October 19, 2017

Along with the proposed price changes, USPS published in the Federal Register changes to its mailing standards. While some of the actual pricing seems to move away from encouraging work-sharing, the rules adjustments appear to be an attempt to increase and facilitate it. Mailers and their service providers should check the rules out to hopefully enhance their pricing. For example:

Add Bound Printed Matter Flats Up to 24 Ounces to Comail DSCF or DDU Only

Currently, the USPS allows authorized mailers to combine USPS Marketing Mail flats and Periodicals flats in a single mailing. Each mailpiece must meet the standards for the mail class, and Periodicals publications must be authorized or pending original or additional entry at the office of mailing. Mailers must prepare pieces in bundles on pallets.

 The USPS proposes allowing Bound Printed Matter (BPM) Flats up to 24 ounces to be included in the current comailing structure which includes USPS Marketing Mail flats and Periodicals flats up to 24 ounces entered at a Destination Sectional Center Facility, (DSCF) or a Destination Delivery Unit, (DDU). The maximum weight of comailed BPM and Periodicals flats is 24 ounces per piece within the same bundle. Pieces within the bundle must be in line-of-travel, LOT, sequence. These bundles must not contain more than half of the heavier pieces. Note that comail bundles which contain all three classes of mail assume the service standard of USPS Marketing Mail. If bundles are made only of Periodicals and Bound Printed Matter Flats, then the service standard adopted will be the lesser of the two. This proposal includes CoPal, which allows the mixing of class-specific, bundles on the same pallet, which can also include mixed class bundles (comail). If BPM bundles are included on the same pallet, then this CoPal pallet must be DSCF or DDU entry only.

Order of Pallet Preparation for Carrier Route (CR) Pallets in Non-FSS Zones

Currently, the pallet preparation requirements for Carrier Route pallets in Non-FSS zones allows merged 5-digit scheme pallets as the first required sortation, followed by 5-digit scheme carrier routes, 5-digit scheme, and merged 5-digit pallets.

The USPS is considering updating the order of pallet preparation, to increase the number of pure CR Pallets (as opposed to 5-Digit Merged Pallets) presented in non-FSS zones. This will be accomplished by moving 5-digit Scheme Carrier Route pallets ahead of Merged 5-digit Scheme pallets. This includes both USPS Marketing Mail and Periodicals. This change would increase the amount of mail eligible for a CR pallet discount, resulting in eligibility for lower prices on the mail.