The start-the-clock event is Monday when a mailer enters or deposits Periodicals pieces at an origin Post Office or origin processing and distribution center (P&DC) on Saturday. If the Periodicals are not local turnaround mail that originates and destinates in the same sectional center facility (SCF) service area, the pieces are eligible for merging with the First-Class Mail flow (based on the L201 labeling list). If Periodicals pieces are not for the local turnaround SCF surface area or eligible for the L201 flow, they will go through the L009 mail flow.
If the Periodicals are identified as turnaround for the local SCF service area, they flow directly to the delivery unit where they are delivered within one day. If they are identified as L201 flow, they are merged with First-Class Mail.
Periodicals entered at an origin Post Office are transported to the origin P&DC. Periodicals are processed at the origin P&DC within one day. If Periodicals are identified as L009 flow, they are sent to the appropriate L009 facility where they are processed within one day. They are then transported via long-haul surface transportation, which can take between one and four days, depending on the distance between the L009 facility and the destination area distribution center (ADC).
When Periodicals arrive at the destination ADC, they are processed within one day, and then go to the SCF facility where they are processed within one day. After processing at the SCF, the Periodicals are transported to the DDU and delivered from the DDU within one delivery day. If the destination ADC and SCF are the same, Periodicals go directly to the DDU from the ADC, and are delivered within one delivery day.