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All presorted, carrier route, destination entry, and barcoded discount mailings must be presented for verification and acceptance at the post office where the permit or license is held. All such mailings must be deposited at locations and times specified by the postmaster or designee at the office that verifies and accepts the mailing. Plant‑verified drop shipment (PVDS) mailings must be presented for verification, acceptance, and entry under 705.15.0. Plant‑loaded mailings must be presented as specified by the applicable standards and the plant load agreement. Metered mail may be deposited at other than the licensing post office only as permitted under 705.17.0. [D700.2.2]
Bound Printed Matter must be mailed at the post office from which the zone rate postage was computed, except under 1.3 and 1.4. [E710.2.1]
A mailer who presents large mailings of Bound Printed Matter may be authorized or directed to deposit such mailings at another postal facility when processing or logistics make such an alternative desirable for the USPS, subject to these conditions:
a. Zoned postage need not be recomputed if both the original post office of mailing and the alternative facility use the same zone chart for computing zoned postage, based on the 3‑digit prefix of their ZIP Codes.
b. Postage must be recomputed on pieces in mailings redirected to a postal facility that uses a different zone chart for computing zoned postage. [E710.2.2]
A mailer may present zoned Bound Printed Matter at a BMC for acceptance if:
a. Metered postage is paid through a postage meter licensed at the BMC parent post office, or permit imprint postage is paid through an advance deposit account at the BMC parent post office or another post office in the BMC service area, unless otherwise permitted by standard.
b. Zoned postage is computed from the BMC parent post office.
c. The BMC is authorized by Form 4410 to act as acceptance agent for the entry post office. [E710.2.3]
Essential information for entering drop shipment Package Services mailings at specific postal facilities can be found in the Drop Shipment Product maintained by the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) (see 608.8.1). There is a charge for the Drop Shipment Product. [D700.2.4]
Destination entry rates apply to Presorted and Carrier Route Bound Printed Matter (BPM) that is deposited at a destination bulk mail center (DBMC), destination sectional center facility (DSCF), or destination delivery unit (DDU) as specified below. Eligibility for a destination entry rate is determined by the sort level, processing category of the mail, and the type of container the mail is in (i.e., sacked or palletized). Each piece can claim only one destination entry rate; an individual pallet may contain pieces claimed at different destination entry rates. [E752.1.1]
A destination entry rate BPM mailing is subject to these minimum volume requirements:
a. Each mailing must contain at least 300 Presorted addressed pieces or 300 Carrier Route addressed pieces.
b. Except as provided in 2.2e., each group of pieces prepared for deposit at different destination entry post offices must be presented as a separate mailing meeting separate minimum volume requirements and be accompanied by the appropriate Form 3605 postage statement.
c. Separate Presorted and Carrier Route mailings may be copalletized under 705.8.0.
d. Pieces deposited at the same destination entry post office but claimed at different destination entry rates may be included in a single mailing and reported on the same postage statement (subject to one minimum volume requirement) if the destination entry post office is the proper facility for claiming each of the destination entry discounts.
e. When Presorted or Carrier Route mailings are presented together under the plant‑verified drop shipment (PVDS) procedures in 705.15.0, a mailer may use the total piece count from a single presort file (i.e., mailing job) for all line items to all destinations reported on a single Form 3605 and accompanied by a postage statement register to meet the separate 300‑piece minimum volume requirement for each mailing. Under this alternative, a mailer may enter fewer than 300 pieces for a Presorted or Carrier Route mailing entered at a single destination entry post office if there is a total of at least 300 Presorted rate pieces and/or 300 Carrier Route pieces for all entry points combined for the single presort file listed on Form 3605 and the postage statement register. [E752.1.2]
Postage payment for destination entry mailings is subject to the same standards that apply generally to BPM. Postage and fees are paid to the post office that verifies the mailings. [E752.1.3]
A destination entry mailing fee (463.1.4) must be paid once each 12‑month period at each postal facility where the mailing(s) are verified. The fee may be paid in advance only for the next 12‑month period and only during the last 60 days of the current service period. The fee charged is that in effect on the date of payment. [E752.1.4]
Each mailing must be accompanied by the appropriate Form 3605 and, if applicable, Form 8125. No additional documentation is required for destination entry rates. [E752.1.5]
Plant load mailings, including expedited plant load shipments, are not eligible for destination entry discounts. [E752.1.6]
Bedloaded BPM bundles are permitted only when prepared for and entered at DDU rates. These bundles must be prepared under the applicable sortation standards for flat‑size mail and are not eligible for the barcoded discount. [E752.1.7]
As directed by the postmaster, the mailer must present destination entry mailings to USPS employees for verification either:
a. At the origin mailer's plant or the origin post office serving the mailer's plant under an authorized plant‑verified drop shipment system.
b. At the destination post office or business mail entry unit. [E752.5.1]
Destination entry rate mail must be verified under a PVDS system (705.15.0) or be presented for verification and acceptance at a BMEU located at a destination BMC, destination SCF, or other designated destination postal facility. Only plant‑verified drop shipments may be deposited at a destination delivery unit not co‑located with a post office or other postal facility having a business mail entry unit. When presented to the USPS, destination entry mailings must meet the following requirements:
a. Each mailing must be separated from other mailings for verification. For PVDS, destination entry rate mailings for deposit at one destination postal facility must be separated from mailings for deposit at other facilities to allow for reconciliation with each accompanying Form 8125, 8125‑C, or 8125‑CD.
b. Mail must be separated from freight transported on the same vehicle.
c. If Periodicals mail is on the same vehicle as BPM, then the Periodicals mail should be loaded toward the tail of the vehicle so that, for each destination entry, Periodicals mail can be offloaded first.
d. Form 8125, 8125‑C, or 8125‑CD must accompany all PVDS mailings. [E752.5.2]
When mailings are verified and paid for at a postal facility different from the one at which they are accepted as mail and deposited into the mailstream, the mailer must ensure that they are accompanied by a Form 8125 completed by the mailer and the verifying post office. [E752.5.3]
For a mailing to be verified at a BMC, the post office where the mailer's account or license is held must be within the service area of that BMC. The post office must authorize the BMC to act as its agent by sending Form 4410 to the BMC. [E752.5.4]
The mailer may ask that a PVDS band seal secure the vehicle containing verified mailings before dispatch to the destination facility. [E752.5.5]
The mailer must transport the PVDS mailing from the place where it was verified to the destination postal facility. [E752.5.6]
Except as permitted for a local mailer under 2.9.12, destination entry mailings are subject to these volume standards:
a. Regardless of total volume, the pieces for which a destination rate is claimed must represent more than 50% of the mail (by weight or pieces, whichever is greater) presented by the same mailer within any 24‑hour period. For this standard, mailer is the party presenting the material to the USPS (or for whom a transportation company has presented the material to the USPS).
b. The same mailer may not in a 24‑hour period present for verification and acceptance more than four destination rate mailings at the same destination postal facility (or at another acting as its agent). The mailer may ask for a waiver of this limit when scheduling the deposit of the mailings. There is no maximum for plant‑verified drop shipments. [E752.5.7]
Each mailing claimed at a destination rate must be deposited at the time and location specified by the USPS. Mailings must be presented in vehicles that are compatible with dock, yard, and DDU operations, as applicable. [E752.6.1]
Drop shipments are freight until deposited and accepted as mail at the destination facility. [E752.6.2]
Appointments must be made for destination entry rate mail as follows:
a. Except for a local mailer under 2.9.12 and mailings of perishable commodities, appointments for deposit of destination entry rate mail at BMCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same‑day appointments may be granted by a control center only through a telephone request. All appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by the appropriate BMC control center. Appointments for SCFs and ASFs must be scheduled through the appropriate district control center. Appointments may be made up to 30 calendar days before a desired appointment date. The mailer must adhere to the scheduled mail deposit time and location. The mailer must cancel any appointment by notifying the appropriate control center at least 24 hours in advance of a scheduled appointment.
b. Electronic appointments may be made through the Dropship Appointment System (DSAS) by a mailer or agent using a USPS‑issued computer logon ID. Electronic appointments or cancelations must be made at least 12 hours before the desired time and date. All information required by the USPS appointment system regarding a mailing must be provided.
c. For deposit of DDU mailings, an appointment must be made by contacting the DDU at least 24 hours in advance. If the appointment must be canceled, the mailer must notify the DDU at least one business day in advance of a scheduled appointment. Recurring appointments are allowed if shipment frequency is once a week or more often.
d. When Periodicals are transported together with BPM as a mixed load (707.28.0, Destination Entry Rate Eligibility), an appointment must be obtained for deposit at a destination entry facility. [E752.6.3]
Except under 2.9.12, a mailer must schedule deposit of destination entry rate mailings at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the proper district or BMC control center or destination delivery unit. Appointments at delivery units must be made by calling the delivery unit at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments for ASFs, SCFs, or for any multistop loads must be made through the USPS district control center or DSAS in 2.9.3. Appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by the proper BMC control center. When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer must provide the control center or DDU with the following information:
a. Mailer's name and address and, when applicable, the name and telephone number of the mailer's agent or local contact.
b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of mailings, volume of mail, how prepared and whether containerized (e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5‑digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
c. Where the mailing was verified.
e. Requested date and destination facility for mailing.
f. Vehicle identification number, size, and type. [E752.6.4]
The mailer must follow the scheduled deposit time or cancel the appointment by notifying the designated control center. Destination facilities may refuse acceptance or deposit of unscheduled mailings or shipments that arrive more than 2 hours after the scheduled appointment at ASFs, BMCs, or SCFs or more than 20 minutes at delivery units. [E752.6.5]
A mailer may be directed to transport destination entry rate mailings to a facility other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due to facility restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail volumes, or emergency constraints. [E752.6.6]
For service reasons, a mailer may ask to transport destination SCF rate mail to a facility other than the designated SCF. This exception may be approved only by the district control center serving the destination facility. To qualify for the SCF rate in this situation, mail deposited at a facility other than the SCF must destinate for processing within that facility and must not require backhauling to the SCF. [E752.6.7]
Recurring appointments refer to a drop shipment that is delivered to a destination office with a frequency of at least once a week on the same time and day(s). Mailings must be of a comparable product in terms of mail class, size, volume, and containerization (pallets, pallet boxes, etc.). A request to establish recurring appointments must be written on company letterhead to the postal facility manager/postmaster. The drop shipment appointment control office/postmaster will respond to all requests within 10 days. Recurring appointments may be made for a period not to exceed 6 months. Thereafter, a new application must be submitted to ensure that up‑to‑date mailer information is on file. Written request for an additional 6 months may be made within 60 days prior to the expiration of a current arrangement. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointments or other abuse of the procedures will result in revocation of recurring appointment privileges. Requests for recurring appointments must include the following:
a. Name, address, and telephone number of the mailer.
b. Transportation agent's name (contact person) and telephone number(s).
c. Mail volume and preparation (trays/sacks/parcels).
e. Size and type of trailer(s) transporting mail.
f. Frequency/schedule. [E752.6.8]
Unloading of destination entry mailings is subject to these conditions:
a. Properly prepared containerized loads (e.g., pallets) are unloaded by the USPS at BMCs, ASFs, and SCFs. The USPS does not unload or permit the mailer (or mailer's agent) to unload palletized loads that are unstable or severely leaning or that have otherwise not maintained their integrity in transit.
b. At BMCs and ASFs, the driver must unload bedloaded shipments within 8 hours of arrival. Combination containerized and bedloaded mailings are classified as bedloaded shipments for unload times. The USPS may assist in unloading.
c. At delivery units, the driver must unload all mail within 1 hour of arrival. If pallets (including pallet boxes on pallets) are stacked, the driver is required to unload, unstack, and unstrap them. If a mailer transports palletized mail (including sacks on pallets) to a DDU facility that cannot handle pallets, then the driver must unload the pallets into a container specified by the delivery unit.
d. When driver unloading is required, the driver or assistant must stay with and continue to unload the vehicle once at the dock.
e. The driver must remove the vehicle from USPS property after unloading. The driver and assistant are not permitted in USPS facilities except for the dock and designated driver rest area. [E752.6.9]
The USPS is not responsible for demurrage or detention charges incurred by a mailer who presents destination entry rate mailings. [E752.6.10]
Mailers who believe they are denied equitable treatment may appeal to the manager, Customer Service (district), responsible for the destination postal facility. [E752.6.11]
The restrictions in 2.8.7, Volume Standards, and 2.9.3, Appointments, do not apply when a mailer deposits mailings for verification and acceptance at the local post office serving the facility where the mail was prepared, if the mailings are not verified under a plant load authorization or plant‑verified drop shipment postage payment authorization. Under this exception, the mailer may claim the destination entry rates for mailings or portions of mailings deposited at the local post office that meet the standards in 3.0, Destination Bulk Mail Center (DBMC) Entry, 4.0, Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry, or 5.0, Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry. [E752.7.0]
Pieces in a mailing meeting the standards in 2.0, Destination Entry, and 3.0 are eligible for the DBMC rate when they meet all of the following conditions:
a. Are eligible for and prepared to qualify for Presorted or Carrier Route rates, subject to the corresponding standards for those rates.
b. Are deposited at a BMC or ASF.
c. Are addressed for delivery to one of the 3‑digit ZIP Codes served by the BMC or ASF where deposited that are listed in Exhibit 3.3.
d. Are placed in a sack or pallet that is labeled to the BMC or ASF where deposited, or labeled to a postal facility within that BMC's or ASF's service area (see Exhibit 3.3). [E752.2.1]
Presorted machinable parcels in sacks or on pallets at all sort levels may claim DBMC rates. Machinable parcels sacked under 465.5.0, Preparation for Presorted Parcels, or palletized under 705.8.0 may be sorted to destination BMCs under L601 or to destination BMCs and ASFs under L601 and L602. Except as provided in Exhibit 3.3, sortation of machinable parcels to ASFs is optional but is required for the ASF mail to be eligible for DBMC rates. Mailers may opt to sort some or all machinable parcels for ASF service area ZIP Codes to ASFs only when the mail will be deposited at the respective ASFs where the DBMC rates are claimed, under applicable volume standards, using L602. Mailers also may opt to sort machinable parcels only to destination BMCs under L601. When machinable parcels are sorted under L601, only mail for 3‑digit ZIP Codes served by a BMC as listed in Exhibit 3.3 is eligible for DBMC rates (i.e., mail for 3‑digit ZIP Codes served by an ASF in Exhibit 3.3 is not eligible for DBMC rates, nor are 3‑digit ZIP Codes that do not appear on Exhibit 3.3). Machinable parcels prepared in mixed BMC sacks or on mixed BMC pallets that are sorted to the origin BMC under 465.5.0, Preparation for Presorted Parcels, or 705.8.0, Preparation for Pallets, are eligible for the DBMC rates if both of the following conditions are met:
a. The mixed BMC sack or pallet is entered at the origin BMC facility to which it is labeled.
b. The pieces are for 3‑digit ZIP Codes listed as eligible destination ZIP Codes for that BMC in Exhibit 3.3. [E752.2.3]
Presorted irregular parcels in sacks or on pallets at all sort levels may claim DBMC rates. All pieces in an ADC sack or in a palletized ADC bundle are eligible for the DBMC discount if the ADC facility ZIP Code (as shown in Line 1 of the corresponding sack label or the ADC facility that is the destination of the palletized ADC bundle as would be shown on an ADC sack label for that facility using L004, Column B) is within the service area of the BMC at which the sack is deposited under Exhibit 3.3. Separate mixed ADC sacks must be prepared for pieces eligible for and claimed at the DBMC rate and for parcels not claimed at the DBMC rate. Use the "label to" ZIP Code for the ADC to assign ADC bundles to the respective mixed ADC sack. Use the address on the parcels to assign parcels to the respective mixed ADC bundle or sack, as appropriate. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 3.1. [E752.2.4]
Exhibit 3.3 BMC/ASF—DBMC Rate Eligibility
Carrier Route machinable parcels in individual carrier route sacks may claim DBMC rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 3.1, Eligibility. [E752.2.6]
Carrier Route irregular parcels in sacks at all sort levels or on pallets at all sort levels may claim DBMC rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 3.1, Eligibility. [E752.2.7]
Pieces in a mailing meeting the standards in 2.0, Destination Entry, and 4.0, Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) Entry, are eligible for the DSCF rate when they meet all of the following conditions:
a. Are eligible for and prepared to qualify for Presorted or Carrier Route rates, subject to the corresponding standards for those rates.
b. Are deposited at an SCF listed in L005 or L006, except that machinable parcels prepared on pallets for the 5‑digit ZIP Codes listed in Exhibit 4.1 must be entered at the corresponding BMC facility shown in that exhibit (not at the SCF) unless an exception is requested and granted. An exception to Exhibit 4.1 must be requested at least 15 days in advance of the mailing in writing from the area manager, Operations Support, who has jurisdiction over the BMC and SCF. Exceptions, if granted, are for a limited time.
c. Are addressed for delivery to one of the 3‑digit ZIP Codes served by the facility where the mail is deposited.
d. Are placed in a sack or pallet that is labeled to the facility where deposited or labeled to a postal facility within that facility's service area. [E752.3.1]
Exhibit 4.1 BMC Deposit of DSCF Rate Pallets
Presorted machinable parcels in sacks or on pallets at the 5‑digit scheme and 5‑digit sort levels may claim DSCF rates. For palletized mail, see 4.1d, Eligibility. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 4.1, Eligibility. [E752.3.3]
Presorted irregular parcels in sacks at the 5‑digit scheme, 5‑digit, 3‑digit, and SCF sort levels, or on pallets at the 5‑digit scheme, 5‑digit, 3‑digit, SCF, and ASF sort levels may claim DSCF rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 4.1, Eligibility. [E752.3.4]
Carrier Route machinable parcels in individual carrier route sacks may claim DSCF rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 4.1, Eligibility. [E752.3.6]
Carrier Route irregular parcels in sacks at all sort levels or on pallets at the 5‑digit scheme, 5‑digit, 3‑digit, SCF, and ASF sort levels may claim DSCF rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 4.1, Eligibility. [E752.3.7]
Pieces in a mailing meeting the standards in 2.0, Destination Entry, and 5.0, Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Entry, are eligible for the DDU rate when they meet all of the following conditions:
a. Are eligible for and prepared to qualify for Presorted or Carrier Route rates, subject to the corresponding standards for those rates.
b. Are addressed for delivery within the ZIP Code(s) served by the destination delivery unit.
c. For irregular and machinable parcels prepared using the optional 5‑digit scheme sort, use Column B of L606 to determine the 5‑digit scheme destination. For irregular and machinable parcels prepared using the 5‑digit sort, the Drop Shipment Product must be used to determine the 5‑digit destination. When the Drop Shipment Product shows that mail for a single 5‑digit ZIP Code area is delivered out of more than one postal facility, use the facility from which the majority of city carrier routes are delivered as the facility at which the DDU parcels must be entered and to determine whether that facility can handle pallets, unless the 5‑digit ZIP Code is listed in Exhibit 5.1c1 or Exhibit 5.1c2. For ZIP Codes in Exhibit 5.1c1 or Exhibit 5.1c2, use the name of the facility associated with the 5‑digit ZIP Code on the respective exhibit as the facility at which DDU mail must be entered for that 5‑digit ZIP Code. This facility name should be used along with the Drop Shipment Product to determine if that facility can handle pallets. If a DDU facility cannot handle pallets and a mailer transports mail to the DDU facility on pallets, the driver must unload the pallets into a container specified by the delivery unit. L606 is used only for mailings prepared using the 5‑digit scheme sort. [E752.4.1]
1. Delivery Facility Exceptions to the "Majority of City Carriers" Rule. For ZIP Codes in Exhibit 5.1c1 use the name of the facility associated with the 5‑digit ZIP Code in that exhibit as the facility at which DDU rate mail for that 5‑digit ZIP Code must be entered and, for both DDU and DSCF mail, to determine whether that 5‑digit facility can handle pallets. This listing identifies 5‑digit ZIP Codes that are exceptions to the "majority of city carriers rule" that is used to determine the parcel facility for a 5‑digit ZIP Code in instances where a ZIP Code is served by multiple facilities. The name of the primary facility for parcel delivery is listed beside each 5‑digit ZIP Code. Additional information about the facility including drop ship address and whether the facility can handle a pallet is included in the Drop Shipment Product. At a future date this list will be available in the Drop Shipment Product. [E751.7.0]
2. Delivery Facilities Different From Those in the Drop Shipment Product. For ZIP Codes in Exhibit 5.1c2 use the name of the facility associated with the 5‑digit ZIP Code in that exhibit as the facility at which DDU rate mail for that 5‑digit ZIP Code must be entered and, for both DDU and DSCF mail, to determine whether that 5-digit facility can handle pallets. Bound Printed Matter mailings for the ZIP Codes shown must be deposited at the facilities listed in order to qualify for destination delivery unit rates. The listing identifies 5‑digit ZIP Codes and facilities that are different from the ones indicated in the Drop Shipment Product for letters and flats. At a future date this information will be available in the Drop Shipment Product. [E751.8.0]
Presorted machinable parcels in 5‑digit scheme and 5‑digit sacks or on 5‑digit scheme and 5‑digit pallets may claim DDU rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 5.1. [E752.4.3]
Presorted irregular parcels in 5‑digit scheme and 5‑digit sacks, on 5‑digit scheme and 5‑digit pallets, or prepared as bedloaded 5‑digit bundles may claim DDU rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 5.1. [E752.4.4]
Carrier Route machinable parcels sorted to carrier route sacks may claim DDU rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 5.1. [E752.4.6]
Carrier Route irregular parcels in sacks at all sort levels, on 5‑digit scheme and 5‑digit pallets, or prepared as bedloaded bundles may claim DDU rates. Mail must be entered at the appropriate facility under 5.1. [E752.4.7]