Summary
M014 describes carrier route information elements and lists descriptive prefixes (e.g., Rural Route (R)).
Bundles for individual carrier routes, rural routes, highway contract routes, post office box sections, or general delivery units must be prepared with facing slips under M020, optional endorsement lines under M013, or carrier route information lines under 2.0. These standards apply to automation Carrier Route First-Class Mail, Carrier Route Periodicals, Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail, and Carrier Route Bound Printed Matter mailings. Carrier route information lines may be on all pieces in a mailing, regardless of presort level.
Carrier route information consisting of a descriptive prefix (or its abbreviation), plus a route number or numeric code, must be on the top line of the address, either alone or with other information (e.g., addressee, account data). Alternatively, when permitted by standard, the carrier route information may appear with the applicable carrier route endorsement on the line above or two lines above the address if the carrier route rate marking is in the address area (see Exhibit 2.1).
Exhibit 2.1Address Formats With Carrier Route
Information
The authorized descriptive prefixes and their abbreviations are Carrier Route (C), Rural Route (R), Highway Contract Route (H), Post Office Box Section (B), and General Delivery Unit (G).
These conditions apply to the carrier route code:
a. The one-character descriptive prefix in 2.2 must be followed by a 3-digit route or post office box section number.
b. On Periodicals and Standard Mail pieces bearing a simplified address that does not include a ZIP Code, the descriptive prefix in 2.2 must be followed by the last two digits of the 5-digit ZIP Code and the 3-digit route number or post office box section number.
c. The route code required for simplified address mailings in 2.3b may also be used on mailings of any class that contain a ZIP Code in the address.
The following elements also are included in the carrier route information line:
a. The carrier route code must be preceded by at least two asterisks (**) or other distinctive nonalphabetic or nonnumeric characters.
b. At least 10 spaces must be reserved for the carrier route code if other information is included on the top line.
c. The carrier route information line may also contain the basic markings required by standard for the class of mail and rate claimed, prepared under M012.
d. The carrier route information line may also include information to identify bundles of Periodicals matter mailed at:
(1) carrier route saturation rates (SATURATION WALK-SEQUENCED CARRIER ROUTE MAIL or the abbreviation CAR-RT WSS),
(2) high density walk-sequenced rates (HIGH DENSITY
WALK-
SEQUENCED CARRIER ROUTE MAIL or the abbreviation CAR-RT
WSH), or
(3) basic carrier route rates (CARRIER ROUTE LINE-OF-TRAVEL or the abbreviation CAR-RT LOT).
On a firm bundle of carrier route presorted Periodicals, FIRM may precede CAR-RT LOT or CAR-RT WSH or CAR-RT WSS, as applicable, in the carrier route information line.
DMM Issue 58 Updated 12-9-04