The U.S. Postal Service has embargoed its Priority Mail Express service until Friday due to a chemical spill at FedEx's Memphis, Tennessee, hub, according to an agency bulletin posted Monday.
Priority Mail Express is a shipping service providing delivery in one to three days. The Postal Service said shipments through the service "will not be accepted across the retail counters or through other acceptance units" until 12:01 a.m. EST on Friday.
"Mailers are encouraged to use Priority Mail services (PM) until the Priority Mail Express (PME) embargo is lifted," the agency said. "The Postal Service continues to monitor and assess conditions with FedEx and if the embargo can be lifted sooner, an update will be provided at that time."
A spill at the FedEx Memphis World Hub occurred in the early morning of Feb. 25, according to an emailed statement from FedEx to Supply Chain Dive last week.
"Safety is our top priority, and we are grateful no injuries or illnesses have been reported," FedEx said. "In line with our standard protocols, a portion of the facility is temporarily closed while necessary maintenance is performed."
FedEx did not say if there were any service impacts due to the spill, advising customers to visit the carrier's website for any updates. However, the Postal Service warned shippers last week that package delays may occur "due to limited air shipping capability during the recovery efforts" tied to the spill. As a result, the agency suspended its service guarantee for all Priority Mail Express shipments from Feb. 27 to March 2.
The Memphis hub, which can handle up to 484,000 packages an hour, is FedEx's largest sorting facility and serves as the center of its multiple hub-and-spoke system and worldwide air network, per the company's annual financial report.
The facility played a key role in FedEx moving the Postal Service's Priority Mail shipments until the agency tapped UPS as its primary air cargo carrier in 2024. The Postal Service still uses FedEx's air network for some transportation, including volume that requires special handling like hazardous materials, per a USPS Office of Inspector General report last year.
The Priority Mail Express embargo following the spill highlights the risks that hazardous materials can pose to logistics networks, such as operational disruptions and safety threats for employees, Louis DiRienzo, former deputy chief postal inspector at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.
"For those in the mailing or shipping industry, it is essential to recognize the risks associated with improperly shipped hazardous materials," DiRienzo said. "Adhering to all relevant regulations is crucial to protect logistics networks, ensure safety, and avoid legal consequences."
