15 May 2015 (01:43 UTC-07 Tango 01)/25 Ordibehesht 1394/26 Rajab 1436/27 Xin Si (3rd month) 4713

The U.S. Postal Service’s Gateway Processing Center in Pocatello, Idaho, officially shutdown on April 18th.  Since then all parcel and bulk mail sorting is being done out of state in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I just received a package that, according to the tracking info, took 23 hours to go from Salt Lake City to Pocatello, a drive that normally takes 2.5 to 3 hours!

Here’s the actual info from the USPS: “Tracking # 9400109699938443767549

Departed USPS Facility May-13-15, 04:22 AM, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84199

Arrived at Post Office May-14-15, 03:09 AM, POCATELLO, ID 83201″

 That’s right, it left Salt Lake City on May 13th at 04:22 hours (that’s 4:22 am for those of you on the 12 hours clock), but didn’t arrive in Pocatello until almost 23 hours later on May 14th at 03:09 hours!

Why did it take the truck driver 23 hours when it’s normally a 2.5 to 3 hours drive (by car, maybe 4 hours by truck) from Salt Lake City to Pocatello?

East Idaho’s Gateway Processing Center is one of 82 across the U.S. being shutdown this year.

Kentucky: In Paducah, the U.S. Postal Service shutting down the mail Processing Center.  Missouri: In Cape Girardeau, the U.S. Postal Service shutting down the mail Processing Center. 

One final look at the Idaho Postal Processing Center most east Idahoans didn’t even know about!