Effective July 10, 2017, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), section 705.8.0, Preparing Pallets, to clarify the following:
n The maximum number of pallets that may be stacked.
n The securing method for trays prepared on a pallet.
On October 31, 2013, the Postal Service published a Postal Bulletin article, “DMM Revision: Physical Characteristics of Stacking Pallets,” which revised the DMM to increase the maximum number of pallets a mailer may stack from four to six tiers high. However, we did not revise subsection 705.8.2.1, Use, to reflect the increase to six tiers high. For clarification, we are updating subsection 705.8.2.1 to reflect the option for mailers to stack pallets up to six tiers high.
We will also revise subsection 705.8.1.3 by adding a new item d. to clarify that each pallet of trays must be secured with stretchable or shrinkable plastic. The use of straps or bands alone is not permitted. Previously, we only provided this information in the Quick Service Guide (QSG) 705a, Pallets, Pallet Boxes, and Trays on Pallets.
We will also revise DMM subsections 705.8.1.3c and 705.8.3.1d to remove redundant text. In addition to the above DMM revisions, we will revise QSG 705a.
Although we will not publish these revisions in the DMM until July 10, 2017, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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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
8.1 Physical Characteristics
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8.1.3 Securing Pallets
[Revise the introductory text of 8.1.3 to read as follows:]
Except for stacked pallets under 8.1.3, pallet boxes under 8.4.3, and pallets of trays under 8.1.3d, each loaded pallet of mail must be prepared to maintain the integrity of the mail and the entire pallet load during transport and handling using one of the following methods:
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[Revise the text of item c. to read as follows:]
c. Securing with at least two straps or bands of appropriate material and wrapping with stretchable or shrinkable plastic.
[Add new item d. to read as follows:]
d. Each pallet of trays must be secured with stretchable or shrinkable plastic. The use of straps or bands alone is not permitted.
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8.2 Top Caps
8.2.1 Use
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[Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Except as provided below, all pallets of sacks, trays, parcels, bundles of mail, or pallet boxes must be top-capped if the pallets are stacked when presented to the USPS for acceptance.
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8.3 Stacking Pallets
8.3.1 Physical Characteristics
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[Revise the text of item d. to read as follows:]
d. The stack of pallets is secured with at least two straps or bands of appropriate material to maintain the integrity of the stacked pallets during transport and handling as specified in 8.1.3. The stack of pallets cannot be secured together with stretchable or shrinkable plastic.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online update of the DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Marketing, 6-8-17
