Distribution Services                         October 15, 2007

Hi, all!

I hope everything is going well. I have some additional information from last month’s PCC meeting. I delayed writing about it until the Federal Register filing. If you look at the Federal Register listing you will see a reference, in the Flat-size mail requirements, to the Intelligent barcode. The Intelligent barcode will be required beginning January 1, 2009. We are making preparations for it. Locally, the GMAPCC board has scheduled a couple classes on it. If there are any questions about the Intelligent barcode please don’t hesitate to contact me.

New address and barcode requirements for Automation, Carrier Route and
Presorted Flat-size mail

I didn’t include this in my last newsletter because it wasn’t officially filed yet. We were told to expect the filing soon at PCC Day. A customer alerted me that the rule change had now been filed. The requirements for flat mail barcoding and address block placement will most likely change next year. I don’t think this will have an effect on most of you.

I have written about the coming of FSS (Flats Sequencing System). Full implementation of FSS should begin next year. Flats will be carrier route sorted like letter mail currently is. That will require the full 11 digit, delivery point barcode (which has been in use at Conley for some time) for automation. It will also change the rule for positioning of the address. Holding the spine of the book to the right, the address block will have to be positioned in top 1/3 of the mail piece (front or back). The address can be perpendicular or parallel to the spine. If the address is perpendicular you must be able to read the address right side up with the spine to the right. The text below was taken directly from the power point presentation. A slide from the presentation is attached.

   “In an FSS environment all flats are output from the FSS machine with the bound edge on the same side, and the addresses must be placed in a manner to increase the ability to locate and see the address block when the flats are “verticalized,” or placed standing up.  Standard orientation of the address location is essential for the letter carrier street handling– particularly now that carriers will no longer handle, orient, and sort each flat.

MTAC Workgroup #101 surveyed a cross section of mailers and developed a recommendation on standard address placement for FSS that would meet the major needs of most mailers. 

The address can appear on either the front or back cover of the mail piece so that when the flat is viewed with the bound edge on the right, the address is located at the top. It can be perpendicular or parallel to the bound edge, final fold or longest edge.  However, the address may not read upside down when viewed as shown.  

Look for the specific proposed requirements in the near future in a Federal Register and we welcome your input to these proposals.” (USPS FSS power point presentation)

Please refer to the link below for information. If you have more questions regarding these changes, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-19932.pdf


Thanks,

Bill

Bill Carter
Distribution Manager
Phone: 920.356.6818
Cell 920.296.9730
bcarter@conleynet.com

 

Conley Distribution Contact Information:

Linda McDougal, Logistics Coordinator and Data
888-9CONLEY (ext 6912)
lmcdougal@conleynet.com

Pat Butler, Logistics Coordinator
888-9CONLEY (ext 6921)
pbutler@conleynet.com