Guides & Reports

Full-Service Assessment Process Fact Sheet

In November 2016, the USPS began assessments for Full-Service Mail Quality Metrics determined to be over the established threshold in a calendar month. These assessments result in the removal of the Full Service discount on those pieces exceeding the established threshold. On November 3, 2020, the USPS issued this updated fact sheet.

Move Update Requirements Fact Sheet – November 2020 Update

This fact sheet identifies the variety of products and services that help improve the accuracy of mailing lists, the quality of the physical addresses, and provide Change-of-Address (COA) information.

Secure Destruction Mail Service – How it Works!

Secure Destruction Mail Service is available for First Class letter and flat mail only. First Class Mail, by postal definition, is a protected class of mail because it contains personal identifiable information that is subject to federal and state privacy protection laws.

Using Mail To Build Brands

Enterprise Analytics PDF Report At MTAC

The USPS made a presentation on Enterprise Analytics at MTAC’s June meeting, detailing a plethora of mailing issues and solutions including Informed Visibility, CASS/MASS, change of address, and more.

2017 Household Diary Study Released With Good, Bad News

The new 2017 Household Diary Study was released, detailing the use of mail and packages by American consumers.

GAO Releases Review Of USPS Capital Spending Processes

This GAO report: (1) describes USPS’s projected capital spending over the next 10 years and (2) assesses whether USPS’s processes support its ability to address uncertainties and risks that affect its capital spending.

Transactional Mail Today & Tomorrow: New OIG Report

From the OIG: This paper examines the recent history of First-Class transactional mail sent and received by households.

Creating An Enterprise Payment System Account

The USPS has released updated information on creating an Enterprise Payment System (EPS) account. EPS allows customers to pay for Postal products and services through a single account, called the Enterprise Payment Account (EPA).

USPS Guides To Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting

The USPS released two important guides for Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting.

PostalOne! Contingency Plan: When You Can’t Submit Documents Electronically

The PostalOne! External Contingency Plan is a detailed description of what to do in the event that a system outage prevents you from submitting documentation electronically.

PRC Releases 2017 Annual Report; Outlines Ratesetting Changes

The Postal Regulatory Commission issued its 2017 Annual Report to the President and Congress which includes commentary on its proposed changes to the postage rate-setting system.

Address Quality Census Measurement and Assessment Process (AQCMAP) Fact Sheet

Fact sheet on the USPS’ Move Update Census-based approach.

Move Update – Green and Secure Final Rule

The USPS has implemented a new method for measuring compliance for meeting the Move Update requirement using a Census based approach. USPS uses scans from Mail Processing Equipment to confirm that addresses for First-Class and USPS Marketing Mail letters and flats are updated to include change-of-addresses (COA) within 95 days of the mailing date.

PRC Financial Analysis Of USPS Released

The Postal Regulatory Commission has released its financial anaylsis of USPS for Fiscal Year 2017.

Understanding Postal Governance

In 2016 the OIG released an excellent report on the Board of Governors:
“The concerns about the Postal Service’s governance model and the potential confirmation of a new slate of governors make this an opportune time to explore the history of the Board, its rationale, and barriers to effective operation. A close reading of this history sheds important light on the Board’s role and the challenges the Board has faced in the past.

Riding the Returns Wave: Reverse Logistics and the USPS

From the OIG: Reverse logistics is not just forward logistics backwards; it is more complex and more expensive. Yet it is becoming more prominent, since return rates for ecommerce purchases are three times higher than for traditional physical retail. The Postal Service handled 148 million return packages in FY 2016, but its share of the returns market is smaller than its share of the outbound parcel market, indicating a potential opportunity for growth.

OIG Report: The Future Of Correspondence Mail

Although the decline of First-Class Mail volume rightfully gets a lot of attention, it is important to understand the underlying trends affecting its key segments, including correspondence mail.

2018 Changes to Postage Payment: USPS Enterprise Payment

by Bob Schimek, Senior Director of Postal Affairs, Quadient and Industry Vice Chair, Mailers Technical Advisory Committee

Guide to USPS Acronyms and Abbreviations

New mailers sometimes have a challenging time learning Postal acronyms. This reference guide provides a listing of common postal abbreviations & acronyms and can be shared with customers …

Autonomous Mobile Robots and the Postal Service

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) use sensors and navigation technologies to transport goods around an open space without a human controlling them. Different forms of autonomous robots have been used in postal sorting centers for years, to move containers and pallets between sorting machines.

OIG: Positive Public Perception of Mail Delivery Robots

A large majority of Americans believe delivery robots will be in use within the next five years. Many more say they like delivery robot concepts than dislike them — particularly if the robot will help mail carriers.

Secure Destruction: A Primer For Mailers

Secure Destruction eliminates UAA Return to Sender mail at the USPS facility. Secure Destruction was created in response to mailers asking to reduce handling costs for “Return to Sender” mail with Privacy Protected Information (PPI). It applies only to letter-sized First-Class Mail and is destruction is performed by USPS employees in postal facilities.

PRC Issues 2017 Annual Compliance Determination: Progress and Challenges

The Postal Regulatory Commission issued its Annual Compliance Determination (ACD), a mandated assessment of the U.S. Postal Service’s compliance with pricing and service performance requirements in fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017).

“Mail Anywhere” Program Customer Participation Guide

The Postal Service has launched the new “Mail Anywhere” service that allows a customer to use the same permit at every mailing location across the country

How USPS Adapts To Digital World

Gary Reblin, the USPS Vice President of Product Innovation, recently gave a presentation on postal strategy in the digital world entitled “Adapting to a Changing Marketplace”.

New Informed Visibility Mail Tracking Guide

This updated guide provides information about the United States Postal Service (USPS) Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV-MTR) application, which allows mailers to track letter and flat containers, handling units (trays, tubs, and sacks), bundles, and pieces.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED: New USPS Guide To Ancillary Endorsements

Ancillary service endorsements are used by mailers to request an addressee’s new address and to provide the USPS with instructions on how to handle undeliverable-as-addressed pieces.

INFORMED DELIVERY GUIDE: How To Submit Your Ad For Emails

This comprehensive technical specification outlines the steps and criteria for submitting an Informed Delivery interactive campaign through the Mail.dat file format via PostalOne Electronic Documentation (eDocs).

OIG Report On Certified Mail

To continue to provide this highly valued and trusted service in an affordable and attractive way to Postal Service customers, Certified Mail could be modernized through various technological advancements.

USPS Enterprise Payment Fact Sheet & Documentation

The Postal Service has released a fact sheet about using its Enterprise Payment System, which lets mailers pay for multiple permit accounts from one centralized account.

USPS Pub 199: Implementation Guide to Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb)

The Implementation Guide to Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) for Confirmation Services and Electronic Verification System (eVS) Mailers provides technical guidance for the implementation of the Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) and file formats.

How To Let Others See Your IV Mail Tracking

The USPS has released a form that allows a Delegating Company (i.e., Mailer ID (MID) Owner) to provide authorization for delegation of mail tracking visibility to a Receiving Company within the IV Mail Tracking & Reporting application.

New USPS IV Mail Tracking & Reporting User Guide

This guide provides information about United States Postal Service (USPS) mail tracking through Informed Visibility (IV), which allows mailers to track letter and flat containers, handling units (trays, tubs, and sacks), bundles, and pieces. IV does not provide mail tracking data on packages, to include associated containers, handling units, and bundles.

Mail Collection Box Management Reviewed By OIG

Mail collection boxes are used primarily to collect mail from customers. Nationwide, there were about 153,000 collection boxes at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2016; however, the U.S. Postal Service has been removing underused boxes, with about 14,000 boxes removed over the past five years.

International Mail Terminal Dues Report By GAO

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) issued a public version of its August 2017 report on International Mail and Terminal Dues. Information on international revenues, costs, and volumes for international mail that USPS has deemed proprietary has been omitted from this report.

Latest Mail Household Diary Study Released

The 2016 HOUSEHOLD DIARY STUDY from the United States Postal Service has been released.

Ten Common Mailpiece Design Mistakes

The Postal Service has identified the ten most common mistakes they encounter with mailpiece design — and has published a handy document on how to improve your mail.

2017 Postal Promotions Technical Information

The USPS released a handy chart detailing technical requirements for the 2017 postal promotions.

Informed Visibility User Guide Released

This guide provides information about United States Postal Service (USPS) mail tracking through Informed Visibility (IV), which allows mailers to track letter and flat containers, handling units (trays, tubs, and sacks), bundles, and pieces.

eInduction Penalty Assessment Worksheet

The electronic Induction (eInduction) process streamlines the preparation and induction (how and where the mail physically enters the Postal Service mailstream) of drop shipments and expedited plant load mailings.

Address Change Service (ACS) Information Guide

Many mailers are unaware of Address Change Service and ancillary endorsement options that help comply with Move Update standards, detailed in this handy ACS Information Guide.