[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 651-652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00131]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Parcel Dimension Compliance
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) in various
sections to expand the current requirement to include accurate parcel
dimensions in a manifest.
DATES: Submit comments on or before February 9, 2026.
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. If sending comments by email, include the
name and address of the commenter and send to
[email protected], with a subject line of ``Parcel Dimension
Compliance''. Faxed comments are not accepted.
You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment
only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th
Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for
review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., by calling 202-268-
2906.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Knox at (202) 268-5636 or
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All submitted comments and attachments are
part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any
material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or
inappropriate for public disclosure.
Currently, the Postal Service only requires mailers to include
accurate parcel dimensions in a manifest (Shipping Services File (SSF)
or other approved electronic documentation) when the dimensions exceed
1 cubic foot or 22 inches in length. Failure to comply with this
requirement, would subject the parcel to the Dimension Noncompliance
Fee.
The Postal Service is proposing to expand the current standard in
the Domestic Mail Manual by requiring mailers to always include
accurate dimensions (length, width, and height) for parcels included in
a manifest. Dimensions would not be required for Flat Rate priced
pieces or USPS Returns pieces. Failure to comply with the expanded
requirement, would continue to subject the parcel to the Dimension
Noncompliance Fee. This proposal would also continue to only apply to
commercial Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage,
and Parcel Select, products.
The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective
July 12, 2026,
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public
comment on the proposed revisions 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 proposes the following changes to
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations (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 the 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)
* * * * *
200 Commercial Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
* * * * *
210 Commercial Mail Priority Mail Express
213 Prices and Eligibility
* * * * *
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
1.4 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels
* * * * *
[Delete 1.4.4, Dimensional Weight Pricing Dimension Standard, in
its entirety.]
* * * * *
1.8 Nonstandard Fees
Except for Priority Mail Express Return service, a Priority Mail
Express piece is subject to a nonstandard fee (see Notice 123--Price
List) as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items g and h to read as follows:]
g. Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic
documentation must include the extra service code (ESC) for the
characteristics category (see 201.7.6.2).
h. Mailers of parcels requiring the characteristics extra service
code (ESC) and have a Shipping Services file manifest or other approved
electronic documentation, that do not meet the requirement to include
the ESC under 1.8g will be assessed the Dimension Noncompliance fee
under 1.9.
1.9 Dimension Noncompliance Fee
[Revise the first sentence of 1.9 to read as follows:]
Except for Flat Rate priced pieces and Priority Mail Express Return
service pieces, mailers of Priority Mail Express parcels are required
to include the parcel's dimensions (length, width, height), and when
applicable the characteristics ESC (see 1.8g), in the Shipping Services
file manifest or other approved electronic documentation or will be
assessed the Dimension
[[Page 652]]
Noncompliance fee (see Notice 123--Price List) if the parcel's
dimensions or ESC are omitted or inaccurate.* * *
* * * * *
220 Commercial Mail Priority Mail
223 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
1.4 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels
* * * * *
[Delete 1.4.4, Dimensional Weight Pricing Dimension Standard, in
its entirety.]
* * * * *
1.10 Nonstandard Fees
Except for Flat Rate and Priority Mail Return service packages, a
Priority Mail piece is subject to a nonstandard fee (see Notice 123--
Price List) as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items g and h to read as follows:]
g. Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic
documentation must include the extra service code (ESC) for the
characteristics category (see 201.7.6.2).
h. Mailers of parcels requiring the characteristics extra service
code (ESC) and have a Shipping Services file manifest or other approved
electronic documentation, that do not meet the requirement to include
the ESC under 1.10g will be assessed the Dimension Noncompliance fee
under 1.11.
1.11 Dimension Noncompliance Fee
[Revise the first sentence of 1.11 to read as follows:]
Except for Flat Rate priced pieces and Priority Mail Return service
pieces, mailers of Priority Mail parcels are required to include the
parcel's dimensions (length, width, height), and when applicable the
characteristics ESC (see 1.10g), in the Shipping Services file manifest
or other approved electronic documentation or will be assessed the
Dimension Noncompliance fee (see Notice 123--Price List) if the
parcel's dimensions or ESC are omitted or inaccurate.* * *
* * * * *
250 Commercial Mail Parcel Select
253 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
1.2 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels
* * * * *
[Delete 1.2.4, Dimensional Weight Pricing Dimension Standard, in
its entirety.]
* * * * *
1.7 Nonstandard Fees
Except for oversized priced parcels, a Parcel Select Destination
Entry or USPS Connect Local piece is subject to a nonstandard fee (see
Notice 123--Price List) as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items g and h to read as follows:]
g. Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic
documentation must include the extra service code (ESC) for the
characteristics category (see 201.7.6.2).
h. Mailers of parcels requiring the characteristics extra service
code (ESC) and have a Shipping Services file manifest or other approved
electronic documentation, that do not meet the requirement to include
the ESC under 1.7g will be assessed the Dimension Noncompliance fee
under 1.8.
1.8 Dimension Noncompliance Fee
[Revise the first sentence of 1.8 to read as follows:]
Mailers of Parcel Select parcels are required to include the
parcel's dimensions (length, width, height), and when applicable the
characteristics ESC (see 1.7g), in the Shipping Services file manifest
or other approved electronic documentation or will be assessed the
Dimension Noncompliance fee (see Notice 123--Price List) if the
parcel's dimensions or ESC are omitted or inaccurate.* * *
* * * * *
280 Commercial Mail USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial
283 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
* * * * *
1.4 Dimensional Weight Price for Low-Density Parcels
* * * * *
[Delete 1.4.4, Dimensional Weight Pricing Dimension Standard, in
its entirety.]
* * * * *
1.7 Nonstandard Fees
Except for oversized priced parcels and USPS Ground Return service
parcels, a USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial piece is subject to a
nonstandard fee (see Notice 123--Price List) as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of items g and h to read as follows:]
g. Shipping Services file manifests or other approved electronic
documentation must include the extra service code (ESC) for the
characteristics category (see 201.7.6.2).
h. Mailers of parcels requiring the characteristics extra service
code (ESC) and have a Shipping Services file manifest or other approved
electronic documentation, that do not meet the requirement to include
the ESC under 1.7g will be assessed the Dimension Noncompliance fee
under 1.8.
1.8 Dimension Noncompliance Fee
[Revise the first sentence of 1.8 to read as follows:]
Except for USPS Ground Advantage Return service pieces, mailers of
USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial parcels are required to include the
parcel's dimensions (length, width, height), and when applicable the
characteristics ESC (see 1.7g), in the Shipping Services file manifest
or other approved electronic documentation or will be assessed the
Dimension Noncompliance fee (see Notice 123--Price List) if the
parcel's dimensions or ESC are omitted or inaccurate.* * *
* * * * *
Kevin Rayburn,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2026-00131 Filed 1-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P