CSA MTAC Notes - On January 31st, the USPS sent an email with links to the official notes and presentations.

Presentations and notes from the January 15th MTAC meeting are available on the MTAC webpage on RIBBS.  The documents are located in the MTAC Open Session and MTAC Membership Assembly/Focus Group Discussions section under MTAC Notes and Presentations, 2014.

Thank you for your help updating the MTAC membership Roster.  The roster is now available on the MTAC webpage on RIBBS in the MTAC Membership Information section.  Here is the direct link: MTAC Membership Roster (February 2014). 

We appreciate your continued support and participation in MTAC.

Day 1 USPS executive presentations were mostly a year-end review. The expectation is that postal executives will provide forward looking comments in future meetings.

With regard to the load leveling case, some expressed concern about the additional costs to the industry; others were worried about the introduction of variability to standard mail entered at the destination SCF. The election mail task force raised concern about the perception of ballot mail being held during election years. The USPS encouraged MTAC representatives to file comments expressing their concerns at the PRC. The suggestion was made for the first time that Standard parcels would be included in the categories affected by Load Leveling.  A concern was raised regarding time-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments, often shipped via PS Lightweight, which could be delayed if included in loads with intermixed Standard parcels.   Parcel shippers are waiting clarification from USPS as to whether or not the parcel products (PSLW, PS, BPM, Library Mail, Media Mail, Marketing Parcels) will be affected by the load leveling program.

CFO Corbett reviewed recent financials – bottom line USPS has thirty five cents of assets to cover each dollar of existing liabilities. While noting parcel revenue growth; keep in mind it is a 3 to 1 ratio; need 3 parcels to replace one First Class mailpiece.

Deputy PMG Ron Stroman expressed optimism, focused on health care (where the money is) and emphasized the need for legislative compromise. He advised industry that USPS intends to appeal the PRC exigency decision and shared the observation that the USPS needs a regulatory regime that allows them to make quick decisions.

The Postmaster General noted the USPS had a good holiday season and wrapped up the day by noting “digital can drive mail”; “millennials like mail”; we need to focus on growing mail.

The USPS acknowledged it is working on several market dominant NSAs. USPS is proud of the Amazon deal and encouraged others to take advantage of the Sunday delivery option via a negotiated competitive product contract.

A few highlights from the focus group sessions Day 2: USPS seeks mailers interested in testing the Hub Concept. IMpB thresholds for market dominant products will be filed with PRC in future. After July 2014, label list changes will occur monthly (Feb 13th webinar) Ninety percent of parcel select is under contract and not impacted by the weighted average

volume non-negotiated prices published in the rate chart. Two thirds of parcel volume is represented in 5,000 zip codes Recent USPS test of guaranteed same day delivery, shows 99% on time performance The USPS is working on enhancing PostalOne! functionality to create shipping services files

from mail.dat submissions for all parcel mail classes.  Currently, PostallOne! can do this only for Bound Printed Matter.

Tracking inquiries on USPS.com are being enhanced to include the predictive delivery day. This new feature is being rolled out by product.  The website also will be offering an SMS tracking option.

USPS shared metrics from December 2013 demonstrating significant improvement on address quality by parcel class. See chart below.

The USPS announced a "white label" solution for small-volume meter mailers who cannot submit shipping services files.  Details were unavailable as yet.

The Package Tracking System has been renamed to Package Tracking and Reporting (PTR).  

BPM Mixed Class co-mail will not be ready for July release; USPS looking for interested parties to make their case in moving forward.

Association dues will likely be needed next year (2015) to assist in an event to celebrate MTAC’s 50th Anniversary.