USPS Rate Change: Priority Mail® and Priority Express Mail®

May 31, 2019

On June 23, 2019 there will be a USPS® price change for Priority Mail® and Priority Express Mail®.  The USPS® will be applying a requirement that any parcel greater than one cubic foot be measured to determine if the volumetric weight (Dimensional Weight – DIM) should be used or the actual weight.  The reason for the change is that the post office is using pricing that considers not only the weight and distance (zone) a package travels but also considers the parcel size.  Under the current structure, mailers can send a larger, but lighter parcel and only pay the weight of the parcel.  However, this size parcel takes up more space in the trucks and planes with higher cost than a smaller parcel.  The new USPS® rules are now more closely aligned with UPS and FedEx.

How does DIM rating work?

You measure the L x W x H/166 to get the DIM weight.  The mailer must then compare the DIM to the actual and choose the greater weight.  This applies only to parcels greater than one cubic foot with the USPS®.  This is an advantage over UPS and FedEx that applies DIM to all sizes.

  • If the DIM weight is greater than the actual weight, the DIM must be used
  • If the DIM weight is less than the actual weight, the actual weight is used

What do you need to know about the June 23rd  pricing change?

  • Any Priority Mail® or Priority Mail Express® parcel greater than 1 cubic foot must be measured DIM rating will be applicable to all zones (previously only zones 5-9)
  • The DIM divisor will change from 194 to 166
  • No more Balloon Pricing with Priority Mail® and Parcel Select
  • First-Class® International Large Envelope (Flats) weight limit reduces from 4 lbs. to 16 ounces

How PostBase™ will accommodate the rate change (example):

After selecting Priority Mail® and entering the zip, the rate wizard will then prompt two choices:

  1.  Env/Parcel < 12” – in this case, the DIM is bypassed and the next screen will be the Extra Services selection
  2. Parcel > 12” (DIM) – in this case three successive screens will appear allowing the mailer to enter in the dimensions, i.e. 18.6”.  The order with be length, width, and height.  PostBase™ will determine if DIM or actual weight is to be used and provide the mailer with the correct rate

This text originally appeared in a dealer email from FP Mailing Solutions.

Posted in FP, Mailing Equipment