Postal Explorer

The Postal Service is reminding customers that metallic mercury and devices containing metallic mercury are always prohibited in the mail stream. This includes antique items such as thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and similar devices.

240j Quick Service Guide

Commercial Parcels—Standard Mail

Enhanced Carrier Route Marketing Parcels

Postage and Payment Documentation (244)

Meter (604.4.0), or permit imprint (604.5.0).

Documentation:

Postage statement:

Regular: PS Form 3602-R or approved facsimile.

Nonprofit: PS Form 3602-N or approved facsimile.

Supporting documentation: required unless correct price is affixed to each piece or unless each piece is of identical weight and separated by price when presented for acceptance; documentation generated by PAVE-certified software (or printed in standardized format).
Additional documentation to support density standards (245.12.6).

Additional standards apply to mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces.

Mail Preparation (245)

Marking on each piece in the postage area (202.3.0):

Regular: “Presorted Standard” or “PRSRT STD,” “Standard” or “STD.”
Nonprofit: “Nonprofit Organization” or “NONPROFIT ORG.” or “NONPROFIT.”
Basic, High-Density, and Saturation price pieces must also be marked “ECRLOT,” “ECRWSH,” or “ECRWSS,” respectively, in the correct optional endorsement line under 708.2.0 or in correct carrier route information line under 708.8.0 or in the postage area. Pieces in a mailing consisting of bundles claimed at more than one Enhanced Carrier Route price must bear appropriate marking for price claimed. Pieces not claimed at corresponding price must not be included in the mailing and must not bear the “ECRLOT,” “ECRWSH,” or “ECRWSS” marking. For additional marking standards for carrier route pieces, see 708.8.0.

Basic price mail must be in line-of-travel (LOT) or in walk sequence (245.12.0).

High-density (WSH) and saturation (WSS) price mail must be in walk sequence (245.12.0).

Palletization is preferred, see Quick Service Guide 705b, Standard Mail Bundles on Pallets.

Use standard sack label (245.4.0).

Enter and Deposit (246)

Mailing entered at an acceptance point designated by USPS.

Preparation

Bundling and Sacking Sequence
Bundle Preparation (245.12.4)
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 (243.8.5) and meet density standards. Labels: Use optional endorsement line (OEL) (708.7.0) with carrier route description prefix and route number. 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 (243.8.4) and meet density standards. Labels: Use OEL with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7.0). 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 (243.8.3). Labels: Use OEL with carrier route description prefix and route number (708.7.0). Price: Basic

Sack Preparation (245.12.5)
Carrier Route Sacks: Required at 125 pieces or 15 pounds. Labels: For Line 1, use city, state and 5–digit ZIP Code of destination. For Line 2, use “STD MKTG” and “WSS,” “WSH,” or “LOT,” as applicable, followed by route type and number.	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 MKTG CR-RTS.”