Effective January 22, 2010, Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, 541.42 was revised, reinstating the language as originally written in 1994 concerning delivery point sequencing (DPS) letter mail processing on rural routes.
Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities
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5 Inspection, Count, and Adjustment of Rural Routes
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54 Compensation Adjustments
541 Requirements
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541.4 Automation Processed Mail
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541.42 Formal Review of DPS Letter Mail Processing
[Revise 541.42 to read as follows:]
If a route receiving DPS mail frequently experiences significant decreases in the quality of the DPS mail or there is a disproportionate reduction in DPS volume in relationship to the total letter volume of the route, the carrier may make a written request asking for a formal review of the DPS processing for the route. If the formal review indicates a zone or route is no longer being properly processed on automated equipment, quality has deteriorated significantly, or a pattern of random automated processing is revealed, management will take corrective action to ensure that the processing is returned to levels equivalent to those experienced during the previous mail count period.
However, if corrective action has not resolved the problem within 30 calendar days of the carrier’s written request, management will prepare a PS Form 4003, Official Rural Route Description, discontinuing the application of DPS standards. The DPS volume will be reclassified as sector/segment mail (if processing standards are achievable) or raw mail, as appropriate, and a base hour change made to adjust the route evaluation. The Form 4003 will be processed with an effective date beginning with the first day of the pay period in which the carrier provided written notification requesting a review of DPS processing.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next printed version of Handbook PO-603 and into the next online update, available on the Postal Service™ PolicyNet website:
n Go to http://blue.usps.gov.
n Under “Essential Links” in the left-hand column, click PolicyNet.
n On the PolicyNet page, click HBKs.
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
— Rural Delivery,
Delivery and Post Office Operations, 2-25-10
