[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13006-13007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04302]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
New Intelligent Mail Package Barcode Standards To Enhance Package
Visibility; Opportunity for Comments in Advance of Rulemaking
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is exploring the advisability of requiring
the use of Intelligent Mail[supreg] package barcodes (IMpb) or unique
tracking Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMbTM) on all commercial
parcels, and providing support to mailers to assure their ability to
apply unique tracking barcodes to all commercial parcels.
DATES: Comments are due on March 28, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446,
Washington, DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all written
comments at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW.,
11th Floor North, Washington, DC, by appointment only between the hours
of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 1-202-268-2906 in
advance for an appointment. Email comments, containing the name and
address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov,
with a subject line of ``Package Visibility.'' Faxed comments are not
accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey L. Freeman at 202-268-2922 or
Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service continues to enhance its
operational capability to provide scanning data of IMpb and other
tracking barcodes through the use of automated processing equipment and
Intelligent Mail scanning devices. The tracking data provided by IMpb,
including acceptance, enroute, and delivery status data, will provide
value to the Postal Service, to mailers and to their shared customer
base.
IMpb can offer a number of additional benefits by providing mailers
with access to piece-level visibility throughout the Postal Service's
processing and delivery operations. The basic structure of IMpb
includes:
A routing code to facilitate the processing of parcels on
automated sorting equipment.
A channel-specific Application Identifier (AI) that
associates the barcode to the payment method, supporting revenue
assurance.
A 3-digit service type code, which identifies the exact
mail class and service combination, eliminating the need for multiple
barcodes on a parcel.
An option to use a 6-digit or 9-digit numeric Mailer ID
(MID), to accommodate all mailers.
A serial number that enables uniqueness and supports
piece-level visibility.
These features contribute to the data-stream efficiency within
USPS[supreg] mail processing, delivery, payment, and reporting.
Intelligent Mail package barcodes also include specific ``mail class
only'' service type codes that may be used for parcels without extra
services.
The mailing industry was first provided notice of the intent of the
Postal Service to require the mandatory use of IMpb on all domestic
packages via an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking, Federal
Register notice (75 FR 56922-56923) on September 17, 2010. In response
to input from the mailing community, this broad requirement was
narrowed to generally apply only to commercial parcels mailed at
presort or destination-entry prices. On January 28, 2013, the Postal
Service implemented this initial phase of its IMpb standards by
requiring IMpb use, including use of version 1.6 of the electronic
shipping services manifest, for all commercial parcels (except Standard
Mail parcels) claiming presort or destination-entry pricing.
The Postal Service is now considering the addition, at a future
date, of a new requirement for all remaining commercial parcels to bear
an IMpb. Mailers of these parcels will also be required to transmit
electronic documentation to the Postal Service using version 1.6 (or a
newer version) of the Shipping Services Manifest File. If this
requirement is adopted, it would apply to all commercial parcels,
without regard to presort or entry level, and would generally include
commercial parcels of all classes with the exception of Express Mail
entered through Express Mail Corporate Account. The Postal Service
would expect to implement these new standards on or about July 28,
2013.
Additionally, the Postal Service is investigating alternative
processes that would permit some categories of Standard Mail to bear a
unique IMb instead of an IMpb. If the Postal Service determines that
the use of an IMb is a viable option in these limited circumstances,
those mailers using this option will be required to transmit piece-
level data to the Postal Service in a Mail.dat or Mail.XML format.
Mailers who use the IMb format will not receive delivery scans on their
pieces unless they comply with Postal Service requirements for
additional identifying marks indicating that confirmation services are
requested. The Postal Service is also exploring options to accommodate
a modified tracking process for some categories of Standard mail
parcels, such as Simple SamplesTM and parcels bearing
simplified addresses.
Mailers will benefit from the tracking services provided with IMpb,
both from improved service performance and from more efficient postal
operations. The Postal Service anticipates that the enhancements to
parcel visibility following these changes in standards will produce the
following benefits:
Enable customer-level service reporting;
Support accurate customer volume reporting;
Provide data for identifying, diagnosing, and correcting
service issues;
Enable the use of scanning technology to reduce
distribution costs in delivery units by allowing non-scheme-trained
employees to perform parcel distribution to carrier routes, resulting
in greater flexibility in staffing and savings on training expenses;
[[Page 13007]]
Provide advance notice of workload to improve planning in
processing and delivery operations;
Support improved understanding of, and opportunities to
reduce, postal costs;
If these new standards are adopted, the Postal Service also expects
to provide support to its smaller and mid-sized mailers in applying
IMpb-compliant labels to every commercial parcel. The Postal Service
intends to provide pre-printed IMpb-compliant tracking barcodes to
permit imprint and postage meter mailers for use with non-presorted
mailings, and to provide tools for Merchandise Return Service (MRS)
permit holders to enable their customers to print IMpb-compliant MRS
labels online.
To improve piece-level visibility within USPS processing, the
Postal Service is investigating the operational feasibility of
electronically associating individual parcel tracking numbers with
specific sacks, trays, pallets, or similar containers. Depending on the
results, the Postal Service may, at a future date, establish a
requirement for all commercial parcel mailers to electronically
transmit Intelligent Mail tray barcode (IMtb) and Intelligent Mail
container barcode (IMcb) nesting data to the Postal Service. Nesting
data would be required to be included in the shipment manifest or to be
transmitted through another approved electronic documentation method.
Recognizing that package mailers have not previously been required to
use these barcodes, if this requirement is adopted, the Postal Service
will work with the industry to support transitioning to the use of
these barcodes, and to determine the proper timing for its
implementation.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2013-04302 Filed 2-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P