On November 6, 2008, the Postal Service™ is revising 705.8.0 of Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to add optional standards for mailers preparing First-Class Mail® letter-size and flat-size mailings on pallets, or in other USPS®-approved containers. These standards will be effective in May 2009, concurrent with the implementation of the new prices for mailing services. The May 2009 effective date provides ample time for USPS and mailer systems to prepare and support these changes.
In the interim, we encourage mailers to containerize First-Class Mail items according to these guidelines when they have sufficient volume for a presort destination, rather than placing trays on working (“convenience”) pallets. Destination pallets can bypass initial tray distribution operations, allowing significant efficiencies in both processing and transportation, and will enhance our ability to meet service expectations. Mailers need not show the new containerization in their presort documentation until systems are ready in May 2009.
These optional standards may form the basis for local customer/supplier agreements to align and formalize existing mailer and USPS practices for First-Class Mail items. Beginning in May 2009, mailers using the Intelligent Mail® full-service option may also use these standards to containerize mailings when preparing pallets or other USPS-approved containers bearing Intelligent Mail container placards.
We will include First-Class Mail container preparation in the spring 2009 update to PostalOne!®, concurrent with Mail.dat® release 09-1 and Mail.XML version 5.0. Mailers transmitting documentation electronically may include First-Class Mail container data beginning with these updates.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Letters and Cards
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230 First-Class Mail
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235 Mail Preparation
1.0 General Definition of Terms
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[Add a new 1.5 to include reference to optional containerization as follows:]
1.5 Optional Containerization
Mailers may prepare pallets or other USPS-approved containers as described in 705.8.10.1 or according to local customer/supplier agreements.
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300 Commercial Flats
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330 First Class Mail
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335 Mail Preparation
1.0 General Definition of Terms
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[Add a new 1.5 to include reference to optional containerization as follows:]
1.5 Optional Containerization
Mailers may prepare pallets or other USPS-approved containers as described in 705.8.10.1 or according to local customer/supplier agreements.
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700 Special Standards
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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8.0 Preparing Pallets
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8.6 Pallet Labels
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8.6.5 Line 2 (Content Line)
Line 2 (content line) must meet these standards:
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b. Codes. The codes shown below must be used as appropriate on Line 2 of sack, tray, and pallet labels.
[Insert new code for First-Class Mail as follows:]
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8.10 Pallet Presort and Labeling
[Renumber 8.10.1 through 8.10.7 as new 8.10.2 through 8.10.8. Add new 8.10.1 for First-Class Mail on pallets or in other approved containers as follows:]
8.10.1 First-Class Mail — Letter or Flats Trays
Mailers may palletize First-Class Mail according to a local customer/supplier agreement or under 8.10.1. First-Class Mail palletization is optional, but mailers using this option must prepare pallets in the sequence listed below and complete each required level before preparing the next optional or required level. Pallets must contain at least 72 linear feet of letter trays (six full layers) or 24 linear feet of flats trays (three full layers). Maximum pallet height is 12 layers or 77 inches of letter trays (whichever occurs first) or 77 inches of flats trays. When available and with approval by the plant manager of the origin facility, mailers may use all-purpose containers (APCs) or other USPS-approved containers. Mailers approved to use APCs must prepare containers when they have a minimum of 48 linear feet of letter trays or 16 linear feet of flats trays to a presort destination. Preparation, sequence, and labeling:
a. 5-digit. Optional. Based on the origin ZIP Code, for 5–digit ZIP Codes within the 3-digit destinations listed in L201 column B. Pallet may contain trays only for the same 5-digit ZIP Code (for nonautomation letters and flats) or 5-digit scheme ZIP Codes (automation letters only). Place 5-digit scheme trays on 5–digit pallets according to the destination shown in the current City State Product. Labeling:
1. Line 1: city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS” or “FCM FLTS,” followed by “5D.”
b. Origin SCF (local mail). Required; no minimum. Pallet contains trays destined for the 3-digit ZIP Codes serviced by the origin SCF facility in L005; MXD AADC trays when the 3-digit ZIP Code on the tray indicates the origin facility is the processing facility for that mail (see L201, Column C). Mailers may, at their option, place AADC trays on origin SCF pallets when the tray’s “label to” 3-digit ZIP Code (from L801) is within the origin SCF’s service area. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L002, Column C.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS” or “FCM FLTS,” followed by “SCF.”
c. SCF. Required. For destinations listed in L201, based on origin ZIP Code. Pallet may contain trays destined for the 3-digit ZIP Codes in L005. Mailers may, at their option, place AADC trays on SCF pallets when the tray’s “label to” 3-digit ZIP Code (from L801) is within that SCF’s service area. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L002, Column C.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS” or “FCM FLTS,” followed by “SCF.”
d. AADC. Required, for machinable and automation letters only. For destinations listed in L201, based on origin ZIP Code. Pallet may contain letter trays only for the 3-digit ZIP Code group in L801. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L801, Column B.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS,” followed by “AADC.”
e. ADC. Required, for flats and nonmachinable letters only. For destinations listed in L201, based on origin ZIP Code. Pallet may contain trays only for the 3-digit ZIP Code groups in L004. Labeling:
1. Line 1: L004, Column B.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS” or “FCM FLTS,” followed by “ADC.”
f. Origin Mixed ADC Surface. Required. Pallet may contain trays destined for the 3-digit ZIP Codes in L201, based on origin ZIP Code. Labeling:
1. Line 1: “OMX” followed by city, state, and ZIP Code information for ADC serving 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of entry Post Office, as shown in L201.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS” or “FCM FLTS,” followed by “WKG.”
g. Mixed ADC Air (all other). Required; no minimum. May contain surface trays when no mixed ADC surface container is prepared under 8.10.1f. Labeling:
1. Line 1: “MXD” followed by city, state, and ZIP Code information for ADC serving 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of entry Post Office, as shown in L004.
2. Line 2: “FCM LTRS” or “FCM FLTS,” followed by “WKG.”
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We will incorporate these revisions into the November update of the online DMM on Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com and into the next printed edition of the DMM.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 11-6-08
