Quick Service Guide 340c

Commercial Flats

Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route Flats

May 12, 2008
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Related QSG

703, Standard Mail Nonprofit Eligibility

Physical Standards (301)

Maximum weight: less than 16 ounces.

For an overview of the physical standards for commercial flats, see Quick Service Guide 301.

Prices and Fees (343.1.0)

Destination discounts apply to mail prepared as prescribed by USPS and addressed for delivery within service area of destination BMC/ASF, SCF, or delivery unit (346.2.0).

For walk-sequence saturation pieces and merchandise samples with a detached address label, add $0.017.

Annual $180.00 presort mailing fee.

Content (343.2.0)

Flats containing mailable items not required to be sent using First-Class Mail can be sent using Standard Mail. Standard Mail is typically used for advertisements, flyers, and catalogs. Additional content restrictions must be met for authorized nonprofit mailers (703.1.0).

Eligibility Standards (343.6.0)

Mailings of 200 or more addressed pieces (or 50 pounds of addressed pieces), sorted and marked as described below. Pieces must be part of a group of 10 or more to one carrier route, prepared in line-of-travel or walk-sequence order, as required. All pieces must meet the physical standards for enhanced carrier route flats in 301. Pieces are eligible if not required to be mailed at First-Class prices or not eligible for Periodicals prices. Nonprofit prices require specific authorization (703.1.0).

Each piece must include a complete delivery address with correct ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code, as appropriate.

Carrier route information must be updated using CASS-certified process within 90 days before mailing date.

Add $0.017 for each detached address label used with merchandise samples or saturation price pieces.

Mailers can apply Repositionable Notes for an additional charge of $0.015. See 705.21.0.

Effective November 23, 2008, addresses on all pieces must be updated within 95 days before mailing through a USPS-approved address update method. For an overview of the Move Update standards, see Quick Service Guide 230a.

Postage Payment and Documentation (344)

Precanceled stamp (604.3.0), meter (604.4.0), or permit imprint (604.5.0).

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Documentation:

Mail Preparation (345)

Marking on each piece in the postage area (302.2.0):

Basic price mail must be in line-of-travel (LOT) or in walk sequence (345.6.0).

High-density (WSH) and saturation (WSS) price mail must be in walk sequence (345.6.0).

Palletization is preferred (see Quick Service Guide 705d).

See page two for preparation and labeling.

Use standard sack label (345.4.0).

Enter and Deposit (346)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

Preparation

Bundling and Sacking Sequence (345.6.0)
Bundle Preparation
Saturation1 Bundles: 10 or more addressed pieces to same carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section, or general delivery unit) must be prepared in bundles; fewer than 10 pieces allowed only if route has fewer than 10 delivery stops. Mail must be presented in walk-sequence (343.6.5) and meet density standards. Labels: Use optional endorsement line (OEL) with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7.0).3 Price: Saturation	High Density2 Bundles: 10 or more addressed pieces to same carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section, or general delivery unit) must be prepared in bundles. Mail must be presented in walk-sequence (343.6.4) and meet density standards. Labels: Use OEL with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7.0).3 Price: High Density	Basic Bundles: 10 or more addressed pieces to same carrier route (city route, rural route, highway contract route, post office box section, or general delivery unit) must be prepared in bundles. Mail must be presented in line-of-travel or walk-sequence (343.6.3). Labels: Use OEL with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7.0).3 Price: Basic
Sack Preparation
Carrier Route Sacks: Required 125 pieces or 15 pounds. Labels: For Line 1, use city, state and 5-digit ZIP Code of destination. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS", and "ECRWSS," "ECRWSH," or "ECRLOT," as applicable, followed by route type and number.4	5-Digit Scheme Carrier Routes Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: For Line 1, use L001, Column B. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS CR-RTS SCH."	5-Digit Carrier Routes Sacks: Required, no minimum. Labels: For Line 1, use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code of destination. For Line 2, use "STD FLTS CR-RTS."

1Minimum 90% total active residential or 75% total active deliveries per route (100% if simplified address (343.6.5)). 2Minimum 125 pieces per route unless route has fewer than 125 deliveries. 3No facing slip or OEL required if the bundle is placed in a carrier route sack. Bundles in 5-digit/scheme carrier routes sacks must have a facing slip unless the pieces in the bundle show a carrier route information line or an OEL (345.6.4). 4Use "ECRWSS" for saturation, "ECRWSH" for high density, and "ECRLOT" for basic.

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