IMB Mailpiece and Tray serial numbers on endorsement line?

Question

Hello,
To make work less painful for our Operations when switching to USPS Full Service Option, we are considering making the IMB mailpiece and Tray serial numbers visible to the line operator in human readable format.  We hope to achieve this by putting these numbers (output from Presort) in the first few characters of the Optional Endorsement Line (OEL).
-  Is this a good approach?  If so, would it be possible to configure Presort to pre-fix the stated serial numbers into the OEL?  We hope to avoid any custom code development for this.
-  If it is not a good approach, what alternatives should we consider?  (I read about an optional 'Mailer's Keyline' on the USPS web-site.  (http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/qsg300/q708.pdf)  Can this be used?  If so, is some Presort configuration possible to generate the desired human-readable serial numbers in one of the Presort outputs?
Your thoughts and suggestions would be most appreciated.
Vishak

Answer 1

Vishak,
I have been told by our postal reps that we cannot place additional information in the optional endorsement line.  The only thing we have used on the same line as the OEL is the ACS participation code - I have provided an example below.  Not all jobs will have ACS information though.  However, I have encountered conflicting information from different postal sources in the past.
#BYNXXX  *******AUTO* 5-DIGIT 78612
I agree with Kendra.  I believe your best bet is to use the container, package and pallet codes.  We use them on every mailing.  These codes will allow your line workers to sort the mail pieces at the end of the line with ease and efficiency.  I have listed an example of what and where they look like.  "C" for container or tray, "P" for package and "S" for skid or pallet.
********AUTO* 5-DIGIT 78612
C001      P001     S001
JOHN SAMPLE                                           
123 MAIN STREET                                      
ANYTOWN  US  12345-6789                     
Hope this helps.
John Coleman
Edited by: John Coleman on Jul 20, 2009 2:55 PM