Post office feeling the heat from rising energy costs

Soccer moms and commuters aren't the only ones feeling the bite of rising fuel costs - every time the price of gasoline goes up a penny it costs the US Postal Service $8 million.

"We are definitely feeling the pressure," Deputy Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe said. Transportation cost the post office $6.5 billion in 2007, $500 million more than the year before.

The post office operates the largest civilian fleet of vehicles in the country - 215,000 motor vehicles - and also faces rising costs for fuel from its contract carriers including truckers and airlines.