Postal Publications
DM NEWS
Direct Marketing resource for news, resources, case studies and more.
DOMESTIC MAIL MANUAL UPDATES
Sign-Up to receive the DMM Advisory by sending an e-mail to dmmadvisory@usps.com and include “subscribe” in the subject line.
MAIL MAGAZINE
MAIL Magazine is the Journal of Record for the Mail communications Industry.
MAILING SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
Magazine for mailing systems technology news and reviews.
PARCEL MAGAZINE
Parcel Industry source for information and exchange of ideas.
POSTAL BULLETIN
The official source for updates to policies, procedures, forms and operational information about the Postal Service.
USPS
CENTRALIZED ACCOUNT PROCESSING SYSTEM (CAPS)
THE CENTRAL ACCOUNT PROCESSING SYSTEM (CAPS) allows mailers to centralize all their permit, business reply and other accounts into a convenient, single prepaid or debit account.
ENTERPRISE PAYMENT SYSTEM (EPS)The new Enterprise Payment System (EPS) replaces the current product-centric payment with a centralized account processing system enabling customers to pay and manage their service online using a single account.
INDUSTRY RESOURCE GUIDE
A tool to provide all of the information you need to navigate Postal resources.
MAILERS TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Mailers Technical Advisory Committee is a committee of representatives from dozens of organizations representing all aspects of mail.
POSTAL EXPLORER
Search the Domestic Mail Manual and many other publications from one site.
POSTAL PRO
Replaces the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System (RIBBS) website and publishes updates on mailing and shipping, operations, industry information, resources, and certifications.
Groups and Associations
ALLIANCE OF NONPROFIT MAILERS
National organization exclusively representing the interests of non-profits.
BALTIMORE ADVERTISING ASSOCIATION
Organization to promote and support Baltimore advertisers via education, information and networking.
THE DIRECT MARKETING ACCOCIATION (DMA)
The Direct Marketing Association is the leading global trade association of business and non-profit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES
Daily Journal of the US Government. Notices can include information pertaining to the USPS.
IDEALLIANCE (FORMERLY GCA) PUBLISHING INDUSTRY
Education, training, and information for integrated media creators, producers, publishers, distributors, and their service providers, material suppliers, and technology partners.
MAIL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Dedicated to the professional advancement of the mail distribution industry.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA / WASHINGTON METRO PCC
Our PCC affiliates in the Washington DC and northern VA area.
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION (PRC)
The Postal Regulatory Commission is an independent Federal agency that provides transparency and accountability of the U. S. Postal Service’s operations
POSTCOM
Association for Postal commerce.
PRINTING AND GRAPHICS ASSOCIATION MID-ATLANTIC
PCC Resources
NATIONAL PCC NEWS
Keep abreast of the latest news related to your Postal Customer Council® and the U.S. Postal Service®.
NATIONAL POSTAL CUSTOMER COUNCIL
ON USPS.COM OR POSTAL PRO
The national site for the PCC – find a PCC near you, learn about PCC operations, and download the PCC Policy Manual – Publication 286.
USPS PROMOTIONS CALENDAR
USPS Postal Promotions calendar, program details, and registration information.
USPS Tools
BUSINESS CUSTOMER GATEWAY
The one-stop location for USPS tools and information for business mailers.
CALCULATE POSTAGE
Calculate postage for any package, domestic or international.
CONTACT A MAILPIECE DESIGN ANALIST (MDA)
E-mail or call (855) 593-6093
CONTACT POSTALONE! HELP DESK
E-mail or call (800) 522-9085
FACILITY ACCESS AND SHIPMENT TRACKING (FAST) SYSTEM
Collects and monitors mailing appointment data for USPS Facilities.
FIND A ZIP CODE
Enter known address information and receive the full ZIP code information.
INTELLIGENT MAIL FOR SMALL BUSINESS MAILERS
LOCATE A POST OFFICE
Find a Post Office station, Entry Unit, or other facility.
MAIL EVALUATION READABILITY LOOKUP INSTRUMENT (MERLIN)
Tool used by USPS to assist with acceptance of business mailings.
PRINT A POSTAGE LABEL
Open an account and print postage from your computer.
TRACK AND CONFIRM
Track and confirm packages.
USPS SERVICE STANDARDS MAP
Provides service standard delivery times for 3 digit zip codes.
USPS PRICE CHANGE INFORMATION
Upcoming USPS Rate Change Information is found in blue ribbon on left side of page, when applicable.
National Conventions
MAILCOM
Conference and Exhibition for mail industry professionals.
NATIONAL POSTAL FORUM
The National Postal Forum is the premier annual event for businesses who mail and ship.
Intelligent Mail Resources
MAILING SERVICES
The Postal Service has four key initiatives to streamline the acceptance, induction, and verification of commercial mailings: Full-Service Intelligent Mail, Move Update, e-Induction, and Seamless Acceptance.
CERTIFIED SOFTWARE VENDORS AND CERTIFIED MAIL SERVICE PROVIDERS
Products and service providers to help you enjoy the benefits of Full-Service.
MAILER ID (MID)
Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) field used to identify mailers. MIDs are either a 9-digit or a 6-digit numeric code and are assigned based on annual mail volume criteria.
CUSTOMER REGISTRATION ID (CRID)
This is unique number that identifies a specific business location involved in a mailing. In order to submit electronic documentation (and receive Full-Service benefits), customers must have a customer registration ID assigned to their business location.
SERVICE TYPE IDENTIFIERS (STID)
The STID defines the mail piece as full-service or basic (non-automation) and is also used to determine the disposition of undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail and the form of address correction that a mailer desires, if any.
MOVE UPDATE
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mail pieces in a mailing that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with change-of-address orders received and maintained by the Postal Service. Mailers who claim presorted or automation prices for First-Class Mail or Standard Mail must demonstrate that they have updated their mailing list within 95 days before the mailing date.
FULL SERVICE ASSESSMENTS
Assessments are generated when there are mailing errors that exceed the established thresholds for a calendar month. The assessments result in the removal of the Full-Service discount on those pieces in error above the established thresholds.
INTELLIGENT MAIL GUIDES AND SPECS
USPS guides and technical specifications that provide an overview of the intelligent mail program. Additional guides include:
* GUIDE TO FULL SERVICE
* GUIDE TO E-INDUCTION
* GUIDE TO SEAMLESS ACCEPTANCE
MAIL ANYWHERE FACT SHEET
Information on qualifications and how to sign up for the Mail Anywhere service.
Certifications
CERTIFIED MAIL AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MANAGER (CMDSM), MSMA CERTIFICATION
Certified Mail and Distribution System Manager (CMDSM), is a certification program from the Mail Systems Management Association. This is nationally recognized and is over 15 years old. It is more involved than the EMCM program and takes longer to qualify. This is a self-study course with testing at the MailCom Conferences. Check out their website under certification.
EXECUTIVE MAIL CENTER MANAGER (EMCM) USPS CERTIFICATION
Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM) is a certification program from the US Postal Service that was created in 2002 by mail professionals working with the USPS. This is a one-week program covering eight modules offered by the USPS’ National Center for Employee Development in Norman, OK for $1500 or offered at various times and over several weeks at Postal Customer Councils around the country. All modules must be completed to earn the certificate. Graduates are listed on the USPS website. This program is highly recommend for all mail center managers.
MAILPIECE DESIGN PROFESSIONAL (MDP) USPS CERTIFICATION
The Mailpiece Design Professional (MDP) Online program teaches mailing industry personnel how to design mail to enhance its compatibility with U.S. Postal Service automated equipment. It also coaches mailers on how to achieve lower postage prices through automation. MDP Online training is 100% free to all users. However, USPS MDP certification is only available upon successful completion of course assessment, which does have a fee.
