RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- It's the most wonderful time of the year for some and the busiest for the U.S. Postal Service. After coming under fire last holiday season for all sorts of mail trouble, a postal service spokesperson told 8News that they are ready to tackle the holiday rush. "We're more prepared now than ever," said U.S. Postal Service Communications Specialist Philip Bogenberger. While Santa has one night to deliver packages, the postal service reported that -- this holiday season -- it's averaging three days. "This is our busiest time of the year, but also the most exciting time of the year," Bogenberger clarified. The U.S. Postal Service told 8News it has installed 158 new high-speed package sorting machines across the country since last holiday season as part of the 10-year "Delivering for America" plan. These new additions constitute a total of 506 machines, all geared toward streamlining the shipping process. Bogenberger added that the postal service can process 60 million packages a day across the country. "We're well prepared to handle the influx and volume that we expect to come as we get closer to the holidays," Bogenberger assured. "We're already seeing an uptick in volume and we expect that to increase." We're four years into the long-term optimization plan. Some, previously called the rollout process "disastrous" after Central Virginia experienced a noticeable influx of mail delays, thefts and incidents of post office, package and mailbox vandalism last year. "There were some short-term learning curves," Bogenberger confirmed. "[The optimization plan will] yield long-term benefits for years and decades to come." Time is ticking if you want to beat Santa's sleigh, but it's not up just yet. To make sure your First Class and U.S. Postal Service Ground Advantage mail arrives on time, drop those packages off by Dec. 18. For U.S. Postal Service Priority mail, customers have until Dec. 19. However, for U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express, customers can wait until Dec. 21, but Bogenberger has some advice. "Mail your holiday cards and your packages early," Bogenberger recommended. "If you can do that, you can sit back, enjoy the holidays. Let us do the work. We'll get it there."