ARCHIVED DMM
Contents Index

 

E600 Standard Mail

E630 Enhanced Carrier Route Rates

Summary

E630 describes the eligibility standards for Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route mailings.

1.0 Basic Standards

1.1All Pieces

All pieces in an Enhanced Carrier Route or Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail mailing must:

a. Meet the basic standards for Standard Mail in E610.

b. Be part of a single mailing of at least 200 pieces or 50 pounds of pieces of Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail. Automation basic carrier route rate pieces are subject to a separate 200-piece or 50-pound minimum volume standard and may not be included in the same mailing as other Enhanced Carrier Route mail. Regular and Nonprofit mailings must meet separate minimum volumes.

c. Be sorted to carrier routes, marked, and documented under M045, M620, or M920, M930, or M940.

d. Bear a delivery address that includes the correct ZIP Code, ZIP+4 code, or numeric equivalent to the delivery point barcode (DPBC) and that meets these address quality standards:

(1) The carrier route accuracy standard in A030.3.0.

(2) If high density and saturation rate letter-size mail is prepared, the address matching and coding standards in A800 and A950.

(3) If an alternative addressing format is used, the additional standards in A020.

(4) If flat-size pieces are prepared with detached address labels, the additional standards in A060.

e. Meet the applicable sequencing requirements in 2.0 through 4.0 and in M050.

1.2Maximum Size

Enhanced Carrier Route rate mail may not be more than 11-3/4 inches high, 14 inches long, or 3/4-inch thick. Exception: Merchandise samples with detached address labels (DALs) may exceed these dimensions if the labels meet the standards in A060.

1.3Preparation

Preparation to qualify for any Enhanced Carrier Route rate is optional and need not be performed for all carrier routes in a 5-digit area. An Enhanced Carrier Route mailing may include pieces at basic, high density, and saturation Enhanced Carrier Route rates. Automation basic carrier route rate pieces must be prepared as a separate mailing (see E640).

2.0 Basic Rates

2.1All Pieces

All pieces mailed at basic rates must be prepared in walk sequence or in line-of-travel (LOT) sequence according to LOT schemes prescribed by the USPS (see M050).

2.2Letter-Size Pieces

Basic rates apply to each piece sorted under M045 or M620 and in a full carrier route tray or in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces placed in a 5-digit carrier routes or 3-digit carrier routes tray.

2.3Flat-Size Pieces

Basic rates apply to each piece in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces that is:

a. Palletized under M045, M920, M930, or M940.

b. Placed in a carrier route sack containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces.

c. Placed in a merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5-digit, or 5-digit carrier routes sack.

2.4Irregular Parcels

Basic rates apply to each piece in a carrier route sack or carton containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces, or in a 5-digit carrier routes sack or carton. DALs must be in carrier route bundles of 10 or more pieces and prepared under A060.

3.0 High Density Rates

3.1All Pieces

All pieces mailed at high density rates must:

a. Be prepared in walk sequence according to schemes prescribed by the USPS (see M050).

b. Meet the density requirement of at least 125 pieces for each carrier route. Multiple pieces per delivery address can count toward this density standard. Fewer pieces may be prepared for routes with fewer than 125 possible deliveries if a piece is addressed to every possible delivery on the route.

3.2Letter-Size Pieces

High density rates apply to each piece that is automation-compatible according to C810, has a delivery point barcode under C840, and is in a full carrier route tray or in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces placed in a 5-digit carrier routes or 3-digit carrier routes tray. Pieces that are not automation-compatible or are not barcoded are mailable at the high density nonletter rate. Pieces bearing a simplified address do not need to meet the standards in C810 and are not required to have a delivery point barcode.

3.3Discount for Heavy Letters

Pieces that otherwise qualify for the high density letter rate and weigh more than 3.3 ounces but not more than 3.5 ounces pay postage equal to the piece/pound rate and receive a discount equal to the high density nonletter piece rate (3.3 ounces or less) minus the high density letter piece rate (3.3 ounces or less). If claiming a destination entry rate, the discount is calculated using the corresponding rates.

3.4Flat-Size Pieces

High density rates apply to each piece in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces that is:

a. Palletized under M045, M920, M930, or M940.

b. Placed in a carrier route sack containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces.

c. Placed in a merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5-digit, or 5-digit carrier routes sack.

3.5Irregular Parcels

High density rates apply to each piece in a carrier route sack or carton containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces, or in a 5-digit carrier routes sack or carton. DALs must be in carrier route bundles of 10 or more pieces and prepared under A060.

4.0 Saturation Rates

4.1All Pieces

All pieces mailed at saturation rates must:

a. Be prepared in walk sequence according to schemes prescribed by the USPS (see M050).

b. Meet the density requirement of at least 90% or more of the active residential addresses or 75% or more of the total number of active possible delivery addresses on each carrier route receiving this mail. Pieces bearing a simplified address must meet the coverage standards in A020. Multiple pieces per delivery address do not count toward this density standard.

4.2Letter-Size Pieces

Saturation rates apply to each piece that is automation-compatible according to C810, has a delivery point barcode under C840, and is in a full carrier route tray or in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces placed in a 5-digit carrier routes or 3-digit carrier routes tray. Pieces that are not automation-compatible or are not barcoded are mailable at the saturation nonletter rate. Pieces bearing a simplified address do not need to meet the standards in C810 and are not required to have a delivery point barcode to qualify for letter rates.

4.3Discount for Heavy Letters

Pieces that otherwise qualify for the saturation letter rate and weigh more than 3.3 ounces but not more than 3.5 ounces pay postage equal to the piece/pound rate and receive a discount equal to the saturation nonletter piece rate (3.3 ounces or less) minus the saturation letter piece rate (3.3 ounces or less). If claiming a destination entry rate, the discount is calculated using the corresponding rates.

4.4Flat-Size Pieces

Saturation rates apply to each piece in a carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces that is:

a. Palletized under M045, M920, M930, or M940.

b. Placed in a carrier route sack containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces.

c. Placed in a merged 5-digit scheme, 5-digit scheme carrier routes, merged 5-digit, or 5-digit carrier routes sack.

4.5Irregular Parcels

Saturation rates apply to each piece in a carrier route sack or carton containing at least 125 pieces or 15 pounds of pieces, or in a 5-digit carrier routes sack or carton. DALs must be in carrier route bundles of 10 or more pieces and prepared under A060.

5.0 Residual Shape Surcharge

Any Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail piece that is prepared as a parcel or is not letter-size or flat-size as defined in C050 is subject to a residual shape surcharge.

DMM Issue 58 Updated 12-9-04

ARCHIVED DMM
ARCHIVED DMM