Tag: USA

ShipGooder takes shipping to the next dimension

Posted by | Mar 26, 2008 | |

It’s an old question with an interesting twist: Which costs more to ship – a pound of bricks or a pound of feathers? The answer: It depends on the size of the box.

Couriers use package dimensions to determine the “dimensional weight” of a shipment. Large packages cost couriers more to ship than smaller packages. Couriers charge this higher cost to their shipping customers. For example, if a square box measures 24 inches on each side, the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx UPS and DHL count the weight of the box as 72 pounds, even if the box and its contents weigh only 25 pounds.

ShipGooder.com, the market leader for providing courier rate searches across multiple carriers, today announced the launch of a new dimensional weight feature. In addition, ShipGooder.com announced a new function to allow visitors to specify a residential destination for their shipments.

Visitors to ShipGooder.com simply enter their shipping origin and destination zip codes, along with the dimensions and weight of their shipment. Package dimensions can be input when visitors click on the “advanced options” link on the homepage. ShipGooder automatically determines the dimensional weight of the package to calculate the ultimate shipping weight that couriers will charge. Current rates from the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, UPS and DHL are instantly displayed in a simple table along with rates from local and regional carriers.

Once the rates are displayed, ShipGooder’s AJAX technology allows visitors to change any shipping parameter, such as the package weight or destination zip code to see updates to the rates in real-time. Additionally, the free website does not require visitors to register any personal information, and does not clutter its pages with distracting ads.

Read More

USPS offers data table file identifying vacant addresses

Posted by | Mar 26, 2008 | |

In order to help mailers identify vacant addresses, the US Postal Service has developed a new data table file to be used with commercial address matching software.

“What the postal service is attempting to do is provide additional tools to help mailers identify mail that can become undeliverable-as-addressed,” said Jim Wilson, manager of address technology for USPS. “We recognize that mail going to vacant addresses was one of the more common reasons why mail was undeliverable.”

According to the USPS, in 2004 more than 9.7 billion mail pieces were sent to undeliverable addresses, of which over 600 million pieces were sent to “vacant” addresses. An address is considered vacant if that house, apartment, office or building has not been occupied in at least 90 days.

The new “vacant” table is available to the mailing industry Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS) address matching software, which incorporates the Delivery Point Validation product, a table of all the valid addresses that the USPS delivers to on a daily basis. By using USPS-approved CASS software, mailers can qualify for automation or postage discounts, Wilson said.

The USPS also offers a “no-stat” table that identifies addresses that are in the process of “being built,” Wilson said. It is typically an address that has been assigned, but the USPS has not yet begun making delivery to it yet, he said.

Mailers should contact their Delivery Point Validation product vendor to find out if the new “vacant” table is incorporated into address matching products they use.

Read More

US Postal Service can't account for millions

Posted by | Mar 26, 2008 | |

The U.S. Postal Service can’t account for at least USD 33.4 million in facilities-repair and vehicle expenses last year because of weak controls and lax oversight, two reports from the agency’s inspector general’s office said.

The Postal Service couldn’t assure that any of the USD 27.6 million in maintenance and repair expenses at facilities examined by auditors were used for that purpose, according to one of the reports posted on the agency’s Web site.

Some supervisors weren’t aware that they were responsible for overseeing expenses, that audit found. Other employees with limited knowledge of the repairs certified that they were properly done by contractors.

Without standard procedures, “the safety, security and serviceability of Postal Service facilities, employees and customers are at increased risk,” the March 3 report said. And without established controls over contractors, “there is an increased risk of fraud and abuse,” it said.

The audit covered facilities in all or part of 33 states, including Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Postal Service spokesman David Partenheimer said.

Another audit found that postal vehicles on some city routes in 15 states had more than USD 5.8 million in questionable costs. Some vehicles were logged in as having traveled millions of miles in a single accounting period, while others were recorded as having gone a negative number of miles, the March 4 report said.

The findings come as the Postal Service, a government agency required by law to set rates to cover costs, tries to cope with a possible USD 2 billion loss this year after a USD 5.1 billion deficit last year. Postmaster General Chief Executive John Potter said this month that he’s seeking ways to cut costs. First-class stamps will rise a penny to 42 cents on May 12.

Read More

Local airlines and USPS plan for Aloha Airline shutdown

Posted by | Mar 26, 2008 | |

Local airlines and the U.S. Postal Service are making contingency plans in case Aloha Airlines shuts down next week.

Aloha Airlines’ cash plan runs for just 5 more days. They’ll let the bankruptcy court know Monday whether they’ve found a buyer or a loan to continue business.

Others are getting ready in case Aloha can’t go on.

Two additional Go! airplanes have shown up at Honolulu International Airport.

Hawaiian Airlines employees have been told it could be all hands on deck next week.

It’s all part of the back-up plan in case Aloha Airlines stops flying.

“There’s nobody that can fill the gap right away. I’ll tell you that right now,” said Randall Cummings, an Aloha Airlines pilot. “There’s nobody who can fill the gap right away if aloha goes out of business. It will be a crisis.”

A crisis starting with passengers. Hawaiian is already planning to add more flights to move more people if necessary.

“The expanded flight schedules are simply part of a larger contingency plan as a result of Aloha Airlines’ recent filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy,” said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.

Hawaiian could also make use of 1 spare 717. Their larger 767s are currently assigned to transpacific routes.

The 2 additional Go! planes on the ground now carry 50 people each, but Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of Go!’s parent company, said, “We are monitoring situation closely and we will respond to the market demand.”

As for Aloha’s 3,500 employees, the unions are coaching members about how to cope with possible job loss — including help with bill payment, unemployment filing, and even getting enough food for the family.

“We’re all trying to be positive,” said Ed Paulo of the machinists union. “We went through this once and hopefully we can pull this out again.”

Besides passengers and employees, other sectors of the economy are working on contingency plans, too.

Aloha is the state’s largest air cargo carrier — including items for FedEx and UPS. It’s one of only 2 carriers handling interisland deliveries for the U.S. mail.

The postal service has seen similar disruptions elsewhere, and its Hawaii spokesperson Duke Gonzales said: “We have been able to overcome those challenges in the past and are confident that we’ll be able to continue to serve our customers.”

The postal service is exploring short-term emergency contracts.

Read More

US Postal Service moves to improve address quality for mailing industry

Posted by | Mar 26, 2008 | |

Every accurate address enables the U.S. Postal Service to provide more efficient mail processing and helps mailers avoid wasted expense. In 2004, more than 9.7 billion pieces of mail were sent to undeliverable addresses of which over 600 million pieces were sent to “vacant” addresses—a house, apartment, office, or building not occupied for at least 90 days. To reduce that unwanted mail, the Postal Service has developed a new data table that is used with address matching software which helps mailers determine when they may be sending to vacant addresses.

The new “no-stat” and “vacant” tables are available through Coding Accuracy Support System address matching software (CASS Certified) as part of the Delivery Point Validation (DPV) product. The tables are simple to use and can help mailers save on production and postage costs by reducing undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail. If an address is flagged as vacant, the recommended course of action is to remove that address from the mailing until it becomes occupied again.

By utilizing CASS Certified software, mailers can standardize addresses and obtain the correct ZIP + 4 assignments and associated delivery point codes (DPC). CASS Certified software using DPV logic can determine if the ZIP + 4 coded address is recognized as a valid delivery within the USPS delivery network, further strengthening the quality and deliverability of address lists. Additionally, CASS Certified software is necessary for mailers claiming presorted, carrier route, and automation rates. The use of this software is the first step in effectively managing overall mailing costs and obtaining eligibility for postage incentives.

To learn more, mailers can contact their DPV product vendor to learn whether these new tables are incorporated in their products. If mailers are using a service bureau to process address lists, ask that provider to use these tables during processing. The release of the “no-stat” and “vacant” tables is another example of the Postal Service’s ongoing commitment to address quality and helping the mailing industry make effective and efficient use of the mail.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

Have you noticed a decrease of non-EU inbound parcel volumes since the implementation of the new €3 charge?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!


View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest