We are revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to make the preparation of 3-digit sacks optional for mailers preparing First-Class Mail parcels. Now, the preparation for both 5–digit and 3-digit sacks is optional, but required for the 5–digit and 3-digit rates.
This revision will be incorporated in our August update of the DMM as noted below. We encourage software developers and mailers to update their systems as soon as possible to include these changes.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
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400 Discount Parcels
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430 First-Class Mail
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435 Mail Preparation
1.0 General Information for Mail Preparation
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1.3 Terms for Presort Levels
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[Revise item d to change origin/entry 3 digit sorting from required to optional as follows:]
d. Origin/entry 3-digit(s): the ZIP Code in the delivery address on all pieces begins with one of the 3-digit prefixes processed at the sectional center facility (SCF) in whose service area the mail is verified/entered. Separation is optional for each such 3-digit area regardless of the volume of mail.
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1.4 Preparation Definitions and Instructions
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[Revise item c as follows:]
c. An origin/entry 3-digit sack contains all mail (regardless of quantity) for a 3-digit ZIP Code area processed by the SCF in whose service area the mail is verified/entered.
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[Delete current item f, since it does not pertain to parcels, and redesignate current item g as new item f.]
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4.0 Preparing Presorted Parcels
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4.4 Sacking and Labeling
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[Revise item b to change 3-digit sorting from required to optional as follows:]
b. 3-digit optional, but required for 3-digit rate; 10–pound minimum, except for optional origin/entry 3-digit(s); labeling:
1. Line 1: L002, Column A.
2. Line 2: “FCM PARCELS 3D.”
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the DMM and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 8-2-07
