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M000 General Preparation Standards
M030 Containers
M031 Labels
Summary
M031 describes what should appear on the destination line (Line 1), content line (Line 2), and office of mailing or mailer information line (Line 3), of sack and tray labels. The section covers additional standards for tray, sack, and pallet labels.
1.0 Sack and Tray Labels
1.1Basic Standards
Only sack labels may be used for sacks; only tray labels may be used for trays. Machine-printed labels (available from the USPS) ensure legibility. Legible hand-printed labels are acceptable. Illegible labels are not acceptable. Container labels for automation rate mailings are subject to M032.
1.2Line 1
Line 1 (destination line) must be the first visible line on the label. It must be completely visible and legible when placed in the label holder. This visibility is ensured if the top line is no less than 1/8 (0.125) inch below the top of the label when the label is cut and prepared. Line 1 must contain only the information specified by standard, including the appropriate destination facility prefix (e.g., “ADC”). Two zeros may follow 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes used as required by labeling standards. On carrier route, 5-digit carrier routes, and 5-digit sacks and trays for military destinations, the destination 5-digit ZIP Code of the mail contained in the sack or tray must be preceded by “APO” or “FPO”; and “AE” (for 090-098 ZIP Codes), “AA” (for 340 ZIPs), or “AP” (for 962-966 ZIPs).
1.3Line 2
Line 2 (content line) must be the second visible line on the label. This line must show the class and processing category of the mail in the sack or tray and other information as specified by standards.
1.4Line 3
Line 3 (office of mailing or mailer information line) must be the bottom line of required information and must show either the city and state of the entry post office or the mailer’s name and the city and state of the mailer’s location. It is recommended that the mailer’s name also appear with the city and state of the entry post office.
1.5Extraneous Information
Extraneous information is not permitted on the destination and content lines. It may be placed away from required lines, subject to these conditions:
a. It may be placed above Line 1 in not more than 0.083 inch high type (6-point type).
b. It may appear to the right of required Line 3 information but it must not consist of numerals that resemble a ZIP Code or 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.
c. It must not appear between Lines 1 and 2 (a blank line is permitted), but may appear between Lines 2 and 3 if it does not consist of numerals that resemble a ZIP Code or 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.
d. It may appear below Line 3.
e. A mailer code assigned by the USPS or such words as “Mailer,” “From” (or “FR”), or “Entered at” may appear before the required information on Line 3.
1.6Abbreviations
[6-12-03] Lines 1 and 3 may contain abbreviated information if such abbreviations are those in the USPS City State Product or in Publication 65, National Five-Digit ZIP Code and Post Office Directory.
1.7Periodicals Publications
[3-6-03] Except as provided in M230. for combined mailings, Periodicals publications must use one of the following for Line 2 class information:
a. “PER.”
b. “NEWS” if published weekly or more often or if authorized newspaper treatment as of March 1, 1984.
2.0 Additional Standards—Sack Labels
2.1Specifications
A sack label must meet these specifications:
a. Color: white or manila for Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Package Services; pink for Periodicals.
b. Weight: 70-pound or heavier stock (required for mailings of automation-compatible flats, optional for others).
c. Length (parallel to printing): 3.250 inches minimum; 3.375 inches maximum.
d. Height (perpendicular to printing): 0.937 inch minimum; 0.980 inch maximum.
2.2Automation- Compatible Flats
For sack labels used on mailings of automation-compatible flats only.
a. The human-readable content of sack labels must be machine-printed at five lines per inch. If the information cannot be shortened by postal abbreviations, it may be printed at a pitch of up to 15 characters per inch, if at least 22 human-readable characters fit on the label without interfering with the “quiet zone.”
b. The minimum acceptable height for the destinating ZIP Code is 0.111 inch (8-point type).
c. The minimum acceptable character height for all other information on Lines 1, 2, and 3 is 0.083 inch (6-point type).
3.0 Additional Standards—Tray Labels
3.1Placement
A tray label must be securely placed in an adhesive-backed label holder that is affixed to the specific location designated on the tray. Where no specific location is indicated the label must be securely placed in an adhesive-backed label holder that is affixed horizontally to the top left corner of one end of the tray. Do not use tape. Insert labels completely into the label holder to ensure that they do not fall out during processing. Do not insert labels upside down.
3.2Specifications
A tray label must meet these specifications:
a. Color: white or manila for First-Class Mail and Standard Mail; pink for Periodicals.
b. Weight: minimum 70-pound stock (500 sheets, 24 by 36 inches).
c. Height (perpendicular to printing): 1.860 inches minimum; 2.015 inches maximum.
d. Length (parallel to printing): 3.250 inches minimum; 3.515 inches maximum.
e. Thickness: 0.005 inch minimum.
4.0 Pallet Labels
4.1Placement
At least two clearly visible labels must be affixed on two adjacent sides of each pallet.
4.2Specifications
Pallet labels must be pink for Periodicals mail or white for Standard Mail and Package Services mail. Pallet labels must measure at least 8 inches by 11 inches.
4.3Lettering
Lettering for required information on pallet labels must be at least 1/2 inch high.
4.4Required Information
Labels must contain the information required under 4.0 and under M045, M920, M930, or M940 for the preparation method and class and rate claimed.
4.5Destination Line
The destination line (line 1 of required information) must be the first visible line on the label. It must be completely visible and legible when placed on the pallet. The destination line must contain only the information specified by standard, including the appropriate destination facility prefix (e.g., “ADC”). Two zeros may follow 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes used as required by labeling standards. On 5-digit carrier routes and 5-digit pallets for military destinations, the destination 5-digit ZIP Code of the mail contained on the pallet must be preceded by “APO” or “FPO”; and “AE” (for 090-098 ZIP Codes), “AA” (for 340 ZIPs), or “AP” (for 962-966 ZIPs). In cases where the destination line of a pallet label does not provide enough space for all required information, the destination ZIP Code may be placed right-justified on the line immediately below the destination line and above the content line. A standard abbreviation for the destination city name may be used.
4.6Content Line
The content line (line 2 of required information) must be the second visible line on the label. This line must show the class and processing category of the mail on the pallet and other information as specified by standard. If the content line of a pallet label does not provide enough space for all required information, the content information may be continued right-justified on the line immediately below the content line and above the office of mailing or mailer information line.
4.7Office of Mailing or Mailer Information
Line
The office of mailing or mailer information line (line 3 of required information) must be the bottom line of required information and must show either the city and state of the entry post office or the mailer’s name and the city and state of the mailer’s location. It is recommended that the mailer’s name also appear with the city and state of the entry post office.
4.85-Digit, 5-Digit Carrier Routes,
and 5-Digit Scheme Carrier Routes Pallets
All 5-digit carrier routes or 5-digit scheme carrier routes pallets must show the words “CARRIER ROUTES” (or “CR-RTS”) after the processing category description on the content line under M045, M920, M930, and M940. 5-digit pallets of Bound Printed Matter that contain only carrier route rate mail also must show the words “CARRIER ROUTES” (or “CR-RTS”) after the “5D” pallet level description on the contents line under M045.
4.9Barcoded Status
Pallet labels must indicate whether the mail on the pallet is barcoded, or not barcoded, or both. Specific Line 2 label information is in M045, M920, M930, and M940.
4.10Extraneous Information
Extraneous information is permitted on pallet labels if:
a. The print size is smaller than a 1/2 inch.
b. It does not consist of a numbered series resembling a ZIP Code or 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.
c. It does not appear on or between the lines reserved for USPS required information (blank lines are permitted). Exception: For combined mailings of Standard Mail and Package Services machinable parcels, mailer codes and extraneous information may appear between the content line and the office of mailing or mailer information line.
d. It is below the office of mailing or mailer information line.
e. A 1-inch clear space is maintained around the lines reserved for USPS required information.
f. On the office of mailing or mailer information line, the mailer’s name or abbreviation, “Mailer,” “From” (or “FR”), “Entered at,” or a similar notation precedes the required information, or mailer codes or other extraneous information appear to the right of the required information.
4.11Periodicals Publications
[3-6-03] Except as provided in M045.8.0 for copalletized mailings, Periodicals publications must use one of the following for Line 2 class information:
a. “PER.”
b. “NEWS” if published weekly or more often or if authorized newspaper treatment as of March 1, 1984.
4.12Pallet Package Information
It is recommended that mailers preparing packages on pallets add to the pallet label, below the office of mailing or mailer information line and according to the provisions of 4.10, additional information listing the number of packages for each package sortation and rate level on the pallet (i.e., the number of carrier route packages, the number of 5-digit, 3-digit, and ADC automation rate packages, and the number of 5-digit, 3-digit, and ADC Presorted rate packages on each pallet).
5.0 Second Line Codes
The codes shown below must be used as appropriate on Line 2 of sack, tray, and pallet labels.
| Content Type | Code |
|---|---|
| Barcoded | BC |
| Barcoded and Nonbarcoded | BC/NBC |
| Carrier Route | C (type of route) |
| Carrier Routes | CR-RT or CR-RTS |
| Digit | D |
| First-Class Mail | FCM |
| Flats | FLTS |
| General Delivery Unit | G |
| Highway Contract Route | H |
| Irregular Parcels | IRREG (Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services only) |
| Letters | LTR or LTRS |
| Machinable | MACH |
| Manual (cannot be processed on automated equipment or mailer requests manual processing) | MAN or MANUAL |
| Mixed | MXD |
| Mixed Machinable and Irregular Parcels | MACH & IRREG (Standard Mail only) |
| Nonmachinable | NON MACH |
| Nonbarcoded | NON BC (sacks) NBC (pallets and co-trayed or co-sacked mail under M910) |
| Nonmachinable Parcels | NON MACH |
| Package Services | PSVC |
| Parcels | PARCELS (First-Class Mail and Package Services only) |
| Periodicals | PER (see 1.7) NEWS (see 1.7) |
| Post Office Box Section | B |
| Rural Route | R |
| Scheme | SCH (Periodicals, Standard Mail, and (flats only) Bound Printed Matter 5-digit scheme carrier routes sacks and 5-digit scheme pallets only) |
| Standard Mail | STD |
| Working | WKG |
DMM Issue 58 (8-10-03)