500 homes within an hour, emphasizing both speed and safety.

Carriers like Morones stress the importance of proper package labeling, clear walkways, and security measures such as holding mail during vacations to prevent theft. The work is not just about delivering mail, but ensuring that the holidays arrive on time for every household.

A day in the life of a mail carrier during the holidays

Well it's not too late to mail out your gifts or put in your online orders to get to its destination by Christmas. With almost 179 million addresses, the U.S. Postal Service delivers more mail than any postal system in the world. Since this week is the busiest one for post offices across the country, a local mail carrier invited me to follow him as he makes his route to deliver mail to get this 500 homes within an hour. This is where the holidays arrive. From up here it's easier to see how much ground these guys cover. Since Thanksgiving, the USPS has delivered more than 7 billion pieces of mail. And it's only getting busier. Every street, every stop, every package is part of the holiday countdown. In North Park, a letter carrier John Morones is on his route. Residents on Montclair Street are on a first-name basis with John. A sign he's been running his route for more than 11 years. Always with a smile. See that? That's amazing. Though you can tell by his pace, he knows every package has a deadline and a destination. And small delays can mean big disappointments. Carriers say the holiday rush isn't just about speed. It's also about safety, from clearing walkways to properly labeling packages, to turning on porch lights early. And when you're on vacation... Put your mail on hold so that it's not backing up. Small steps that can prevent theft and keep routes moving. Because for carriers like John... I'm never gonna let them see me slack. And it's showing some integrity. That's important with me. These deliveries are about more than mail. They're about making sure the holidays still arrive on time. This 10 News Pinpoint weather report is sponsored by...

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Breakdown