As a farmer and Chicken Breeder I ship hundreds of day old chicks throughout the continental USA. Recently CNN did a story on an entire truckload that had been abandoned for two days full of baby chickens. My current issue I ship day old chicks on Mondays throughout the continental USA via USPS priority mail express insured which is guaranteed 24 to 48 hours. They are arriving at the Coppell, Texas hub and sitting for days before they go to their next location. FROM A CONTRIBUTOR: Sorry, this is going to be long but here are some key issues I would include in your petition — Key Issues with USPS Removing Night Truck Service for Live Bird Shipments: 1.Increased Mortality Rates Without overnight transit, live chicks and birds now spend significantly longer in shipping facilities. Extended exposure to cold, heat, hunger, and stress leads to higher death rates, especially in fragile day-old chicks. 2.Animal Welfare Concerns Chicks are extremely vulnerable in their first days. Forcing them to sit in boxes for more than 48 hours due to slower transit is a serious animal welfare issue, bordering on inhumane treatment. 3.Financial Loss for Poultry Owners & Hatcheries Each lost shipment represents a financial hit to small farms, breeders, and hatcheries. Mortality in transit leads to lost revenue, refunds, reputational harm, and wasted resources. 4. Impact on Food Supply & Agriculture Many rural Americans rely on USPS to ship poultry essential for eggs, meat, breeding stock, and sustainable farming. Delays jeopardize local food production and backyard agriculture. 5. Limited Alternatives in Rural Areas UPS and FedEx do not universally accept live bird shipments, especially from rural zones. USPS was the only affordable and available method. Removing fast service disproportionately affects rural communities. 6. Violates Expectations of Service USPS advertises Priority Mail Express for live animals, promising “fastest delivery possible.” Without night trucks, this claim is misleading and unfulfilled, breaching customer trust. ⸻ Guaranteeing 1–2 Day Shipping for Live Birds: 1.Preserve Livelihoods & Support Rural America Many small farmers, homesteaders, and hatcheries depend on fast and reliable USPS service. Guaranteeing 1–2 day shipping protects livelihoods and ensures rural Americans can stay self-sufficient. 2.Animal Welfare Must Come First If USPS continues to allow live animal shipping, it has a moral obligation to protect those animals in transit. Guaranteed 1–2 day delivery is the minimum standard for humane handling. 3.Protect USPS Reputation & Avoid Legal Risk Dead-on-arrival (DOA) shipments create customer outrage, social media backlash, and potential legal liability under animal cruelty laws. Ensuring fast delivery helps prevent this. 4.Maintain USPS Niche Market & Revenue USPS is the only carrier still handling live poultry at scale. Losing this capability—or failing to provide adequate service—shrinks their market and hands business to private competitors (if available at all). 5.Aligns with USPS Mission to Serve All Americans USPS is a public service, not just a business. Supporting agriculture and rural life is part of that mission. Livestock shipping must be treated with the urgency and reliability it deserves.