NAICS UNIVERSITY · Free research for insurance agents
Postal Service
NAICS 491110 · United States · 2022 edition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing mail services under a universal service obligation. Mail services include the carriage of letters, printed matter, or mailable packages, including acceptance, collection, processing, and delivery. Due to the infrastructure requirements of providing mail service under a universal service obligation, postal service establishments often provide parcel and express delivery services in addition to the mail service. Establishments primarily engaged in performing one or more parts of the basic mail service, such as sorting, routing and/or delivery (except bulk transportation of mail) are included in this industry.
Start the review with commercial auto and fleet.
For Postal Service, the saved research highlights commercial auto and fleet, workers' compensation, premises liability. Confirm how these arise in the actual operation, what controls are used and whether additional services change the proposed coverage.
Questions to ask
- Is this operation the USPS itself, a USPS contractor, or a private mail-adjacent business — and what is the actual scope of services performed?
- How many vehicles are in the fleet, and what types — LLVs, cargo vans, larger trucks?
- What is the total employee headcount and breakdown between drivers, sorters, and administrative staff?
- Are there any contractual liability obligations assumed under postal service or government contracts?
- For Postal Service, what should the underwriter know about submission using this code for what is actually a private courier or parcel delivery operation?
- For Postal Service, what should the underwriter know about large owned fleet with adverse driver loss history or high vehicle turnover?
- For Postal Service, what should the underwriter know about prior significant cargo or mail-in-transit loss history?
- What controls and prior losses should the underwriter review for commercial auto and fleet in Postal Service?
Activities described by this code
Other activities to examine
- Providing bulk transportation of mail on a contract basis to and from postal service establishments: 4841 — General Freight Trucking
- Providing services outside of the basic mail service, such as mail presort, mail consolidation, or address bar coding services, on a contract or fee basis: 561499 — All Other Business Support Services
- Providing courier services and express delivery of parcels without operating under a universal service obligation: 492110 — Couriers and Express Delivery Services
- Providing mailbox services along with other business services: 561431 — Private Mail Centers;
- Providing local messenger and delivery services: 492210 — Local Messengers and Local Delivery
Census classification reference
For educational purposes only. AI-generated insurance research and automated logic can contain errors. Independently verify classification and coverage decisions.
Compare another operationInsurance operations research — draft
Establishments under this code are primarily engaged in mail acceptance, collection, processing, sorting, and delivery under a universal service obligation. In practice, the core USPS operation is a federal entity; commercial insurance placements under this code most often involve postal contractors, sorting facility operators, or delivery subcontractors performing discrete parts of the mail service chain.
Questions to investigate
- Is this operation the USPS itself, a USPS contractor, or a private mail-adjacent business — and what is the actual scope of services performed?
- How many vehicles are in the fleet, and what types — LLVs, cargo vans, larger trucks?
- What is the total employee headcount and breakdown between drivers, sorters, and administrative staff?
- Are there any contractual liability obligations assumed under postal service or government contracts?
This insurance research was generated in April 2026. It has not received a complete human review. The October 12, 2026 audit checked codes and titles only, not descriptions or coverage assertions.