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Quick Service Guide 705d
Special Standards
Standard Mail—Bundles of Flats on Pallets
January 2006
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Related QSGs
340a, Standard Mail Presorted Flats
340b, Standard Mail Automation Flats
340c, Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route Flats
Rate Eligibility Overview
Bundles of Standard Mail must be sorted and prepared under the standards
for the rate claimed.
Rates are bundle-based. Rates are based on the preparation of mail
in bundles and are not affected by the pallet on which a bundle is
placed.
General Bundle Preparation Standards
Bundle preparation must meet the applicable general standards in 345.5 (Presorted Standard Mail), 345.6 (Enhanced Carrier Route Standard
Mail), or 345.7 (Automation Flat Mail). Mixed ADC bundles may not
be placed
on pallets.
Bundle Size (705.8.9)
Prepare a bundle(s) when there are 10 or more pieces for the same
presort destination or 10 or 15 pieces as applicable to a 5-digit
destination
within an individual mailing (for automation mail, AFSM 100 and
UFSM 1000 (301.3) bundles must separately meet this minimum). Bundles
are not subject to a specific thickness limit. When there are fewer
than
10 pounds for a destination, the pieces must be prepared in a single
physical bundle. When there are 10 or more pounds for a destination,
pieces should be prepared in bundles weighing from 10 to 20 pounds
each except that the last bundle may weigh less than 10 pounds
and
mailers
may balance the mail in bundles as follows:
n The total number of physical bundles prepared for a presort destination
must not exceed the number of 10-pound increments to that destination.
For example,
if there are 25 pounds of mail to a 3-digit ZIP Code presort destination,
bundles could be prepared as (1) two 8-pound bundles and a 9-pound
bundle, (2) a 12-pound
bundle and a 13-pound bundle, (3) a 20-pound bundle and a 5-pound bundle,
or (4) other combinations that result in no more than three bundles.
Securing Individual Bundles (345.2.6)
Bundles on pallets must be secure and stable and able to withstand
normal transit and handling without breakage or injury to USPS
employees. To prevent
broken
bundles, material used to secure bundles should be of adequate strength,
be sealed securely (e.g., by heat or adhesive),
and fit tightly around the bundles. Prepare bundles as follows:
- Select one of the methods below for securing individual bundles
placed on 5-digit, 3-digit,
SCF, and ASF pallets:
- Heavy-gauge shrinkwrap plus one or two bands
- Only heavy-gauge shrinkwrap
- Only banding
- Bundles on BMC pallets must be secured with shrinkwrap and be
machinable on BMC parcel sorters, except that bundles of individually
polywrapped
pieces may
be secured with banding material only. If used, banding material
must be applied at least once around the length and once around the
girth; wire
and metal strapping
are prohibited.
Copalletized Bundles
Copalletization allows mailers to place together on pallets bundles
from separate mailings that have been independently presorted in accordance
with applicable
standards (e.g., ECR, automation, and Presorted rate mailings). Each separate
mailing must separately meet the minimum volume and other requirements as set
forth in 705.11 unless bundles are prepared under 705.11 (Preparation of Cobundled
Rate and Presorted Rate Flats) mailers must bundle their mail separately according
to the applicable requirements in 345.5.9 for Presort, 345.6.8 for Enhanced
Carrier Route, or 345.7.9 for Automation. Copalletization requires
Business Mailer Support
authorization (705.8.7).
Pallet Presort and Labeling (705.8.10)
Pallet sortation: see below.
At the mailer's option, bundles of flats may be palletized using
the advanced presort options in 705.10, 705.12, or 705.13. These presort
options require PAVE-certified
software.
Copalletized mailings: Bundles of Presorted rate and automation rate
flats must be placed on separate 5-digit and 5-digit scheme (L001) pallets
from ECR rate
bundles; bundles from ECR, automation, and Presorted rate mailings may be
placed together on all other remaining levels of pallets. AFSM 100 and
UFSM 1000 automation
bundles may be placed together on all remaining level pallets.
Documentation:
- Address accuracy, barcode accuracy, density standards or address
sequencing (for ECR), as applicable for rates claimed.
- Postage statement:
Regular: Form
3602-R or consolidated form or approved facsimile.
Nonprofit: Form
3602-N or consolidated form or approved facsimile.
- Supporting documentation:
- n Standardized documentation required unless correct rate is
affixed to each piece (see 344.4).
- n For copalletized mailings, additional information may be required
on the standardized documentation (see 344.4).
Bundling and Palletizing Sequence (705.8.10)
Bundle Preparation: See previous page for physical bundle size and
securing standards. Except for 5-digit and 5-digit scheme pallets,
carrier route bundles may be combined
with automation and Presorted rate bundles on the same pallet.
Carrier Route
Pieces must be bundled if 10 or more pieces to the same carrier route.
Bundles of fewer pieces not permitted.
Labels: Use optional endorsement
line (OEL) (345.2).
5-Digit
Pieces must be bundled if 10 or 15 pieces as applicable to the same
5-digit ZIP Code. Bundles of fewer pieces not permitted.
Labels: Red Label D or OEL.
3-Digit
Pieces must be bundled if 10 or more pieces to the same
3-digit ZIP Code. Bundles of fewer pieces not permitted.
Labels: Green Label 3 or OEL.
ADC
Pieces must be bundled if 10 or more pieces to the same ADC (L004).
Sort ADC bundles to ASF and BMC pallets based on ZIP Code of the
bundle destination
in L004, Column B.
Labels: Pink Label A or OEL.
5-Digit Scheme Carrier Routes4
Required at 500 pounds. Optional at 250 pounds.
Labels: For Line 1, use L001, Column B. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS
CR-RTS SCH."
5-Digit Carrier Routes4
Required at 500 pounds. Optional
at 250 pounds.
Labels: For Line 1, use city,
state and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS CR-RTS."
5-Digit Scheme4
Required at 500 pounds. Optional at 250 pounds.
Labels: For Line 1, use L001,
Column B. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS
5D" followed by "BARCODED" (or "BC") for
automation rate mail and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC")
for Presorted rate mail followed by "SCH." 5-Digit4
Required at 500 pounds. Optional at 250 pounds.
Labels: For Line 1, use city, state and 5-digit ZIP Code on mail. For
Line 2, use "STD FLTS 5D" followed by "BARCODED" (or "BC")
for automation rate mail and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC")
for Presorted rate mail.
3-Digit4
Optional at 250
pounds.
Labels: For Line 1, use L002, Column A. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS
3D" followed by "BARCODED" (or "BC") for
automation rate mail and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC")
for Presorted rate mail and/or carrier route mail.
SCF4
Required at 500 pounds. Optional
at 250 pounds.
Labels: For Line 1, use L002,
Column C. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS
SCF" followed by "BARCODED" (or "BC") for
automation rate mail and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC")
for Presorted rate mail and/or carrier route mail.
ASF4 and BMC
Separate
ASF and BMC pallets required at 500 pounds. Optional at 250 pounds.
Labels: For Line 1,
ASF use L602. For Line 1 BMC use L601. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS" and "ASF" or "BMC" followed
by "BARCODED" (or "BC") for automation rate mail
and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC") for Presorted
rate mail and/or carrier route mail.
1. Use "BARCODED" (or "BC") for automation rate
mail and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC") for Presorted
and/or carrier route mail.
2. Use "ASF" or "BMC" as appropriate.
3. Use "ASF" or "BMC" followed by "BARCODED" (or "BC")
for automation rate mail and/or "NONBARCODED" (or "NBC")
for Presorted rate mail and/or carrier route mail.
4. Processing and Distribution managers may authorize pallets of less
than 250 pounds for their service area for mailings entered within
their service area only. For these destinations, one residual (overflow)
pallet
of less than 250 pounds may be prepared for the service area of the
entry office without special approval.
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