Customer Relations

Mail Alert

The mailings below will be deposited in the near future. Offices should honor the requested delivery dates. Mailers wishing to participate in these alerts, for mailings of 1 million pieces or more, should contact Business Service Network Integration at 202-268-2225 at least 1 month preceding the requested delivery dates. The Postal ServiceTM also offers electronic Mail Alerts via ADVANCE. For more information, see the ADVANCE Notification & Tracking System Technical Guide on the Internet at http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/files/advance/ADVTECH.PDF or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-458-3181.

ALL OFFICES WITH CITY MOTORIZED, RURAL, AND HIGHWAY CONTRACT BOX DELIVERY ROUTES

Mailbox Improvement Week, May 16-22

Each year, the Postal ServiceTM designates the third full week of May to encourage customers on city motorized, rural, or highway contract box delivery routes to examine and, where necessary, improve the appearance of their mailboxes. Neat, attractive mailboxes make a significant contribution to the appearance of the countryside and to streets in suburban areas. Mailbox Improvement Week, May 16-22, calls attention to the need for providing mailboxes that are:

1. Approved by the postmaster general.

2. Designed to protect the mail from weather.

3. Safe to use.

4. Conveniently located.

5. Neat in appearance.

Additional information can be accessed at the Growth Management Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/dois/growth_del_point_mgmt/growth_del_point_mgmt_ overview.htm.

Mailboxes that meet these five important requirements help delivery and collection operations and improve service to the entire route. There are three approved styles of curbside mailboxes: (1) traditional design, in three standard sizes (see Exhibit A on page 2); (2) contemporary design, also in three sizes (see Exhibit B on page 2); and (3) locked, full- or limited-service. USPS STD 7B governs the design and specifications of curbside mailboxes and includes provisions for improved quality of the product.

Notice 209

Postmasters should send Notice 209, Mailbox Improvement Week, to all rural and highway contract box delivery route customers the week before Mailbox Improvement Week to alert them of the event.

Ordering Procedures:

You can order Notice 209 from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) and use touch tone order entry (TTOE): Call 800-332-0317, option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, option 1, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message (wait 48 hours after registering before placing your first order).

Use the following information to order Notice 209:

PSN: 7610-03-000-9145
PSIN: NOT209
Unit of Measure: EA
Quick Pick Number: 496
Bulk Pack Quantity: N/A
Minimum Order: N/A
Price: $0.0242

City Motorized, Rural, and Highway Contract Box Delivery Routes

Customers must use only approved traditional, contemporary, or locked full- or limited-service curbside mailboxes for new installations or replacements. Postmasters should ensure that where new delivery is established or extended, customers use delivery equipment approved by the postmaster general. However, an individual customer may use a custom-built curbside mailbox if the local postmaster gives prior approval and the mailbox conforms generally to the same requirements as approved manufactured curbside mailboxes relative to the flag, size, strength, and quality of construction. Carriers on motorized city routes may continue to serve mailboxes that are designed primarily for use by customers receiving door delivery and that have been erected and served under previous regulations (see Exhibit C on this page). However, carriers should advise customers that they may use only approved curbside mailboxes when replacing these types of mailboxes. A list of approved manufacturers of traditional curbside mailboxes appears on pages 4-5.

For motorized city routes, and where the use of street names and house numbers is authorized on rural and highway contract box delivery routes, the mailbox must display the number on the side of single mailboxes or on the door of grouped mailboxes. If the mailbox is on a street other than the one on which the customer resides, the street name and house number must be on the mailbox. When rural and highway contract box delivery route customers have assigned box numbers, the numbers must appear on the side of single mailboxes or on the doors of grouped mailboxes, visible to the approaching carrier. The street number, box number, and/or any other address information must be inscribed in contrasting color in neat letters and numerals not less than 1 inch in height. In all instances, placing the owner's name on the box is optional.

Motorized city, rural, and highway contract box delivery route customers are encouraged, but not required, to group mailboxes whenever practical, especially where many mailboxes are located at or near crossroads, service turnouts, or similar locations. Customers should also paint mailboxes and supports/posts and keep them rust-free. Advertising on mailboxes and mailbox supports is prohibited.

In areas where snow removal is a problem, the Postal Service suggests using a semi-arch or extended arm-type support (see Exhibit D), which allows snowplows to sweep near or under mailboxes without damaging supports and provides easy access to the mailboxes by carriers and customers.

Generally, mailboxes should be installed at a height of 41-45 inches from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry. Mailboxes are set back 6-8 inches from the front face of the curb or road edge to the mailbox door. However, because of varying road and curb conditions and other factors, the Postal Service recommends that customers contact their local Post OfficeTM before erecting or replacing mailboxes and supports.

Location

Customers must place mailboxes on motorized city, rural, and highway contract box delivery routes so a carrier can safely and conveniently serve them without leaving his or her vehicle. The mailboxes must be on the right-hand side of the road in the carrier's travel direction in all cases where traffic conditions make it dangerous for the carrier to drive to the left to reach the mailboxes, or where doing so would constitute a violation of traffic laws and regulations. Postal Operations Manual, POM, 632.6, Apartment House Receptacles, specifies Postal Service regulations regarding locations for apartment houses and other multiple unit dwellings. On new rural and highway contract box delivery routes, all mailboxes must be on the right-hand side of the road in the direction of the route line of travel. Mailbox placement must conform with state laws and highway regulations. City motorized, rural, and highway contract box delivery route carriers are subject to the same traffic laws and regulations as other motorists. Customers must remove obstructions, including vehicles, trash cans, and snow, that impede safe and efficient delivery. Except when a mailbox is temporarily blocked, carriers must have access to the mailbox without leaving the vehicle unless authorized to dismount.

Mailbox Supports

The Postal Service does not regulate mailbox supports in any way except for purposes of carrier safety and delivery efficiency. Posts and other supports for curbside mailboxes are owned and controlled by customers, who are responsible for ensuring that posts are neat and adequate in strength and size. Heavy metal posts, concrete posts, and miscellaneous items of farm equipment, such as milk cans filled with concrete, are examples of potentially dangerous supports. The ideal support is an assembly that bends or falls away when struck by a vehicle. Post or support designs may not represent effigies or caricatures that disparage or ridicule any person. Customers may attach the box to a fixed or movable arm. POM 632.5, Curbside Mailboxes, specifies Postal Service regulations regarding construction and placement of mailboxes and supports on motorized city, rural, and highway contract box delivery routes.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has determined that mailbox supports no larger than 4 inches by 4 inches, or a 2-inch diameter standard steel or aluminum pipe, buried no more than 24 inches, should safely break away if struck by a vehicle. According to FHWA, the mailbox also must be securely attached to its post to prevent separation if struck. See Exhibits E (page 10) and F (page 11) for examples of mailbox mountings and supports suggested by the FHWA.

Further information may be obtained from:

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS
444 N CAPITOL ST NW STE 249
WASHINGTON DC 20001-1512

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY HHS-10
400 7TH ST SW
WASHINGTON DC 20590-0003

The following list of curbside mailboxes approved by the postmaster general supersedes all previously published lists of approved manufacturers. This list may be obtained at http://blue.usps.gov/dois/growth_del_point_ mgmt/growth_del_point_mgmt_overview.htm.

Curbside Mailboxes Approved by the Postmaster General USPS-STD-7B

Manufacturers, Models, and Accessories