Effectively immediately, the Postal Operations Manual (POM) is revised to resolve questions and suggestions brought up after the publication of the article “POM Revision: Collection Services” in Postal Bulletin 22313 (6-16-2011, pages 8–26).
Section 315.34 has been revised to clarify policy about not collecting business collection boxes with low Saturday volume.
Information previously given in section 323.43 has been moved to section 322.344. Section 323.43 has been deleted.
Postal Operations Manual (POM)
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3 Collection Service, National Service Standards
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31 Applicability and General Requirements
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315 Collection Boxes
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315.3 Locations of Collection Boxes and Other Collection Points
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315.34 Business Area Collection Boxes
In business areas (see 311.2), install boxes where the greatest mail volume is generated and where boxes are convenient to the greatest number of businesses. A business area box that generates a daily average of 100 or more pieces on weekdays, requires a 5:00 p.m. or later collection and must bear a last pickup time decal (see 322). For time decal boxes in business areas, a Saturday collection is required if the box averages 100 pieces per Saturday during the density test period. These collections should be as late in the day as possible in accordance with POM 313.1.
A Saturday collection is optional for business area collection boxes that are not time decal boxes. A box with an average Saturday volume of 25–99 pieces should require collection no earlier than when the regular carrier passes the box in the performance of delivery duties. If a time decal business box receiving 100 or more pieces Monday through Friday is found, through a 4-week density analysis, to consistently receive fewer than 100 pieces on Saturdays, a Saturday collection is not mandatory. The collection of these boxes is not mandatory when the box is not accessible or the average Saturday volume does not exceed the box minimum for retention. Business area boxes generating lower volumes should be reviewed periodically for relocation within the business area to a higher volume location.
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32 Types of Collection Boxes
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322 Time Decal Boxes, Boxes Displaying Last Pickup Time Decals, 30-Minute Time Increments
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322.3 Last Pickup Between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Monday Through Friday)
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322.34 Collection Schedules
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[Add 322.344 to read as follows:]
322.344 Widely Observed Holidays
Some national holidays are widely observed, and customer demand deteriorates significantly on the day before the holiday. In such instances, usually on the eves before Christmas and New Year’s Day, where senior management determines that expected customer flows will be minimal, early retail closings and early collections may be authorized and implemented. When this occurs, senior management clearly signals these changes in holiday operations via letter. This information is also the subject of a press release for the specific holiday. It is important that each office publish this information in timely fashion through local news releases; radio and television notices; required postings on affected local collection boxes being collected early; and where appropriate, in Post Offices, stations, and branches. The district manager or a designee may make exceptions to provide collection services in instances where customer reaction or past history indicates a need to do so.
323 Residential Collection Boxes
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323.4 Collection Schedules
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[Delete 323.43]
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We will incorporate this revision into the next printed version of the POM and also into the online version 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 Manuals.
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
— Delivery Programs Support,
Delivery and Post Office Operations, 10-20-11
