ARCHIVED DMM - AUG 10, 2003
Contents Index

 

M100 First-Class Mail (Nonautomation)

M130 Presorted First-Class Mail

Summary

M130 describes tray and sack preparation, types of documentation, and labeling for letter- and card-size pieces, flat-size pieces, and parcels. It also covers the standards for documentation.

1.0 Basic Standards

1.1All Pieces

Each Presorted First-Class mailing must meet the applicable standards in E130 and in M010, M020, and M030; flat-size mail co-trayed with automation rate mail must be prepared under 1.7 and M910. All pieces must be in the same processing category, subject to 1.3, and must be sorted together and prepared under 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, or 5.0. Letter-size pieces (including card-size pieces) must be prepared in letter trays; flat-size pieces must be prepared in flat trays; parcels must be prepared in sacks. Subject to M012, all pieces must be marked “Presorted” and “First-Class.”

1.2Documentation

A complete, signed postage statement, using the correct USPS form or an approved facsimile, must accompany each mailing, supported by documentation produced by PAVE-certified or MAC-certified software, or standardized documentation meeting the standards in P012. Documentation of postage is not required if the correct rate is affixed to each piece or each piece is of identical weight and the pieces are separated by rate when presented for acceptance.

1.3Cards and Letters

Pieces claimed at card rates and pieces claimed at letter rates are each subject to a separate minimum volume criterion whether prepared as separate or combined mailings. Either way, card-size and letter-size pieces may be presented at the same time and reported on the same postage statement.

1.4Machinable Pieces

Machinable cards and letters must use the preparation sequence and tray labeling in 2.0.

1.5Nonmachinable Pieces

Nonmachinable cards and letters must use the preparation sequence and tray labeling in 3.0. Nonmachinable flats must use the preparation sequence and tray labeling in 4.0.

1.6Manual Only Option

Mailers who prefer that the USPS not automate letter-size pieces (including cards) must use the preparation sequence and tray labeling for nonmachinable pieces in 3.0. The manual only option is not available for flats.

1.7Co-Traying and Co-Packaging With Automation Rate Mail

Except for automation rate mailings prepared under the tray-based preparation option in M820.3.0, if a single mailing job contains an automation rate mailing and a Presorted rate mailing and both mailings are reported on the same postage statement, then the mailing job must be presorted under the co-traying standards in M910. Flat-size Presorted rate pieces may be co-packaged with flat-size automation rate pieces under the standards in M950.

2.0 PreparationMachinable Letter-Size Pieces

2.1Packaging

Machinable pieces are not packaged, except for (see M020):

a. Card-size pieces.

b. All pieces in a less-than-full origin 3-digit tray.

c. All pieces in a less-than-full mixed AADC tray.

2.2Tray Preparation and Labeling

Preparation sequence, tray size, and labeling:

a. 5-digit: optional; full trays only; no overflow.

(1) Line 1: city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail, preceded for military mail by prefixes under M031.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR 5D MACH.”

b. 3-digit: required; full trays only, except for one less-than-full tray for each origin 3-digit(s); no overflow.

(1) Line 1: L002, Column A.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR 3D MACH.”

c. AADC: required; full trays only; no overflow; group pieces by 3-digit ZIP Code prefix.

(1) Line 1: L801, Column B.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR AADC MACH.”

d. Mixed AADC: required; no minimum; group pieces by AADC.

(1) Line 1: “MXD” followed by city, state, and ZIP of facility serving 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of entry post office, as shown in L002, Column C.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR MACH WKG.”

3.0 PreparationNonmachinable Letter-Size Pieces

3.1Packaging

Packaging is required. Mailers who prefer that the USPS not automate letter-size pieces must identify each package with a facing slip on which “MANUAL ONLY” is printed or with a “MANUAL ONLY” optional endorsement line (see M013). Preparation sequence, package size, and labeling:

a. 5-digit: required (10-piece minimum); red Label D or optional endorsement line (OEL); labeling is not required for pieces in full 5-digit trays.

b. 3-digit: required (10-piece minimum); green Label 3 or OEL.

c. ADC: required (10-piece minimum); pink Label A or OEL.

d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); tan Label MXD or OEL.

3.2Exception to Packaging

Under certain conditions, nonmachinable pieces may not need to be packaged (see M020.1.9).

3.3Tray Preparation and Labeling

Preparation sequence, tray size, and labeling:

a. 5-digit: required; full trays only; no overflow.

(1) Line 1: 5-digit city, state, and ZIP Code on mail, preceded for military mail by prefixes under M031.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR 5D MANUAL.”

b. 3-digit: required; full trays only, except for one less-than-full tray for each origin 3-digit(s); no overflow.

(1) Line 1: L002, Column A.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR 3D MANUAL.”

c. ADC: required; full trays only; no overflow.

(1) Line 1: L004, Column B.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR ADC MANUAL.”

d. Mixed ADC: required; no minimum.

(1) Line 1: “MXD” followed by city, state, and ZIP of facility serving 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of entry post office, as shown in L002, Column C.

(2) Line 2: “FCM LTR MANUAL WKG.”

4.0 PreparationFlats

4.1Package Preparation

Package size, preparation sequence, and labeling:

a. 5-digit: required (10-piece minimum); red Label D or optional endorsement line (OEL).

b. 3-digit: required (10-piece minimum); green Label 3 or OEL.

c. ADC: required (10-piece minimum); pink Label A or OEL.

d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); tan Label MXD or OEL.

4.2Exception to Packaging

Under certain conditions, flat-size pieces may not need to be packaged (see M020.1.9).

4.3Tray Preparation

Tray size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling:

a. 5-digit: required (full trays), no overflow; for Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages, preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.

b. 3-digit: required (full trays except for required origin 3-digit(s)); no overflow; for Line 1, use L002, Column A.

c. ADC: required (full trays), no overflow; for Line 1, use L004.

d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); for Line 1, use “MXD” followed by the city, state, and ZIP of the facility serving the 3-digit ZIP Code of the entry post office, as shown in L002, Column C.

4.4Tray Line 2

Line 2:

a. 5-digit: “FCM FLTS 5D NON BC.”

b. 3-digit: “FCM FLTS 3D NON BC.”

c. ADC: “FCM FLTS ADC NON BC.”

d. Mixed ADC: “FCM FLTS NON BC WKG.”

5.0 Parcels

5.1Standards

First-Class parcels weighing 13 ounces or less must be prepared under the standards below.

5.2Package Preparation

Packaging is not required for pieces 1/2 inch thick or thicker if they are placed in a sack to the same destination to which they would otherwise be packaged (e.g., in a 3-digit sack rather than in a 3-digit package). Package size, preparation sequence, and labeling:

a. 5-digit: required (10-piece minimum); red Label D or optional endorsement line (OEL).

b. 3-digit: required (10-piece minimum); green Label 3 or OEL.

c. ADC: required (10-piece minimum); pink Label A or OEL.

d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); tan Label MXD or OEL.

5.3Sack Preparation

Sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling:

a. 5-digit: required (10-pound minimum); for Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages (or unpackaged pieces, if applicable), preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.

b. 3-digit: required (10-pound minimum except for required origin 3-digit(s)); for Line 1, use L002, Column A.

c. ADC: required (10-pound minimum); for Line 1, use L004.

d. Mixed ADC: required (no minimum); for Line 1, use “MXD” followed by the city, state, and ZIP of the facility serving the 3-digit ZIP Code of the entry post office, as shown in L002, Column C.

5.4Sack Line 2

Line 2:

a. 5-digit: “FCM PARCELS 5D.”

b. 3-digit: “FCM PARCELS 3D.”

c. ADC: “FCM PARCELS ADC.”

d. Mixed ADC: “FCM PARCELS WKG.”

DMM Issue 58 (8-10-03)

ARCHIVED DMM - AUG 10, 2003
ARCHIVED DMM - AUG 10, 2003