Sequencing for Carrier Route Rates

A new requirement for carrier route rate in 2001 is that some for of sequencing be used, and updated every 90 days.

Walk sequence all copies sorted to carrier routes (six or more on a city, rural or highway contract rout, or post office box section). Unsequenced copies could be charged at the rate of 8.3 cents per copy instead of the new 4.7-cent piece rate. Sequencing date is to be written on lines 73-73 of Postal Statement 3541-R for in-county mail, and on lines 22-23 for out-of-county mail.

Submit your cards or list to delivery post offices under Domestic Mail Manual A920.2.9, which provides for free walk-sequencing.

NNA has obtained a form from USPS Business Mail Preparation allowing post offices to approve sequencing if still correct, and no changes in route sequencing since last sequence. That form, and the letter authorizing its use, should be submitted every 90 days.

Another option for papers using electronic CASS-certified list processing of their carrier-route mail is to rely on Line-of-Travel (LOT) sequencing, which is also acceptable for the carrier-route rate. Most CASS programs, such as the popular Mailers+4, install LOT in the carrier-route field.

The sequencing requirement kept the carrier route rate lower than it would otherwise have been, and will hold down future costs, just as it did in Standard Mail since required in 1996.

Heath is chairman of the NNA Postal Committee. He is a vice president of Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc.