Under what circumstances must Priority Mail be scanned?

Priority Mail must be scanned at all times to ensure proper tracking and accountability throughout the delivery process. This ensures that both the sender and the recipient can monitor the progress of the package, which is particularly important for time-sensitive deliveries or items of high value. Scanning every Priority Mail package allows postal workers to accurately update the shipment status at various points during its journey, thereby enhancing overall service quality and customer satisfaction.

In contrast, while additional services such as Signature Confirmation or insurance may require specific scanning, this is not the defining rule for all Priority Mail. The notion that scanning is only necessary for international shipments or for heavy packages diminishes the uniform tracking standards that the USPS aims to maintain across all Priority Mail services. Every package, regardless of its destination or weight, benefits from the enhanced tracking provided by mandatory scanning, which greatly contributes to the integrity and reliability of the Postal Service.