MAILER RATING
NATIONAL DEPLOYMENT

Mailer Rating has been deployed nationally as part of FAST (Facilities Access and Shipment Tracking). Mailer Rating is activated at all FAST facilities where Surface Visibility (SV) is consistently used to track drop shipment arrivals.

Facilities are activated based on reaching an SV drop shipment compliance rate of 80 percent or higher for two consecutive weeks. Although the formal deployment has concluded, FAST will continue to track and monitor SV drop shipment compliance and activate or deactivate facilities as required according to data compliance.

A listing of all USPS facilities activated for Mailer Rating is distributed weekly to mailers and FAST area and facility coordinators. To be included on this distribution list, please send an e-mail to fast@usps.com. The status of Mailer Rating activation for each USPS facility is also shown on the facility profile pages in FAST.

FAST Mailer Rating offers the most efficient drop shipment customers a greater opportunity to schedule appointments. Mailer Rating encourages higher standards of performance by the mailing community when providing information for incoming shipments at a USPS facility. Mailers are rated based on the following drop shipment appointment components:

• Submission method/content detail.
• On-time accuracy.
• Content accuracy.
• Pre-notification and irregularity deductions.

You can learn more about Mailer Rating rules at https://fast.usps.com/fast/. Without logging in click Resources and Reference Documents. Mailer Rating information presentations are available for download. Information on Mailer Rating also is included in the FAST Web-Based training and user guides.

Mailer Rating applies to all Standard Mail and Package Services drop shipment appointments. Pure Periodicals and perishable appointments are not rated. Mailer Rating does not apply to destination delivery units. 

Questions or concerns regarding Mailer Rating should be directed to fast@usps.com with “Mailer Rating” in the subject line.

FAST FOR PERIODICALS

FAST for Periodicals is here. Periodicals mailers now can schedule drop shipment appointments in FAST. 

Upon arrival at a Postal Service facility, it’s important for mailers to have their appointment number on PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance. Periodicals mailers arriving without an appointment will not be turned away, but will be accepted as an unscheduled arrival after any Periodicals mailers who have scheduled an appointment in FAST. If there is no appointment number on the PS Form 8125, closeout data for the appointment may not be recorded.

If you are a Periodicals mailer and have yet to register in FAST, visit the PostalOne! homepage at usps.com/Postalone. Step-by-step instructions on how to register are available at https://fast.usps.com/fast. Without logging in, click Resources then Reference Documents. A registration job aid is available for download. 

Send questions about FAST for Periodicals to fast@usps.com. Include “FAST for Periodicals” in the subject line.

CONNECTING TO MAIL-RELATED SERVICES

Need help with mail preparation and address lists? Looking for equipment or supplies? Want to expand your efforts? Customers seeking mail-related services can now turn to the national Postal Customer Council (PCC) website at usps.com/pcc and search for a list of PCC mail service providers who can help you enhance your use of the mail to grow your business.

The PCC Mail Service Provider program offers access to members of a PCC network of approximately 200 PCCs nationwide. The program currently offers six categories of mail service providers:

• Mail preparation.
• Mailing lists.
• Mail printing.
• Mailing support.
• Mailing supplies.
• Mailing equipment.

These providers are PCC members. You can search for mail-related service providers by going to usps.com/pcc, scroll down and click Find a Mail Service Provider. Search by city, state, ZIP Code and mail-related service categories.

If you are interested in becoming a PCC mail service provider, contact your local PCC by clicking on the Join a PCC link on the national PCC website at usps.com/pcc.

MailPro
News for Mailing Professionals

Archived issues of MailPro can be viewed at usps.com/mailpro