Effective January 26, 2020, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), sections 204.3.4.5, 204.3.4.6, and 705.8.6.1, to clarify pallet label standards.
Additionally, the Postal Service will revise section 705.8.6.1, “Placement,” to include a recommendation for pallet labels to be placed on the top center of two adjacent sides. Section 705.8.6.1 will be the source for pallet label placement standards. Sections 204.3.4.5, “Label Requirements,” and 204.3.4.6, “Optional Smaller Label Format,” will be revised to refer readers to section 705.8.6.1 for complete standards. The Postal Service will also update Quick Service Guide 705a to be consistent with the revised standards in 705.8.6 in the DMM.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until January 26, 2020, the standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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204 Barcode Standards
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3.0 Standards for Barcoded Tray Labels, Sack Labels, and Container Labels
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3.4 Intelligent Mail Container Labels
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3.4.5 Label Requirements
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[Revise the text of item a. to read as follows:]
a. Two labels must be affixed to each pallet as specified under 705.8.6.1.
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3.4.6 Optional Smaller Label Format
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[Revise the text of item f. to read as follows:]
f. Two labels must be affixed to each pallet as specified under 705.8.6.1.
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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
8.6.1 Placement
[Revise the text of 8.6.1 to read as follows:]
Labels must be placed as follows:
a. Two labels must be affixed to each pallet, one on each adjacent side, and must be visible, including on multiple stacked pallets. Recommended placement of each label is on the top center of each adjacent side.
b. Labels bearing Intelligent Mail container barcodes must be placed on the outside of the shrinkwrap or plastic.
c. Labels must be affixed by self-adhesive or other adhesive means that will not obscure any required element of the label, including the barcode, and remain secure throughout USPS processing.
d. Pallets prepared through plant-load or drop-shipment agreements must be loaded on transportation so that a pallet label on each pallet faces toward the rear of the vehicle.
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification, Marketing, 12-19-19
