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M200 Periodicals (Nonautomation)
M220 Carrier Route Periodicals
Summary
M220 describes the basic standards for Periodicals carrier route mailings including package and tray preparation for letters, and package and sack preparation for flats and irregular parcels. Additional requirements for preparing mail on pallets are in M041 and M045, or M041 and M920, M930, or M940. For standards on automation rate Periodicals mailings see E240 and M810 (letters) or M820 (flats), as applicable. For standards on Presorted rate mailings see E220 and M210.
1.0 Basic Information
1.1General Preparation Standards
The following standards must be met for carrier route mailings:
a. All pieces in each carrier route Periodicals mailing must be in the same processing category.
b. Letter-size pieces must be packaged under 2.0 and prepared in trays under 3.0. Trays prepared under this section may subsequently be palletized under M041 and M045.
c. Nonletter-size pieces must be packaged under 2.0. Packages placed on pallets must meet additional packaging standards under M045.
d. Packages of nonletter-size pieces must be sacked or palletized under one of the following:
(1) Sacked under 4.0 or, if eligible, under M920; or
(2) Palletized under M041 and M045, M920, M930, or M940.
e. Sacks prepared under 4.0 may subsequently be prepared on pallets under M041 and M045.
f. All pieces must be sorted together to the finest extent required under the applicable sortation standards described above.
g. [6-12-03] [11-14-02] Pieces with a simplified address must meet the corresponding preparation standards in A020 and the eligibility standards in E215.
1.2Documentation
A complete, signed postage statement, using the correct USPS form or an approved facsimile, must accompany each mailing, supported by documentation meeting the basic standards in P012. Postage statements must be supported by documentation produced by PAVE-certified software or standardized documentation under P012. Documentation of postage is not required if each piece is of identical weight and the pieces are separated by rate and zone when presented for acceptance. Documentation of sequencing and of density standards under M050 must be submitted with each mailing.
1.3Sequencing Standards
[6-12-03] Preparation for carrier route rates is optional and subject to additional standards. Periodicals for which a carrier route discount is claimed must be prepared as a carrier route mailing under this section, using either walk sequencing or line-of-travel sequencing, applicable to the rate claimed (see M050). Mailpieces prepared with a simplified address must meet the additional standards in A020.
1.4Firm Packages
A firm package is two or more copies for the same address placed in one package. If each copy has a delivery address, each may be claimed as a separate piece for presort and on the postage statement, or the firm package may be claimed as one piece. A firm package sorted and claimed as one piece must be accompanied by (but must be physically separate from) five other pieces packaged to the same destination to satisfy a six-piece package requirement when applicable, regardless of the number of copies in the firm package.
1.5Low-Volume Packages and Sacks
As a general exception to 2.4b and 4.0b and 4.0c, nonletter-size Periodicals may be prepared in carrier route packages containing fewer than six pieces when the publisher determines that such preparation improves service, provided those packages are placed in 5-digit scheme carrier routes, or 5-digit carrier routes sacks. Low-volume carrier route packages prepared under DMM M920 may also be placed in merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5-digit, and 5-digit carrier routes sacks. These low-volume packages also may be placed on 5-digit scheme carrier routes, 5-digit carrier routes, 3-digit, and SCF pallets under M045, or on merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5-digit, 5-digit carrier routes, 3-digit and SCF pallets under M041 and M920, M930, or M940.
1.6Merged Containerization of Nonletter-Size
Carrier Route, Automation Rate, and Presorted Rate
Mail
For sacked mailing jobs that contain an automation rate, a Presorted rate, and a carrier route rate mailing, mailers must prepare the automation and Presorted rate mailings under M910 (see M210.1.2a) and the carrier route mailing under M220, unless they elect to prepare the mailings under M920. Under the optional preparation in M920, firm and carrier route packages prepared under 1.0 and 2.4 are co-sacked with Presorted rate 5-digit packages prepared under M210 and with automation rate 5-digit packages prepared under M820 in merged 5-digit sacks and merged 5-digit scheme sacks. Under the optional preparation in M920, M930, or M940, firm and carrier route packages prepared under 1.0 and 2.4 are copalletized with Presorted rate 5-digit packages prepared under M210 and with automation rate 5-digit packages prepared under M820 on merged 5-digit pallets and on merged 5-digit scheme pallets. Presorted rate pieces may be co-packaged with automation rate pieces under M950.
2.0 PACKAGE PREPARATION
2.1General
Package preparation is subject to M020 and the specific standards below.
2.2Optional Higher Package Minimums
A mailer may choose to prepare carrier route packages at a higher level of route saturation (for example, only if there are at least 15 pieces per route). Under this option, smaller groups of six or more pieces per carrier route not prepared in carrier route packages for carrier route rates must be prepared for and paid at another applicable rate.
2.3Walk-Sequence Identification
In addition to the package label showing carrier route type and number under 2.4, each package of Periodicals walk-sequence mail must show that the mail is walk sequenced and the level of sequencing. A facing slip with the phrase “HIGH DENSITY WALK-SEQUENCED CARRIER ROUTE MAIL” or “SATURATION WALK-SEQUENCED CARRIER ROUTE MAIL” (as applicable) may be placed on the top of each package of walk-sequence mail. It may be an address label with the required information placed on a sample mailpiece that is the top piece in the package, or a slip of paper affixed to the top of the package. If packages are prepared without facing slips, an optional endorsement line or carrier route information line must be placed on each piece in the package to provide the equivalent information.
2.4Package Preparation
Package size, preparation sequence, and labeling:
a. Firm: optional (two-piece minimum); blue Label F or optional endorsement line (OEL).
b. Carrier route: optional but required for rate eligibility (six-piece minimum, fewer permitted under 1.5); labeling required except for packages placed in a direct carrier route tray or sack (facing slip, OEL, or CR information line).
3.0 PREPARATION (LETTER-SIZE PIECES)
3.1Basic Preparation
Tray size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 and 2 labeling:
a. Carrier route: required at 24 pieces, optional with one six-piece package.
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages, preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.
(2) Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “LTRS;” followed by “WSS” for saturation rate mail, or “WSH” for high density rate mail, or “CR” for basic rate mail; followed by the route type and number.
b. 5-digit carrier routes: required if full tray, optional with one six-piece package.
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages, preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.
(2) Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “LTRS CR-RTS.”
c. 3-digit carrier routes: optional with one six-piece package for each of two or more 5-digit areas.
(1) Line 1: use the city, state, and ZIP shown in L002, Column A that corresponds to the 3-digit ZIP Code prefix of packages.
(2) Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “LTRS 3D CR-RTS.”
3.2Tray Line 2 for Simplified Address
[6-12-03] [11-14-02] For trays that contain letter-size pieces with a simplified address prepared under A020, use “MAN” on Line 2 in place of “BC.”
4.0 SACK PREPARATION (FLAT-SIZE PIECES AND IRREGULAR PARCELS)
Sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 and 2 labeling:
a. Carrier route: required at 24 pieces, fewer pieces not permitted.
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages, preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.
(2) Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS” or “IRREG” as applicable; followed by “WSS” for saturation rate mail, or “WSH” for high density rate mail, or “CR” for basic rate mail; followed by the route type and number.
b. 5-digit scheme carrier routes: required (no minimum).
(1) Line 1: use L001, Column B.
(2) Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS” or “IRREG” as applicable; followed by “CR-RTS SCH.”
c. 5-digit carrier routes: required (no minimum).
(1) Line 1: use city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code destination of packages, preceded for military mail by the prefixes under M031.
(2) Line 2: “PER” or “NEWS” as applicable; followed by “FLTS” or “IRREG” as applicable; followed by “CR-RTS.”
DMM Issue 58 (8-10-03)