On November 6, 2023, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to include Postal Service standards for using Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) as an option for mailers to schedule drop-shipment appointments.
FAST, available at fast.usps.com, is the Postal Service electronic option for scheduling a drop-shipment appointment for deposit of destination entry price mail at network distribution centers (NDCs), auxiliary service facilities (ASFs), and sectional center facilities (SCFs).
The Postal Service is also adding FAST as a drop-shipment appointment option for scheduling the deposit of destination delivery unit (DDU) mailings.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until November 6, 2023, 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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207 Periodicals
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29.0 Destination Entry
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29.5 Destination Delivery Unit
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29.5.4 Deposit Schedule
[Revise the first and third sentence of 29.5.4 to read as follows:]
The mailer may schedule deposit of DDU mailings at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the DDU or through FAST, available at fast.usps.com.*** The mailer may request standing appointments for renewable 6-month periods by written application to the DDU.***
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240 Commercial Mail USPS Marketing Mail
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246 Enter and Deposit
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2.0 Destination Entry
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2.6 Deposit
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2.6.3 Appointments
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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Except as provided under 2.6.3b, or for a local mailer and mailings of perishable commodities under 2.6.13, appointments for deposit of destination entry price mail at NDCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate drop-shipment appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same-day appointments may be granted by a drop-shipment control center only through a telephone request. Appointments may be made up to 30 calendar days before the desired appointment date. The mailer must adhere to the scheduled mail deposit time and location. To cancel an appointment, the mailer must notify the appropriate drop-shipment control center at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment.
b. As an option to 2.6.3a, a mailer or agent may make an appointment through the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system, available at fast.usps.com, using a USPS-issued computer logon ID. FAST appointments and cancellations must be made at least 12 hours before the desired or scheduled time and date. All information must be provided that the FAST appointment system requires regarding a mailing.
[Revise the first and second sentence of item c. to read as follows:]
c. For deposit of DDU mailings, an appointment must be made by contacting the DDU or through FAST, available at fast.usps.com, at least 24 hours in advance. To cancel an appointment, the mailer must provide notification through the applicable appointment method at least one business day before the scheduled appointment.***
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2.6.4 Advance Scheduling
[Revise the second sentence in the introductory text of 2.6.4 to read as follows:]
***When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer must provide the DDU or FAST with the following information:
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2.6.5 Adherence to Schedule
[Revise the first sentence of 2.6.5 to read as follows:]
The mailer must follow the scheduled deposit time or cancel the appointment through the applicable appointment method.***
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[Revise the title and text of 2.6.13 to read as follows:]
2.6.13 Exception to Scheduling Standard
Exceptions are as follows:
a. The restrictions in 2.5.5 and 2.6.3 do not apply when a mailer deposits mailings for verification and acceptance at the local Post Office serving the facility where the mail was prepared, if the mailings are not verified under a plant load authorization or plant-verified drop-shipment postage payment authorization. Under this exception, the mailer may claim the destination entry prices for mailings or portions of mailings deposited at the local Post Office if the mailings meet the standards in 3.0 through 5.0.
b. Exceptions to the scheduling standard are made for shipments of products recognized by USPS as perishables under 601.8.0. While an appointment is not required for shipments of perishables, the destination facility must be notified at least 24 hours before deposit to facilitate timely handling of the load.
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250 Commercial Mail Parcel Select
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256 Enter and Deposit
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2.0 Deposit
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2.7 Appointments
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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Except as provided under 2.7b, or for a local mailer and mailings of perishable commodities (601.8.0) under 2.8, appointments for deposit of destination entry mail at NDCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate drop-shipment appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same-day appointments may be granted by a drop-shipment control center based on a telephone request. Appointments may be made up to thirty (30) calendar days before the desired appointment date. Mailers must comply with the scheduled mail deposit time and location. To cancel an appointment, the mailer must notify the appropriate drop-shipment control center at least one day before the scheduled appointment time.
b. As an option to 2.7a, a mailer or agent may make an appointment through the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system, available at fast.usps.com, using a USPS-issued computer logon ID. FAST appointments and cancellations must be made at least 12 hours before the desired or scheduled time and date. All information must be provided that the FAST appointment system requires regarding a mailing.
[Revise the first and second sentence of item c. to read as follows:]
c. For deposit of DDU and DHUB mailings, an appointment must be made by contacting the DDU or through FAST, available at fast.usps.com, at least 24 hours in advance. To cancel an appointment, the mailer must provide notification through the applicable appointment method at least one day before the scheduled appointment.***
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2.10 Advance Scheduling
[Revise the second sentence in the introductory text of 2.10 to read as follows:]
***When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer must provide the following information:
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260 Commercial Mail Bound Printed Matter
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266 Enter and Deposit
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3.0 Destination Entry
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3.8 Deposit
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3.8.3 Appointments
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[Revise the text of items a. and b. to read as follows:]
a. Except as provided under 3.8.3b, or for a local mailer and mailings of perishable commodities under 3.8.12, appointments for deposit of destination entry price mail at NDCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate drop-shipment appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same-day appointments may be granted by a drop-shipment control center only through a telephone request. Appointments may be made up to 30 calendar days before a desired appointment date. The mailer must adhere to the scheduled mail deposit time and location. To cancel an appointment, the mailer must notify the appropriate drop-shipment control center at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment.
b. As an option to 3.8.3a, a mailer or agent may make an appointment through the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) system, available at fast.usps.com, using a USPS-issued computer logon ID. FAST appointments and cancellations must be made at least 12 hours before the desired or scheduled time and date. All information must be provided that the FAST appointment system requires regarding a mailing.
[Revise the first and second sentence of item c. to read as follows:]
c. For deposit of DDU mailings, an appointment must be made by contacting the DDU or through FAST, available at fast.usps.com, at least 24 hours in advance. To cancel an appointment, the mailer must provide notification through the applicable appointment method at least one business day before the scheduled appointment.***
3.8.4 Advance Scheduling
[Revise the second sentence of the introductory text of 3.8.4 to read as follows:]
***When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer must provide the following information:
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3.8.5 Adherence to Schedule
[Revise the first sentence of 3.8.5 to read as follows:]
The mailer must follow the scheduled deposit time or cancel the appointment through the applicable appointment method.***
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[Revise the title and text of 3.8.12 to read as follows:]
3.8.12 Exception to Scheduling Standard
Exceptions are as follows:
a. The restrictions in 3.7.6 and 3.8.3 do not apply when a mailer deposits mailings for verification and acceptance at the local Post Office serving the facility where the mail was prepared, if the mailings are not verified under a plant load authorization or plant-verified drop-shipment postage payment authorization. Under this exception, the mailer may claim the destination entry prices for mailings or portions of mailings deposited at the local Post Office if the mailings meet the standards in 4.0, 5.0, or 6.0.
b. Exceptions to the scheduling standard are made for shipments of products recognized by USPS as perishables under 601.8.0. While an appointment is not required for shipments of perishables, the destination facility must be notified at least 24 hours before deposit to facilitate timely handling of the load.
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the November 6, 2023, edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 8-24-23
