[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 1, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14338-14341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05514]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Priority Mail Express Service Standard
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) in various
sections to refine the service standard for domestic retail and
commercial Priority Mail Express[supreg] delivery service.
DATES: Effective Date: April 1, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Knox at (202) 268-5636 or
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is refining the service
standard for domestic retail and commercial Priority Mail Express
service to align with operational initiatives that the Postal Service
is implementing on a nationwide basis to fundamentally transform our
processing and transportation networks to achieve greater operational
precision and efficiency, significantly reduce costs, and enhance
service pursuant to the Delivering for America strategic plan (DFA
Plan). These operational initiatives will comprehensively transform the
Postal Service's operations to address problems that exist today and
create a network that enables the integrated movement of mail and
packages in a precise and cost-effective manner consistent with best
business practice far into the future. They should also lead to
substantial cost savings (conservatively estimated at between $3.6 to
$3.7 billion annually), which is critical given the Postal Service's
current poor financial
[[Page 14339]]
condition, which can be addressed only through comprehensive changes to
reduce costs and increase efficiency (in conjunction with the other
elements of the DFA Plan). To implement these initiatives and achieve
these cost savings, the Postal Service must refine its service
standards for all products, including Priority Mail Express.
The current Priority Mail Express service standard requires the
Postal Service to conduct separate trips to drop off destinating volume
from the processing network to collection/delivery facilities in the
morning for delivery that day, and then pick-up originating volume from
the collection/delivery facilities to the processing network in the
afternoon, or alternatively pay Highway Contract Route contractors to
layover for multiple hours between the outbound and return legs of
their routes. Many of these trips transport low amounts of volume to
and from collection/delivery facilities that are far from the Postal
Service's processing facilities. The Postal Service's Regional
Transportation Optimization (RTO) initiative will eliminate some of the
costs and inefficiencies associated with these excess trips by allowing
certain mail and packages to be picked up the next day from the Post
Office on the same trip that also dropped off mail at that Post Office
for delivery that day. The Postal Service will designate 5-digit ZIP
Codes for RTO when a retail/collection facility servicing that 5-digit
ZIP Code is more than 50 miles from the originating Regional Processing
and Distribution Center or Campus (RPDC), though exceptions may apply
based on operational or business considerations. Under the new service
standard, many packages will receive the same service standard, while
some packages would have a service expectation that is one delivery day
longer than the current expectation.
On October 4, 2024, the Postal Service requested from the Postal
Regulatory Commission (PRC) an advisory opinion on the service standard
changes needed to implement RTO, including those described herein,
together with a comprehensive strategy of network modernization, in
accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3661(b). The PRC then initiated Docket No.
N2024-1, in which the PRC's Presiding Officer, its appointed Public
Representative, and members of the public were given an opportunity to
actively participate. The PRC also conducted a formal hearing with
testimony on the record. The Postal Service's proffered evidence
demonstrates significant benefits to implementing these operational
initiatives and corresponding service standards consistent with the
policies enumerated in Title 39 of the United States Code: user-
friendly service standards formulated at the 5-digit Zip Code level;
significant cost savings from productivity enhancements, consolidated
local transportation trips, streamlined transportation between
facilities within the redesigned network, an air network reoriented
around RPDCs, lease terminations, and facility closures, all of which
are critically important to achieving long-term financial
sustainability; and ultimately, more reliable, predictable,
sustainable, and consistent service. The proceeding culminated in an
advisory opinion issued by the PRC on January 31, 2025. A description
of the advisory opinion and the Postal Service's response was published
in the Federal Register on February 28, 2025, and is available here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/28/2025-03168/service-standards for market dominant mail products.
As a result of this final rule, Priority Mail Express delivery
service will have a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day service standard depending
on various factors, including the date on which the item is accepted by
the Postal Service and the origin and destination 5-digit ZIP Code.
This revision to refine the Priority Mail Express service standard will
not affect any other current product features. Priority Mail Express
will continue to be a money-back guaranteed product with delivery
available 7 days a week in certain areas.
The Postal Service adopts the described changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
Accordingly, the Postal Service amends Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations as follows (see 39 CFR
111.1):
PART 111--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401-404, 414, 416, 3001-3018, 3201-3220, 3401-
3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3629, 3631-3633, 3641, 3681-3685, and 5001.
0
2. Revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
110 Retail Mail Priority Mail Express
113 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
4.0 Service Features of Priority Mail Express
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 4.2 to read as follows:]
4.2 Priority Mail Express Delivery
4.2.1 Availability
[Revise the text of 4.2.1 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express offers delivery in 1, 2, or 3 delivery days
depending on various factors, including the date on which the item is
deemed accepted by the Postal Service and the origin and destination
ZIP Codes.
4.2.2 Acceptance
[Revise the text of 4.2.2 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express items must be presented no later than the
local Post Office acceptance time. Priority Mail Express items mailed
after the local Post Office acceptance time are deemed to have been
mailed on the next day the office is open, subject to the standards for
this service.
4.2.3 Delivery Time
[Revise the first sentence of 4.2.3 to read as follows:]
Items are delivered by 6 p.m. on the scheduled delivery day. If
delivery is not made, the addressee is notified.* * *
4.2.4 Hold for Pickup
[Revise the text of 4.2.4 to read as follows:]
Except for Priority Mail Express mailpieces containing cremated
remains, under Hold for Pickup service, items presented under 4.2 are
available for pickup by the addressee at the destination facility by 6
p.m. of the scheduled delivery day that the destination office is open
for retail business.
[[Page 14340]]
[Delete 4.3, Priority Mail Express 2-Day Delivery, in its entirety
and renumber 4.4 as 4.3.]
* * * * *
115 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 2.0 to read as follows:]
2.0 Priority Mail Express Labels
2.1 Mailing Label
[Revise the introductory text of 2.1 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express items must be labeled as follows:
* * * * *
[Delete 2.3, ZIP Code Determination, in its entirety.]
* * * * *
116 Deposit
[Revise the heading of 1.0 to read as follows:]
1.0 Priority Mail Express Deposit
* * * * *
200 Commercial Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
210 Commercial Mail Priority Mail Express
213 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
4.0 Service Features of Priority Mail Express
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 4.2 to read as follows:]
4.2 Priority Mail Express Delivery
4.2.1 Availability
[Revise the text of 4.2.1 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express offers delivery in 1, 2, or 3 delivery days
depending on various factors, including the date on which the item is
deemed accepted by the Postal Service and the origin and destination
ZIP Codes.
4.2.2 Acceptance
[Revise the text of 4.2.2 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express items must be presented no later than the
local Post Office acceptance time. Priority Mail Express items mailed
after the local Post Office acceptance time are deemed to have been
mailed on the next day the office is open, subject to the standards for
this service.
4.2.3 Delivery Time
[Revise the first sentence of 4.2.3 to read as follows:]
Except for items endorsed ``Guaranteed by End of Day'' per an
approved customer agreement, items are delivered by 6 p.m. on the
scheduled delivery day.* * *
4.2.4 Hold for Pickup
[Revise the text of 4.2.4 to read as follows:]
Except for Priority Mail Express mailpieces containing cremated
remains, under Hold for Pickup service, items presented under 4.2 are
available for pickup by the addressee at the destination facility by 6
p.m. of the scheduled delivery day that the destination office is open
for retail business.
[Delete 4.3, Priority Mail Express 2-Day Delivery, in its entirety
and renumber 4.4 and 4.5 as 4.3 and 4.4.]
* * * * *
4.4 Open and Distribute
[Revise the text of renumbered 4.4 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express delivery service may be used to expedite
movement of any other class of mail from one domestic USPS facility to
another by Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute subject to the
standards in 705.18.0.
* * * * *
215 Mail Preparation
* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 2.0 to read as follows:]
2.0 Priority Mail Express Labels
2.1 Mailing Label
[Revise the introductory text of 2.1 to read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express items must be labeled as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the second sentence of item b to read as follows:]
b. * * * Mailers authorized to present Priority Mail Express items
using a Priority Mail Express Manifesting System must follow label
preparation procedures in Publication 97, Priority Mail Express
Manifesting Business and Technical Guide.
* * * * *
[Delete 2.3, ZIP Code Determination, in its entirety.]
* * * * *
216 Enter and Deposit
[Revise the heading of 1.0 to read as follows:]
1.0 Priority Mail Express Enter and Deposit
[Revise the introductory text of 1.0 to read as follows:]
Commercial Priority Mail Express must be entered and deposited as
follows:
[Revise items a and b by reversing the order. Revise the first
sentence of reordered item a to read as follows:]
a. Items must be entered or deposited by the local Post Office
designated acceptance time.* * *
* * * * *
500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
* * * * *
1.4.1 Eligibility--Domestic Mail
* * * * *
Exhibit 1.4.1 Eligibility--Domestic Mail
EXTRA SERVICE ELIGIBLE MAIL ADDITIONAL COMBINED EXTRA SERVICES
* * * * *
[Revise the COD entry by deleting the parenthetical under Priority
Mail Express.]
Collect on Delivery (COD) Priority Mail Express
COD Restricted Delivery
* * * * *
9.0 Collect on Delivery (COD)
9.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
9.1.5 Priority Mail Express COD
[Revise the first sentence of 9.1.5 to read as follows:]
Any article sent COD also may be sent by Priority Mail Express when
a signature is requested.* * *
* * * * *
600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
* * * * *
604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds
* * * * *
9.0 Exchanges and Refunds
* * * * *
9.5 Priority Mail Express Postage and Fees Refunds
[Revise the heading of 9.5.1 to read as follows:]
[[Page 14341]]
9.5.1 Priority Mail Express Delivery
[Revise the text of 9.5.1 to read as follows:]
For Priority Mail Express 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day delivery, the
USPS refunds the postage and Sunday or holiday premium fee for an item
not delivered, for an item for which delivery was not attempted, or if
the item was not made available for claim by the delivery date and time
specified at the time of mailing, subject to the standards for this
service, unless the delay was caused by one of the situations in 9.5.5.
* * * * *
Colleen Hibbert-Kapler,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2025-05514 Filed 3-31-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P