PMG Speaks to Mailing Industry

In his annual state of the business address to the mailing industry, Postmaster General John E. Potter stressed that long-term sustainability for the Postal Service will be achieved through fundamental change.

Potter’s comments came during the National Postal Customer Council (PCC) Day broadcast, an annual event that brings together mailers, industry partners and customers to recognize their contributions to the Postal Service and outline future plans and goals. PCCs are a network of community-based business mailers and representatives of the Postal Service, who meet regularly to share ideas and resources to create a closer working relationship.

Potter also challenged PCCs and the mailing industry to embrace change, asking for their best ideas on new products and services the Postal Service could pursue and encouraging them to become a part of the Postal Service’s “era of innovation.”

PCC leaders were asked to solicit their members for three innovative ideas and to submit them for consideration at usps.com/pcc. Regular updates will be provided and a special reporting session is planned for the National Postal Forum next May.

Source: USPS Press Release

Lawmakers to Face Two Big Issues on USPS

According to the Washington Post, lawmakers are set to tackle several big issues in the coming weeks before packing up and going home for reelection campaigns.

Two postal items to watch -- and neither involve ending Saturday mail delivery or closing post offices -- two no-go options in an election year.

Expect Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) to introduce a postal reform bill that addresses a long-simmering dispute between USPS and the Office of Personnel Management regarding overpayments -- by as much as $75 billion -- to the old Civil Service Retirement System. The bill might help close the Postal Service's estimated 10-year, $280 billion budget gap.

Also -- for the second year in a row, lawmakers are likely to address the $5.5 billion in prepayments that USPS must make to its retiree health benefits by allowing it to pay less than required.

Source: Washington Post

Top 50 Direct Mailers

According to a study released by trade publication Target Marketing, the non-profit sector is generating the most direct mail this year, with 52 percent of total volume. At 32 percent, publishers come in second, although their mailings have dropped by 10 percent in the last year. The remaining large mailers include insurance companies, financial services firms, food providers, merchandise companies, business services and packaged food manufactures. Click here to review a list of this year’s top 50 direct mail customers.

Source: USPS News Link

Are Rural Post Offices on the Chopping Block?

Draft legislative provisions are floating around the Senate that will eliminate the prohibition against closing, for financial reasons only, small rural post offices and gut the statutory Post Office Closing Provisions that are designed to protect rural communities.

According to Mark Strong, the President of the National League of Postmasters, such provisions are not in rural America’s best interest, and will do what is necessary to see that these provisions do not become law. His organization will be monitoring closely if this draft legislative provision becomes a bill and gains sponsorship.

The League will provide updates on any change in the status of this important Legislative issue.

Source: National League of Postmasters

Did You Know

The USPS has mandated that, by no later than December 1, 2010, all suppliers with USPS highway contract routes (HCRs) must have global positioning system (GPS) tracking and 30 minute reporting of all active routes to the USPS. HCRs typically involve the hauling of bulk mail in semi-trucks between regional and bulk mail facilities in the USPS network.