Effective February 1, 2010, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) parts 401, 402, 423, 424, and 425 to clarify standards for Priority Mail® commercial plus cubic prices that went into effect on January 4, 2010.
As a reminder, hardcopy postage statements will be allowed for customers who pay postage with permit imprints and submit postage statements and computerized manifests. The Postal Service will provide advance notice for mandatory compliance with the submission of electronic postage statements.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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400 Commercial Parcels
401 Physical Standards
1.0 Physical Standards for Parcels
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1.3 Maximum Weight and Size
[Revise the second sentence of 1.3 as follows:]
***Lower weight limits apply to Priority Mail mailed at commercial plus cubic prices, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Bound Printed Matter.***
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2.0 Additional Physical Standards by Class of Mail
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2.2 Priority Mail
2.2.1 Physical Standards of Mailpieces
[Revise the first sentence of 2.2.1 as follows:]
The maximum weight is 70 pounds, except mailpieces entered at commercial plus cubic prices, for which the maximum weight is 20 pounds.***
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402 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece
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2.0 Placement and Content of Markings
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2.3 Priority Mail Commercial Plus Cubic Markings—Permit Imprint
[Revise 2.3 and add new item “c” as follows:]
Priority Mail permit imprint pieces claiming the commercial plus cubic price must bear the applicable marking, printed on the piece or produced as part of the permit imprint indicia. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage. Approved markings are as follows:
a. Cubic
b. CUBIC
c. cubic
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420 Priority Mail
423 Prices and Eligibility
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3.0 Basic Standards for Priority Mail
3.1 Definition
[Revise 3.1 as follows:]
Priority Mail is an expedited service and may contain any mailable matter weighing no more than 70 pounds. Lower weight limits apply to commercial plus cubic (see 1.4); APO/FPO mail subject to 703.2.0 and 703.4.0; and Department of State mail subject to 703.3.0.
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424 Postage Payment and Documentation
1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment
1.1 Postage Payment Options
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[Add new 1.1.3 as follows:]
1.1.3 Commercial Plus Cubic Pricing
Commercial plus cubic prices may be paid with:
a. USPS-approved PC Postage products when registered end-users use a qualifying shipping label.
b. Permit imprint under 2.0. Mailers also must use the Electronic Verification System (eVS) program or submit an electronic postage statement with a computerized manifest under 705.2.0.
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425 Mail Preparation
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2.0 Marking
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2.4 Price Marking for Commercial Plus Cubic Prices—Permit Imprint Indicia
[Revise 2.4 and add new item “c” as follows:]
Priority Mail pieces claiming the commercial plus cubic price must bear the appropriate marking, printed on the piece or produced as part of the permit imprint indicia. Place the marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage. Markings are as follows:
a. Cubic
b. CUBIC
c. cubic
We will include these revisions in the next update of the online DMM on Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com and in the next printed edition of the DMM.
— Mailing Standards, Pricing, 1-28-10
