Background: The announced 2019 USPS rate changes included some dramatic adjustments to USPS Shipping options, including the switch to zone-based pricing for First Class Packages and the structure change relating to dimensional charges.
Currently, large packages are only “Dimmed” when their volume exceeds 1 cubic foot AND they’re destined for outer zones 5-8. The current Dim factor is 194 (higher dim factors result in lower billed weight). The Dim Divisor for affected packages was scheduled for a reduction from 194 to 166 for all zones on January 27, 2019. Balloon pricing for zones L-4 was also targeted for elimination.
Postponement:
The USPS Board of Governors met on November 14th and announced that USPS will postpone the implementation of dimensional weight pricing for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and non-Lightweight Parcel Select packages until June 23, 2019.
This gives the industry an additional five months to make the operational and software changes necessary to adjust to the new pricing regime.
All other announced price changes for Mailing Services and Shipping Services, including zoned-based pricing for First-Class Package Services (FCPS), will take effect on January 27th as originally announced.
USPS Reports Fiscal Year 2018 (October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018) Results:
- Overall revenue increase of $1.0 billion
- Shipping and package revenue up $2.0 billion, 6.8% increase in volume
- Overall volume decline of 3.2 billion pieces
- Net loss of $3.9 billion (due to $6.9 billion in mandated prefunding of healthcare and pension)
- Includes $1.8 billion in debt reduction
- Renews urgent need to advance legislative and regulatory reforms, as well as aggressive postal management actions to generate new revenue and control costs
In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me with questions or to ask for help. Wishing you great shipping success.
