How does presorted mail work

Presorted mail is a process used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to sort and deliver mail efficiently. Here's how it works:

What is presorted mail?

Presorted mail is mail that has been sorted and prepared by the sender or a third-party mail service provider to meet specific USPS guidelines. This allows the USPS to quickly and accurately sort and deliver the mail.

How is presorted mail prepared?

To prepare mail for presorting, the sender or mail service provider must follow specific guidelines, including:

  1. Barcoding: Each piece of mail must have a barcode that contains the sender's information, the recipient's information, and the mailpiece's weight and dimensions.
  2. Sorting: Mail is sorted by zip code, carrier route, and delivery point sequence (DPS). This ensures that mail is delivered to the correct location in the most efficient order.
  3. Bundling: Similar mailpieces are bundled together using rubber bands or tape to prevent damage during transportation.
  4. Manifesting: A manifest is created to track the mailpieces and ensure that they are delivered to the correct location.

How is presorted mail sorted?

Once the mail is prepared, it is taken to a USPS processing facility, where it is sorted using automated machinery and human sorters. The sorting process involves:

  1. Automated Processing: Mail is scanned and sorted using automated machines that read the barcodes and sort the mail by zip code, carrier route, and DPS.
  2. Human Sorting: Human sorters review and sort mail that cannot be processed by machines, such as irregularly shaped mail or mail with incorrect barcodes.
  3. Destination Sorting: Mail is sorted to its final destination, which may involve multiple sorting facilities.

Benefits of presorted mail

Presorting mail offers several benefits, including:

  1. Cost savings: Presorting mail can reduce postage costs by ensuring that mail is delivered efficiently and accurately.
  2. Faster delivery: Presorted mail is typically delivered faster than non-presorted mail, as it is sorted and processed more quickly.
  3. Improved accuracy: Presorting mail reduces the risk of mail being lost or misdelivered, as it is sorted and tracked more accurately.

Types of presorted mail

There are several types of presorted mail, including:

  1. Presorted Standard: Mail that is sorted by zip code and carrier route.
  2. Presorted First-Class: Mail that is sorted by zip code, carrier route, and DPS.
  3. Presorted Periodicals: Mail that is sorted by zip code and carrier route, specifically for periodicals such as newspapers and magazines.

Overall, presorting mail is an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure that mail is delivered quickly and accurately.