5. Support Systems for Mail Processing
Current cost savings initiatives focus on maintaining critical systems and replacing obsolete ones.

        a. Transportation Information Management Evaluation System
The Transportation Information Management Evaluation System (TIMES) is a data collection system designed to track highway contractor performance as well as measure the utilization of the truck transportation network. TIMES is currently operational in over approximately 482 P&DCs, AMCs, and Airport Mail Facilities and at the Hub-and Spoke Program sites (HASPs). Future plans for TIMES include system enhancements that will provide greater visibility of actual content by mail class that is transported on the truck transportation network.

        b. Dedicated Air Tracking
The Postal Service Air Operations group controls the consistency of the movement of mail on postal dedicated aircraft through several air networks including the Daytime Dedicated Network (DNET) and the Christmas Dedicated Networks (CNET). The Dedicated Air tracking System (DAT) provides the Postal Service with the information and tools to monitor air and truck operations within these dedicated air networks, to supervise air cargo contractors involved in moving the mail, and to supply accurate and timely reports to postal management. DATS allows users to track and manage mail from either a hub or Point-To-Point (PTP) network perspective.

DATS provides real-time operational data that allows users and managers to manage the transportation of expedited mail, and to review the current day’s operations. The information and automated tools provided by DATS assist users in ensuring that service standards are achieved, dedicated aircraft are effectively utilized, and operational alerts are dealt with on a timely basis.

DATS is capable of managing dedicated postal air networks 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year, providing a wealth of timely operational information to all levels of postal management. It represents the latest in computer technology and provides the Postal Service with a solid foundation for further improvements in the management of its dedicated air networks.

        c. Surface Air Management System
The Surface Air Management System (SAM) was fully deployed in 2001, replacing the Air Contract Data Collection System as our new mail assignment engine. SAMS provides the ability to assign mail to indexed surface and air routes, and to allocate capacity by mail classes, and track manifests on-line. The system also provides an individual routing assignment, with unique serial identification for each item presented for dispatch. The routing assignment and serial number are bar code printed on a self-adhesive dispatch & routing tag, which is applied to the item being dispatched. The dispatch & routing tags are scanned providing 'visibility' for sacks, trays, and large parcels as they are handed-off to transportation suppliers until delivery back to the Postal Service at destination. This data is used for internal quality and performance monitoring and contractor compliance measures.

        d. Surface Air Support System
The Surface Air Support System (SASS) was deployed in 2001 to integrate scan data received from transportation suppliers with existing transportation systems, to ensure service performance accountability and accurate payment verification. With SASS, we have created a central 'visibility' database to receive assignment data from SAMS and scan data from our own facilities and from our transportation suppliers. SASS also provides an interface and reports used to share visibility data with external transportation suppliers and other Postal Service logistics systems. This scanning data provides both service and security benefits, giving the Postal Service better data regarding service performance for transportation suppliers, as well as, information regarding mail transported on a specific flight, truck, train.