Postal News from February 2007:

Postal News for February 28, 2007

A voluntary separation offer made by UPS to a small group of corporate employees has been accepted by 194 individuals. The offer was extended in December to employees who were age 50 or older with at least 10 years of service. Normal retirement age at UPS is 65. As a result of the acceptances, UPS will record a one-time charge to expense of approximately $80 million during the first quarter of 2007. The company expects to generate a positive return on the program after two years. The buyout offer was part of an on-going effort to consolidate corporate support functions in such areas as network planning, procurement, human resources, finance and sales.

According to The Argus, "Gemini Press in Dolphin Way, Shoreham, is donating five per cent of the price of its first order from every new client this year to the Woodland Trust's Tree for All project. Director Nigel Holmes said the industry had a "negative image" in terms of its environmental impact because of the materials used in the printing process. But he said his company was doing its best to change that image."

From PR Newswire: "Authentidate Holding Corp. , a worldwide provider of secure enterprise workflow management applications, today announced that the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, dismissed with prejudice a patent infringement case against the company filed by TimeCertain, LLC, in August 2005. The claim by TimeCertain alleged that Authentidate Holding Corp. and its products and systems incorporating secure time stamping technology, including but not limited to the USPS Electronic Postmark, infringed on certain TimeCertain patents."

According to QAS, "Direct marketers in the US will be breathing a small sigh of relief after the Postal Rate Commission recommended a lower than expected rate increase. The Postal Service in the US had been targeting a substantial increase in mailing costs, which would have had a significant impact on the direct marketing sector. However, the commission recommended rates that were in many cases lower than those wanted by the Postal Service. However, the need to maintain high standards of data quality so as to make the most from direct marketing campaigns remains an important matter, particularly as the commission's recommendations still show an increase. The Postal Service will still be seeing an increase in its rates, meaning the need to reduce losses from dirty data is still high on the agenda of those considering a direct marketing campaign."

The Federal Times has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service has dropped plans to consider closing nine mail processing centers, the latest in a series of cancellations of planned or potential postal facility shutdowns. USPS last year announced an effort to streamline the operations of 675 mail processing facilities around the country, and in July released a list of 139 locations under consideration for closing. In the consolidations, post offices would generally stay open, but first-class mail sorting, which is labor-intensive, would move to regional facilities. Officials say the shift will cut costs and improve efficiency as the volume of personal mail falls. But the plan faces opposition from the American Postal Workers Union and some members of Congress. Although USPS cannot lay off employees, the shift would ultimately reduce the number of postal workers and would eliminate jobs in some districts. Opponents also say the consolidations slow mail delivery."

You can find a listing of the complete references that are a part of the Postal Regulatory Commission's R2006-1 recommended decision on the PRC web site.

From the U.S. Postal Service: "Sessions on Pricing Changes, New Postal Law Highlight National Postal Forum."

DM News has reported that "The Magazine Publishers of America unveiled its “Magazines 24/7” Digital Conference today. It announced that 155 magazine digital initiatives have been activated. Last year, MPA members introduced online social networks, enabled user-generated content and created new blogs, mobile applications, podcasts and video content for Web sites and cell phones."

CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

2006 was a good year for Norway's Posten AS. "Last years figures prove that the post was able to successfully carry out its strategy of profitable growth in the Nordic region", said CEO Dag Mejdell.
Austria's Osterreichische Post is currently the object of countless rumours and speculations. Apparently, foreign investors have acquired a considerable equity sta- ke. Rumour also has it that between them, several American funds have already acquired a vetoing stock and intend to present their own candidate for the supervisory board at the posts AGM in April.
Following a first round of wage negotiations, France's La Poste has announ- ced an increase in wages for 2007.
The German and British mail markets are becoming increasingly important to TNT. The letter monopoly will be abolished in both countries at the end of the year. This would give TNT the opportunity to compensate for a decline in mail operations at home.
Poczta Polska (PP) achieved a profit of almost 77m euros last year, according to the Polish News Bulletin.
Poste Italiane's CEO Massimo Sarmi has made another public plea in favour of floating the post.
Switzerland's trade union Kommunikation has accepted the redundancy scheme negotiated with the post in connection with the YMAGO restructuring project.
Two brands and one company determined to become Number One among intelligent logistics companies by 2010. This is Finland Post Cooperations definition of its goals, contained in the annual results report for 2006
TAT Express, the troubled subsidiary of France's La Poste, is the new co- operation partner of express operator Trans-o-flex.
Pos Malaysia Bhd wants to keep its stake in CEP operator Transmile Group Bhd.
E-commerce is becoming increasingly important for international post companies. This was the message from UPU to around 30 electronic services experts gathered for a workshop last week.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News. (We appreciate the courtesy extended by CEP News to help whet your appetite for more of what CEP offers.)

B2B has reported that "Despite the growing shift of marketing dollars to online vehicles, ad revenue and ad pages for business publications held steady in 2006. Ad revenue was up 0.61% from 2005, while ad pages rose 0.68%, according to a report released last week by American Business Media’s Business Information Network."

The Guardian has reported that "The postal regulator launched a withering attack on Royal Mail's management yesterday after the state-owned company said it should be given much more freedom to raise stamp prices and cut back services. Postcomm said Royal Mail was blaming the regulatory structure as a "smokescreen" for its own lack of progress in tackling high labour costs and made clear it would have little sympathy for a price rise of 6p for first and second class stamps. Royal Mail said it needed the price rises to fight private-sector competition." See also the Belfast Telegraph and The Independent.

From PR Newswire: "comScore Networks, a leader in measuring the digital age, today released the results of a study analyzing usage of online bill payment services at leading banks. Bank bill pay is defined as paying a bill online from a checking, savings, or money market account using the functionality in the bill pay portion of the bank's Web site and where the recipient of the money is not the bank itself."

AMEInfo has reported that:

• Emirates Post plans to open remittance offices in Asia and Europe, Gulf News reported. Offices are slated for the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The postal service currently provides remittance services through its Wall Street Exchange Centre.

• Emirates Post is starting an air courier business with plans to start operations in March, Gulf News reported. The postal service will start with two aircraft, with a third due in six months, according to director-general Abdullah Ebrahim Al Daboos. 

As the Corvallis Gazette-Times has asked: "What does it say that the U.S. Postal Service actually rolled out its idea for a “forever” stamp in May 2006, and it’s only now being delivered as news? (See www.usps.com/communications/news/ press/2006/pr06_031.htm). And what does it say that people are heralding this development as a big convenience and savings to your average Joe consumer? Perhaps it’s proof that the Postal Service is hoping consumers buy their sizzle and don’t notice the missing steak. The real news is that the Postal Service has proposed the second postal rate hike in 14 months. The last one went into effect in January 2006. This one could go into effect in May."

The Star News Group has reported that "Australia Post had denied allegations they are not keeping their promise to provide full postal services at the Healesville Walk PostShop. Australia Post state communication manager Janice Macini said that “anything at all to do with mail is still available there. The only things they don’t have are as many non-core products such as greeting cards which are available at other outlets.”

As ThisIsMoney noted, "We don't often hear regulators opening public fire on their clients. But the Royal Mail's call for a further 6p rise in the price of a stamp has Postcomm chairman Sir Nigel Stapleton in a fury. He notes that since single delivery in 2004 every efficiency initiative has been absorbed 'by higher wage rates or increased pension costs'. The leadership of Allan Leighton (who wants out) and chief executive Adam Crozier has failed to bring its costs under control. It has raised prices by 4% but has only made 1% extra revenue, hardly a winning formula. This, Stapleton argues, is a 'key threat' to universal service.

According to one DM News writer, "Yes, the proposed rate hike will make postage more expensive. However, focusing on postage – a relatively small part of the spending equation – rather than inefficiencies that span the entire mail stream reminds me of the joke about the person who orders a hot fudge sundae and asks the waiter to hold the cherry, because he’s on a diet. Progressive companies have already begun to implement ways to improve their mail stream management practices, to make mail communications less costly and more effective than before and help reduce the impact of postage increases in the process." [Yeah, but even more progressive companies are considering seriously getting OUT of the mail.]

According to Business First, "A newly formed labor organization seeking to dethrone the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as representatives of package handlers and drivers at United Parcel Service Inc. is causing a stir at UPS facilities across the United States. Representatives of the Association of Parcel Workers of America were in Louisville June 4 to promote the organization to Louisville's UPS workers. It was the third such meeting the group has held in Louisville, said APWA president Van Skillman, a tractor-trailer driver for UPS in Greensboro, N.C."

The Associated Press has reported that "Like many companies across industries, FedEx Corp. is capping the traditional pension plan offered for most of its employees. Instead it will offer a cash balance plan, which lets workers take benefits with them if they leave the company."

Check out PostInsight for "A Review of Price Elasticity Models for Postal Products" (Alan Robinson) and"The Influence of Government Laws and Regulations on Mail Volumes" (Anna Owsiany). Check also Financing Postal Universal Service: An Initiative to Sustain the Debate in the European Parliament. Funding Universal Service Obligations in the Postal Sector

According to The Intelligencer, "Postal Service officials shouldn’t put their stamp of approval on a sleazy strategy recommended by a special commission that has proposed several rate increases. It involves a so-called “forever stamp” that, in our opinion, is an attempt to foist an expensive “bargain” off on consumers."

The Financial Times has reported that "The Royal Mail became embroiled in a row with its regulator on Tuesday, after the postal operator was accused of “using an attack” on price controls as a “smokescreen” for its own failure to control costs. Postcomm reacted furiously to Royal Mail’s call for a radical relaxation of regulatory controls, including an end to the cross-subsidisation by business users of stamped mail, on which the operator loses 6p an item. The regulator rejected Royal Mail’s argument that price controls were making it impossible for it to compete in the UK’s liberalised market and hence threatening its ability to fund the legal “universal service obligation” to deliver to every address in the UK."

Aspen Times has reported that "A proposal to allow Coloradans to bar junk mail from their mailboxes is headed for the shredder. Facing opposition from businesses, unions and postal workers, state Rep. Sara Gagliardi said Tuesday she planned to ask that her bill be killed and that all parties work together after the session ends to try to reach a compromise. “My main concern is jobs. I’m concerned about jobs for postal workers, small businesses and print shops,” said Gagliardi, a nurse and member of the Service Employees International Union." See also CBS4Denver.

The St. Louis Business Journal has reported that "After nearly a month of speculation about the identity of its new, large customer, Talx Corp. confirmed Tuesday that it signed a contract to provide employment verification services to the U.S. Postal Service."

AllAfrica.com has reported that "The Cameroon Postal Service (CAMPOST) still owes its clients CFA 56 billion. The said sum was announced yesterday by the Minister of the Economy and Finance, Polycarpe Ahah Abah, at a press conference which followed the official handing over of the management of the parastatal to a Canadian technical entity, Tecsult International. According to the terms of contract binding the government and Tecsult, the financial and postal departments of CAMPOST are expected to be effectively revamped within two years, giving priority to the payment of arrears owed clients and the rapid modernisation of the postal and affiliated services."

Gulf News has reported that "Emirates Post has commissioned two aircraft to begin an international courier service by mid-March, a top official said. It is expanding into the air courier business and will begin operations next month, Abdullah Ebrahim Al Daboos, director-general of Emirates Post, told delegates at a logistics conference in Dubai yesterday. The postal service, which is also planning an initial public offering, will procure a third plane in the next six months to complete its overall plan of a full fleet of planes in the next five years."

Postal News for February 27, 2007

According to one Lexington Institute writer, it may be a "good time to take the post office private."

According to Media Daily News, "magazines and other periodicals distributed via mail are facing higher costs and potentially thinner margins as a result of new postal rate increases, but the hike is not nearly as bad as some publisher industry executives might have feared. "As postal rate cases go, this has been a tough one, with even more varying points of view than in recent cases," Gordon Hughes, president-CEO of American Business Media, said Monday in a statement released by the trade association following the Postal Regulatory Commission's decision to boost rates as much as 18.3%."

If you had to judge solely on what has been published in the general press regarding the impact of the Postal Service's proposal for and the Postal Regulatory Commission's recommendations regarding new rates, you'd have to conclude that the creation of "the Forever stamp" has been the cat's meow. It's been a hoot to see how editors across the nation have sought to characterize this news, but this headline absolutely takes the cake: "A Stamp As Durable As Diamonds." Puh-lease! Gimme a break!

The Financial Times has reported that "Royal Mail is to call for a 6p rise in first and second class stamp prices under a radical relaxation of regulatory controls the state-owned postal operator will argue is necessary to its survival. Businesses would also lose the legal right to have franked mail delivered to every address in the UK according to the proposals, which Royal Mail will this week put to Postcomm, its regulator. Royal Mail wants this “universal service obligation” (USO) to apply to stamped mail only. The operator is also calling for an end to all regulatory controls on bulk business mail, such as lucrative junk mailings." See also Forbes.

The New York Post has reported that "Cops have disconnected an identity-theft ring that brazenly snagged $300,000 worth of popular and pricey Sidekick cellphones, and then dispatched them around Brooklyn via crooked UPS drivers, The Post has learned. The scam unraveled after United Parcel Service noticed a large number of the phones - made famous when an Internet hacker got into Paris Hilton's and stole her stored celebrity numbers - were all tracked back to the same driver's route, authorities said."

Multichannel Merchant has reported that:

• Postmaster General John Potter’s challenge to reduce undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail 50% by 2010 appears headed in the right direction. During the Feb. 21 Mailers’ Technical Advisory Committee meeting, Potter announced that the U.S. Postal Service plans to revise the agency’s Move Update rules to include advertising mail and trim the amount of time given for address updates from six months to three months.

• Building a database of business prospects that have opted in to hear more about your product, company, or industry provides a group of people that are most likely to convert into customers.

The Times has reported that "Royal Mail has left it too late to become an international business, the chief executive of its main rival said yesterday. Peter Bakker, head of TNT, the Dutch postal business, said that it would be difficult for Royal Mail to catch up after years of expansion by other operators such as his own company, Fed-Ex and DHL. “It is probably too late for them now. If you went back to 1985, everyone would have said that Royal Mail was the best mail business. The Government should have allowed privatisation then,” he said."

According to The Guardian, "The biggest private post competitor to the Royal Mail is ready to roll out a door-to-door letter delivery system in cities across the UK, bringing staff in an orange uniform shoulder to shoulder with postmen and women dressed in the familiar blue and red. TNT of the Netherlands said it would take a final decision over the next couple of months when it had gained final data from its trials in Glasgow and Manchester but was now "hopeful" that it would proceed with its plans for the biggest ever challenge to Royal Mail's position."

The American Postal Workers Union has told its members that "The APWU — along with individual customers and small businesses — achieved a significant victory Feb. 26, when the Postal Regulatory Commission announced its recommended decision on a USPS request to increase rates: The PRC rejected the Postal Service’s proposed rate structure, and instead endorsed an APWU suggestion to increase postage for individual first-class letters to only 41 cents, instead of 42 cents as the Postal Service requested."

PostCom Members!! The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. This one provides a summary of the PRC's recommended decision and charts that show the percentage rate increases recommended by the Postal Regulatory Commission for key classes, subclasses, and services. PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF MARCH 1 THE NAME AND PASSWORD NEEDED TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE RESERVED AREAS ON THIS SITE WILL CHANGE. ACCESS WILL BE PROVIDED TO MEMBERS WHOSE 2007 DUES HAVE BEEN PAID.

The Postal Regulatory Commission has issued its recommended decision (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) regarding PRC Docket No. R2006-1. The PRC has approved the Postal Service's request for the creation of a "forever stamp." The PRC recommended rates that are either equal to or below those requested by the USPS, while still providing the Postal Service with sufficient revenue to meet all its needs. The PRC has recommended a 2 cents rather than 3 cents increase in the price of a First-Class stamp. The new First-Class Mail stamp will be 41 cents. The Commission adopts the Postal Service's proposal for Standard Mail shape-based rates.

The PRC's press book is available on this site.
The summary of the Postal Regulatory Commission's R2006 rate decision has been posted on this site.
Also posted on this site are some key quotes from the PRC's recommended decision.

Here are the rate charts as they appear in the PRC's recommended decision.

PostCom members!! Here are some charts that show the percentage rate increases recommended by the Postal Regulatory Commission for key classes, subclasses, and services.

• First-Class Mail

• Address Correction Service & Confirm Service

• Standard Mail Letters and Flats

• Standard Mail NFMs

• Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route

• Standard Mail Parcels

• Nonprofit Standard Mail Letters and Flats

• Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier Route

• Nonprofit Standard Mail NFMs

• Nonprofit Standard Parcels

• Bound Printed Matter Single-Piece

• Bound Printed Matter Presort

• Bound Printed Matter Dropship

• Media Mail

• Business Reply Mail

To compare these recommended rates with those proposed by the Postal Service, please refer to the charts posted elsewhere on this site.

ElectricNews.net has reported that "SmartCentric is to upgrade the software of An Post's PostPoint service which allows consumers to make electronic payments in local shops."

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has reported that "Bank of America this month announced that beginning in March customers who have cellular Internet access can use their phones to pay bills, transfer funds, review account balances and perform other online banking chores. The bank will join Wachovia as the two major financial institutions offering online banking via cell phone. Such services would augment the growing popularity of Internet banking, which is used by an estimated 42 million households nationwide. Bank of America’s free service will be launched next month in Tennessee, then rolled out nationwide later this year."

Al Bawaba has reported that "Continuing its efforts to offer high quality services to customers, Empost, the UAE’s national courier company announced the launch of its Cargo and Logistics service offering air, land and sea freight operations through the Logistics division of Empost. This service will enable Empost to expand into a higher degree of customer services and will surely improve the level of proficiency."

According to Business Week, "UPS's innovation is an example of how technology can help companies capture institutional knowledge about their customers. Before, when a truck loader or driver walked out the door, the package- loading techniques or route tips they'd developed over the years usually walked out with them. Now that knowledge is accessible in a central system. That eases the burden on substitute drivers and shortens the training time for new ones, lessening the chances of a lapse in customer service. There's no question the new system has enabled UPS to run its routes more efficiently. In November alone the company's drivers logged 3 million fewer miles than they did the year before."

As Australian IT has noted, "Australia Post has strictly mandated delivery timetables but, until last year, the way letters and parcels passed through most of its vast network was all but invisible. To solve the problem the postal service turned to radio frequency identification (RFID), a technology it had worked with on international mail runs, Australia Post network services performance manager Alan Smith says. "We were looking at our existing mail monitoring methodology and how that had gone over the years and, as part of our involvement in the International Post Corporation, we had worked with RFID," Smith says. "We saw the opportunity to apply that to our domestic mail services."

The Warsaw Business Journal has reported that "TP is one of the first big customers of Polish Post (PP) to defy the latter's monopoly by placing a growing number of orders with one of its emerging rivals, Kraków-based InPost. Although PP will retain a legal monopoly of the zł.2.5-3 billion market for letters of up to 50g until the end of next year, a number of competitors encroach on its business by using disproportionately weighty envelopes."

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has reported to its members that "A two year campaign by the Communication Workers Union for better protection of Postal Delivery staff has resulted in the agreed introduction of a new "Walk Safe" anti-violence and assaults Policy and procedures to deal with the growing problem of violence and assaults on Mail delivery staff. This is the first ever such Policy in the UK Mail service."

From PR Web: "Omniplanar, Inc. announced today that it is launching a new bar code image decoding software engine, Volo™ designed specifically for the needs of the Document Processing and Enterprise Content Management (ECM) industries. Volo instantly auto-discriminates between most popular bar code symbologies, including traditional linear (1D), stacked, matrix (2D) and postal bar codes. For the full set of bar code symbologies supported visit http://www.omniplanar.com/volo.php.

According to Forbes, "Deutsche Post World Net AG's rivals have warned the government against extending the incumbent postal service's mail delivery monopoly beyond 2008."

The National Association of Major Mail Users (NAMMU) has told its members that "The NAMMU Canadian Mailers on-site meeting with the United States Postal Service (USPS) in Buffalo, New York, on March 6, will be hosted by Ms. Kimberly Peters, District Manager. Canadian mailers are appreciative of this positive response to their request for a meeting to discuss the business impact of USPS data access restrictions planned for August 2007. Jim Wiseman, Transcontinental (RBW-Owen Sound), has been instrumental in setting up this session and proposing the agenda to be covered. Discussion will also include address correction proposed changes beyond 2007, providing an opportunity for feedback on directional thinking. Registration is closed, however, interested NAMMU members may obtain highlights from this session by contacting: executive@nammu.org."

Transport Intelligence has reported that "The new slimmed down TNT Group has released its first annual set of results since selling its Logistics division, showing increases in revenues and profits. Overall these are a strong set of figures from a business that has recovered its poise after several difficult years." See also DutchNews.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, "A Europe-wide enforcement network is being set up to stamp out phoney email and postal promises which con the vulnerable into parting with money for non-existent benefits."

The Hindu has reported that "Postal employees at the three-day biennial divisional conference of the National Federation of Postal Employees that was inaugurated in the city on Sunday vowed to oppose any attempt to privatise postal department."

Joplin Daily has noted that "a 1977 graduate of the former Joplin Parkwood High School, who spent the past 21 years working in a variety of congressional staff and federal administrative jobs in Washington, was recently appointed head of the commission that oversees the delivery of the U.S. Mail. On Monday, the Postal Regulatory Commission, chaired by Joplin native Dan G. Blair, will make a recommendation on whether to raise the price of a first-class stamp, as well as other services offered by the U.S. Postal Service, and grant all or part of the Postal Service's requested $78 billion in new revenue." The Joplin Daily also has an audio interview with Chairman Blair posted on its site.

The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that "International courier UPS receives an average of more than one San Francisco parking ticket every hour, giving the company the unenviable distinction of being the city's No. 1 parking violator. Last year, United Parcel Service paid $673,334 in fines for 11,788 tickets -- an average of one ticket every 45 minutes throughout the year."

The Independent has reported that "The Royal Mail, which earlier this month revealed an 86 per cent plunge in profits, is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds installing television screens in every delivery and sorting office in the country. Management will use the screens to convey information and updates on the company's performance to staff, including speeches by chief executive Adam Crozier and chairman Allan Leighton - prompting wags inside the state-controlled postal group to dub it "Allan Leighton Direct" and to compare it to George Orwell's Big Brother."

According to the Harrow Times, "staff at a Harrow Post Office are protesting against what they describe as cramped and unsafe working conditions."

NewIndPress has reported that "Postal employees staged a dharna here on Friday protesting the reported move of the authorities to merge divisions, close down offices and outsource postal functions. The agitating employees threatened to launch an indefinite strike in March if the decisions were implemented by the authorities."

PostCom Members!!...The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:

• PostCom Counsel Ian Volner questions the constitutionality of Do Not Mail legislation in the states in this letter to U.S. Postal Service General Counsel Mary Ann Gibbons, and asks for her help in defeating the measures.
• Postmaster General Jack Potter told this week's MTAC meeting there are too many unknowns now to speculate about another rate case.
• New MTAC Workgroup # 114 is taking on an important issue in the recently enacted postal law. The group will develop recommendations for new service standards and measurement systems for the Postal Service's market-dominant products and will do it in short order.
• Postal Service VP Charlie Bravo explained some of the changes the USPS is making to CASS Cycle L in response to customer issues to this week's MTAC meeting.
• Postal commentator Gene Del Polito says the time for living with addresses that don't comply with the USPS' new CASS Cycle L and Delivery Point Validation systems is running out.
• The Postal Service responds to the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers' report on its latest financials.
• PostCom sides with the opinion expressed in the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation's latest congressional advisory that the Postal Service's growth in delivery points is not a burden but an asset.
• The Postal Industry Practice Group of law firm Akerman Senterfitt Wickwire Gavin, PC, has compiled a list of the Top Ten U.S. Postal Service Contractors for Fiscal Year 2006.
• Postal Service to hold flats conference May 17. FSS deployment now slated to begin September 2008. Del Polito, Lien host Rate Case Fundamentals web seminar March 14. USPS web page provides info on new postal law. March Forum gears up, exhibit hall sold out.
• Retailers pick TNT over Royal Mail, trend away continues. Royal Mail, CWU at odds over pension plans.
• A list of upcoming postal-related events.

Are you still not a PostCom member? Do you actually realize you are missing postal information that is vital to your business? Find out more about joining PostCom now!

PostCom Members!!...The latest issue of PostCom's PostOps Update has been posted on this site. In this issue:

• USPS shares phase 1 FSS sites; deployment to begin sept 2008
• USPS announces May 17 flats conference
• New FSS workgroups being formed
• And The New Name Is....Intelligent Mail Barcode™
• Flats address placement workgroup concludes
• New MTAC workgroup to develop service standards/measurement
• Intelligent mail and service performance data
• Workgroup begins to look at flats address construction issues
• The three pillars of list certification
• Workgroup recommends better communications in disaster situations
• MTE workgroup forges ahead
• USPS and mailers work through advance mailing data exchange
• Parcels and seamless acceptance – eVS deadline to be extended
• Seamless acceptance for MLOCRs closer to reality
• Moving mail service providers toward PostalOne
• Mailer rating process begins pilot
• Get ready for fast for periodicals
• PostCom's online postal operations library

Are you still not a PostCom member? Do you actually realize you are missing postal information that is vital to your business? Find out more about joining PostCom now!

From Business Portal 24: "Following the demands of the users, the worldwide address service (service d'adresse mondial, SAM) adds support for the two special postal services "Registered item" and "Airmail". The worldwide address service is a convenient way to print out a postal address, especially addresses written in a language not using Latin letters, such as Japanese or Russian."

KXAN-TV has reported that "Spurred on by angry consumers, legislators in several states have filed bills that would drastically cut back on junk mail. Colorado consumer Linda Rubright says, "We have a do-not-call registry that's wildly successful. Why couldn't we have a do-not-junk-mail registry that would serve the same purpose?" As you can imagine, direct-mail companies have an answer to that question."

Japan Post Corp. said Friday it will be able to reprogram its information system in time for the privatization of postal services, wiping out concerns that the 10-year process may be delayed from its scheduled launch in October, the Kyodo news service reported.

The Tecumseh Herald has said that "the Post Office wants you to look out for identity theft."

Les Echos has reported that "La Poste, the French postal service operator, has offered employees in France a 0.6 per cent pay increase in May, followed by a 0.9 per cent increase in July. It has also announced an increase by 2.18 per cent or 40 euros in the bonus paid annually to all staff."

In a letter to U.S. Postal Service General Counsel Mary Ann Gibbons, Association for Postal Commerce General Counsel Ian Volner wrote:

As I am sure you are aware, there is a great deal of concern in the mailing community about the recent – and escalating – state legislative initiatives to pass Do Not Mail legislation. A coalition has been formed to address this issue. While there are tactical and political issues, there is also a fundamental constitutional issue. On behalf of PostCom, I am writing to set forth our views on the constitutional question which should be at least as important to the Postal Service as it is to mailers. In brief, it is our opinion that these statutes would be unconstitutional, and we urge the Postal Service to help us make this argument to the states....

There is no doubt that Do Not Mail statutes have the potential to drastically reduce the volume of mail across a number of classes carried by the Postal service....Laws allowing postal customers to "opt-out" of the delivery of unsolicited mail could make it impossible for the Postal Service to achieve self-sufficiency....Essentially, state Do Not Mail statutes would make it impossible for the Postal Service to operate as currently envisioned by Congress....

Because of the extent of the financial burden these laws would impose on the Postal Service, Do Not Mail laws would violate the Constitution's Supremacy Clause....

While we believe that these Constitutional arguments are sound, state Do Not Mail laws will nevertheless be enforced until challenged in court. The coalition, of which PostCom is a participant, is therefore seeking to prevent these laws from being enacted. We believe that the Postal Service's voice would be an important ally in this battle. We ask that you instruct the Law Department to assist us in this endeavor. 

The Guardian has reported that "The privateers in Britain's postal industry are no doubt cock-a-hoop that the Mail Competition Forum has persuaded the European commission to investigate the government-backed finance package for Royal Mail, writes industrial editor Mark Milner. If the package is blocked on the grounds that it constitutes state aid, rather than commercial support from the company's only shareholder, Royal Mail's modernisation plans will be significantly weakened."

UPS and Airbus have signed an agreement yesterday that sets out a timetable for deciding the status of UPS's order for the freighter version of the A380. The agreement specifies changed delivery dates for the A380F and provides for possible termination of the original purchase agreement by either party later in 2007.

Graphic Ghana has reported that "Ghana Postal Company Ltd yesterday launched its same day delivery services for Accra, Tema and six regional capitals as a means of further improving its services to the public."

Reuters has reported that "Postal services firm Pos Malaysia and Services on Friday named Idrose Mohamed as its new managing director."

The Globe and Mail has reported that "Canada Post says it will cost more than $500-million to carry out the Conservative government's order to fully protect rural mail delivery. It's a complex project that will involve assessing the needs of about 835,000 customers over a period of more than five years, said post office spokesman John Caines. "This is going to be a huge cost," he told The Canadian Press. In addition, Canada Post will find $30-million over two years to maintain a fund that subsidizes postage for domestic magazines."

FijiLive has reported that "Post Fiji outlets across the country have begun selling Pacific Blue flights to and from Fiji from today giving locals easier access to the airline's fares."

In a letter written to "Our Friends at the Alliance," U.S. Postal Service chief financial office Glen Walker wrote:

Your special report on February 15 regarding the Postal Service press release on our first quarter financial results was certainly cleverly written and the many home spun idioms sprinkled throughout the article were entertaining. But the suggestion that our release was "singing the blues" is simply not borne out by the facts....These are not "dancing numbers" manufactured for some nefarious purpose....Boring as it may be, we have to deal with reality. We owe it to our stakeholders to fairly present the financial position of the Postal Service, and we will continue to do so.

According to DM News, "The diligence the U.S. Postal Service is taking to interpret the new postal law and communicate its effects to its customers became clear at the quarterly meeting of the Mailers' Technical Advisory Committee. Linda Kingsley, the new vice president of strategy and transition at USPS, announced that the agency is working closely on the bill and has published a new Web page at www.usps.com/postallaw. It will give visitors updates on any changes the agency has made to the new law."

The Postal Regulatory Commission has received a request of the United States Postal Service for a recommended decision to establish classifications and fees for premium stamped stationery and premium stamped cards (Docket No. MC2006-7).

As PC Magazine has noted, "All of the hype surrounding new communication technologies like podcasting may make you wonder why you bother paying attention. But like blogging, podcasting is a relatively easy way to increase consumer awareness and create an open dialogue between your customer and your brand, ultimately creating loyalty....Podcasting can be an effective, and cost-efficient, way for your small business to deliver messages."

According to Blackberry Blast, you can keep track of your packages with TrakPak! TrakPak allows you to track packages right on your BlackBerry, from four major shippers: UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL. Simply enter your tracking number, select the shipper and away you go. TrakPak will lookup the tracking information and display it on your screen.

At its Mailers Technical Advisory Committee meeting, the USPS gave an update on its Flats Sequencing System (FSS) initiative. Rosa Fulton, USPS FSS Exec. Director, reported that the USPS currently plans to begin its Phase 1 deployment of FSS in September 2008. The USPS' presentation provides a list of the USPS facilities that currently are slated to receive FSS machines during the Phase 1 deployment (which the USPS reported will run from Sept 2008 until Sept 2010). A full recap of the USPS' presentation will be provided to PostCom members in the next issue of Post Ops Update to be distributed tomorrow.

Monday's the day!! The Postal Regulatory Commission will announce its Recommended Decision to the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service at 11 AM, Monday, February 26, 2007 in its Hearing Room located at 901 New York Avenue, NW, 2nd Floor, West Tower, Washington DC.

The presentation given by USPS chief financial officer Glen Walker has been posted on this site.

From Business Objects: "Are you ready to face what is perhaps the most complicated rate case in over five years? Do you realize that the shape of your mail piece is now more crucial than ever in order to achieve postage discounts? And are you aware that in addition to a rate increase, we are going to face the most significant changes to address quality requirements? Despite passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, the USPS is still moving forward with a rate increase—targeted for May 6, 2007. Join Gene Del Polito, Ph.D., president of the Association for Postal Commerce, and Chris Lien, Business Objects commercial mail market director, as they discuss this most significant rate increase of the new millennium. Learn about the impact these changes will have on your postage, your customers, and your bottom line. REGISTER NOW."

The Associated Press has reported that "German postal company Deutsche Post AG, the parent of express shipper DHL, said Thursday that full-year net income fell 14 percent after the company reduced its stake in Postbank, cutting the amount of income it receives from the business."

From eMediaWire: "The Remote Control Mail service gives people a way to access their postal mail from anywhere in the world - at any time - via email. It's changing the way people recieve their postal mail, much like mobile phones did for telephone calls. The company has just closed a $2.84M convertible note financing round. Keiretsu Forum Angels provided majority of funding."

As DM News has noted, "The Direct Mail Coalition is continuing its fight to stop states from adopting legislation that would tax postage by claiming it does not meet contract law principles. States may tax postage as a result of an optional provision in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, which lists postage as a delivery charge. Created by the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, the agreement took effect Nov. 1. It lets remote sellers collect taxes on sales to people in member states that occur via the Internet, telephone or catalog. DMC co-founder Melanie Hill, a sales tax expert with Dow Lohnes Price Tax Consulting Group, Greenville, SC, said the taxation of postage purchased in this fashion ignores contract law and Uniform Commercial Code principles." [PostCom is a member of this coalition.]

According to Denmark.dk, "E-mail's pokey cousin - the old fashioned letter - is still most people's preferred way to receive important information." See also the Copenhagen Post.

The Associated Press has reported that "EU regulators said they would investigate how Britain funds its postal service, Royal Mail PLC, to check if the government offered loans on favorable terms." See also Sky News and The Times.

In the latest version of USPSNewsLink, PMG Jack Potter told his employees that "Under the new law, we all have to start thinking of the Postal Service as a business. That's because we won't be operating under a "break-even" requirement any more. Just as a private-sector business can make a profit, the Postal Service is now able and encouraged to retain earnings ? a real incentive to keep our own costs below inflation."

DM News has reported that "The buzz at the quarterly Mailers' Technical Advisory Committee meeting yesterday at postal headquarters was a surprising announcement by Postmaster General John E. Potter: The agency will expand its Move Update rules to include advertising mail and change the frequency of the program. Under current rules for Move Update, which is designed to reduce undeliverable-as-addressed mail, First-Class mailers can receive automation or presort rates when they update addresses every 180 days using the Address Change Service, NCOALink or another USPS-approved service. Now the program will be expanded. "We are going to put out a Federal Register notice and move the requirement to three months rather than six months, and we are going to do it for advertising mail as well," Mr. Potter said. He said the agency would give mailers 180 days to implement the new rules after they are finalized via the Federal Register."

The Financial Express has reported that "Encouraged by the proposed Rs 4,000-crore technological revamp of the Indian postal department, IDBI Capital Market Services (IDBI Caps), the broking arm of the IDBI Ltd, has pitched in for taping the department's 54,000 branches for offering online stock broking services."

MAILCOM Update: The 27th Annual Conference & Exhibition, May 8-11, 2007, Atlantic City Convention Center. Register By March 9 And Save $80! 

CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

Increasing mail and parcel volumes brought Swedens Posten AB a consi- derable turnover rise in 2006.
Last year, the Finnish post achieved a 15% turnover growth to 1.55bn euros and saw its operating profit drop by 9% to 89m euros. Last week, Suomen Posti Oy confirmed a slump in operating result due to higher mail delivery costs and a drop in returns from information logistics.
Norway's Posten AS is currently struggling to meet EU mail service quality standards.
Postal paradox in Italy: Poste Italiane's CEO Massimo Sarmi is one of very few advocates of market liberalisation, according to media reports. Earlier this month, Mr Sarmi told the Italian parliament that the post was prepared for the 2009 market liberalisation.
Sweden's Svensk Kassaservice could be wound up next summer. The Swedish post would thus cast off its loss-making payment service.
Switzerland's official price surveillance has authorised an increase in paying- in fees at post office counters. The authority deems the 50% increase from 60 to 90 centimes as not improper. Due to the decrease in payments made at post office counters, the post was losing between 12 and 22 centimes with each transaction.
Hungary's Magyar Posta Zrt. plans to close 103 post offices this year. Another 1,000 branches are due to be sold or outsourced during 2008.
A survey commissioned by the post companies of France, Belgium, Luxem- bourg, Italy, Spain, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Cyprus - all of whom are oppo- sed to the 2009 market opening - highlights the importance of a letter monopoly for the quality of the universal service. Carried out by British business consultancy firm Oxera, the survey concludes that the monopoly ensures a better universal service.
60,000 GBP or approx. 91,000 euros is the award offered to British sub- postmasters who are prepared to wind up their business. This proposal by Royal Mail has been put to the government for decision by March.
Following a trial period, the Spanish post has now equipped 2,000 postmen throughout the country with PDA computers.
A person buying 1,000 euros worth of TNT shares at the beginning of 2006 enjoyed a 26.3% yield. The share price alone went up by over 24% in 2006. The situation was very different with UPS: the 1.8% yield was only acceptable to hardened investors, while shares in FedEx (5.4%) and Deutsche Post (15.2%) were likely to put a smile on their owners face.
Belgian operator Kiala (2005 turnover: 20.6m euros), which aims to develop a European network of parcel collection points, managed to get out of the red in 2006.
DHL's Indian subsidiary Blue Dart is planning to set up an import service for the Indian subcontinent.
DHL employees at Zaventem in Belgium have accepted the redundancy scheme drawn up for when the head office moves to Leipzig in Germany in 2008.
DHL is heading for a considerable extension to its logistics capacity in Du- bai. The companys surface is set to expand from currently 85,000 to 300,000 square metres.
Deutsche Post AG wants to cast off its name and start operating as DHL AG as soon as possible. This rumour, which has circulated among specialists in matters post and stock exchange for some time, was recently fuelled further: at the Bonn post tower, the Deutsche Post headquarters, one of the traditional post horn logos is now being replaced by a DHL logo. A Deutsche Post representative said the logo replacement was paying tribute to the fact that DHL was the posts international flagship. Also, DHL CEO John Mullen had moved in and taken up position at the headquarters.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News. (We appreciate the courtesy extended by CEP News to help whet your appetite for more of what CEP offers.)

From the USPS DMM Advisory: "The Postal Regulatory Commission and the Postal Service invite you to a conference to discuss how the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act could increase the Postal Service's ability to meet customer needs. By focusing on the issues important to customers, the conference will continue the dialogue recently initiated by the Postal Regulatory Commission in its rulemaking process. Click here for agenda and registration.

The BBC has reported that "Rural areas of Cumbria will be among the hardest hit by planned closures of thousands of UK post offices, according to a Conservative MP. About 2,500 post office branches are to shut, after the government said it was cutting the level of public subsidy. Post office staff and users have called for consultations and reviews on the closures, mainly in rural communities."

Business Wire: "Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes Company (NYSE:PBI), today announced that its Data Quality Connector™ 2.10 has achieved "Certified for SAP NetWeaver®" status. The solution has been certified by SAP AG for the Business Address Service Duplicate and Error Tolerant Search (BC-BAS-DES 4.6) integration scenario, which ensures total data quality. This certified integration confirms that the Data Quality Connector meets requirements for connecting to the SAP NetWeaver platform.>

According to the Orange County Register, "the League of California Cities, is lobbying the Legislature for a pilot program that would let counties test all-mail elections."

The following reports have been posted on the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General website today. If you have additional questions concerning a report, please contact Agapi Doulaveris at 703.248.2286.

• DA-AR-07-001 - Audit Report - Automated Package Processing System Status and Administration
  http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/DA-AR-07-001.pdf
• FF-AR-07-073 - Audit Report - Fiscal Year 2006 Financial Installation Audit - Automated Postal Centers
  http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/FF-AR-07-073.pdf
• FF-AR-07-075 - Fiscal Year 2006 Financial Installation Audit - Contract Postal Units
  http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/FF-AR-07-075.pdf

Press Release: "DHL, the worldwide leader in international express and logistics services, selected the Quintiq real-time advanced planning & scheduling solution to improve its dispatch process and customer service for the European Express business."

Employee Benefits has reported that "DHL Express has launched a flexible benefits scheme for its 12,500 UK employees in the latest phase of its move to total reward."

The Polish News Bulletin has reported that "According to preliminary results, Poczta Polska (PP) made profits of ZL300 million and increased its income by 7 percent, despite a wave of postal worker strikes lasting several days, which disrupted the company's activity. The company is worried by the delay in privatisation and the approaching liberalisation, which will cause PP to lose its monopoly on delivering letters lighter than 50 grams."

NALC President William H. Young and union legislative leaders from all 50 states swept through offices of House and Senate members this week to bring them up to date on issues critical to letter carriers in the 110th Congress, especially the Postal Service's plans to outsource delivery work through expanded use of Contract Delivery Services. The NALC state chairs were in the nation's capital for the entire week for annual training sessions and a full schedule of lobbying their respective senators and representatives.

According to the Aurora Sentinel & Daily Sun, "Everyone hates junk mail. No one enjoys finding their mailbox stuffed with phony mortgage deals, pizza parlor menus from across town or coupons for velvet paintings. But trying to apply a phone solution to a postal problem is useless, unenforceable and probably illegal. And you don't have to answer the mail. Those are just some of the problems with House Bill 1303, the Colorado Mail Opt out List Act, introduced last week. It would be convenient for a newspaper to support a provision that creates havoc for a competitor, but it would be irresponsible."

According to Valleywag, "Kindly postal expert Bill Henderson has been downmoted from the COO slot at Netflix, taking on the likely specious title of "strategic advisor."

From PR Newswire: "The U.S. Postal Service will issue a souvenir sheet of two 84-cent international letter rate stamps to commemorate International Polar Year 2007-2008. The souvenir sheet will be available on Feb. 21 at http://www.usps.com/shop and through 1-800-STAMP-24, not at Post Offices."

According to Auckland.stuff.co.nz, "A smelly 'fart bomb' had postal staff and firefighters holding their breath today when it burst at a postal sorting centre on Auckland's North Shore. The fart bomb was a giveaway in an internet magazine but when other postal items were placed on top of the magazines being posted out, the sachet bomb burst and released its contents shortly after daybreak."

The Times of Oman has reported that "A meeting of AGCC states postal administration began here yesterday and will last for two days. The meeting discussed customs procedures conducted in each state to prepare a scenario for unified procedures that will meet the needs of the postal administration at the council states. Delegates reviewed opinion of post administration on the meetings held with authorities responsible for customs administration in their countries; customs procedures being adopted to inspect postal dispatches, parcels and their clearance in implementation of the postal monitoring committees' decision at the AGCC states during its 17th meeting held in Dubai in November last year."

According to the Christian Science Monitor, "According to Herodotus, in ancient times men and horses, stationed at intervals, delivered messages. I don't know if combustion caused delivery problems for this Persian pony express. But the US Postal Service might want to add a small disclaimer to the famously boastful and generally accurate description about its services adapted from the Greek historian: "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night – only fire – stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Press Release: BCC Software, a BÖWE BELL + HOWELL company and a leading developer of highperformance solutions for professional mailers, announces the availability of the VisionSensor TM 2020 and 2030 barcode readers. The VisionSensor 2020 and 2030 can instantly scan and interpret all commonly used postal codes—including POSTNET™ and PLANET ® barcodes, and the new USPS ® Intelligent Mail ® (formerly 4State Customer) barcode—plus an array of 1D and 2D barcodes found in business and industry.

According to Process & Control Today, "India's third-party logistics (3PL) market is all set to experience a period of explosive organic growth, going by independent market analyst Datamonitor's (DTM.L) latest research. The report, "India Logistics Outlook 2007," predicts high double-digit growth rates for both outsourced and contract logistics in India. With India's gross domestic profit (GDP) growing at over 9% per year and the manufacturing sector enjoying double digit growth rates, the Indian logistics industry is at an inflection point, and is expected to reach a market size of over $125 billion in year 2010."

The Irish Times has reported that "An Post has offered to pay 12 million to its 1,300 postmasters as part of a move to end a long-running stand-off with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) over pay and the future of the post office network." See also the Irish Independent.

The Chicago Tribune has reported that "Cook County Assistant State's Atty. John A. Reich said a drug-sniffing dog spotted the suspicious cardboard box Thursday at a Chicago-area United Parcel Service facility. Company officials contacted police, who opened the package and discovered the marijuana. Authorities resealed the package and an undercover police officer delivered it to Lloyd Friday afternoon, according to court records. "The defendant did accept the package, sign for it and open it," Reich said. Lloyd was arrested a few blocks from his home shortly after the box was delivered."

From eMediaWire: "Webplus, Inc., a leading provider of small business solutions, announced today that it's Shipping Sidekick (www.shippingsidekick.com) shipping rate comparison website has joined the eBay Developers Program to further develop Shipping Sidekick for use by eBay sellers."

Tech2 has reported that "innINDIA.com, an India-centric portal, has launched an Indian Postal Code Search Service, with the help of the web services offered by Department of Posts, Government of India."

What Every Mailer Must Know to Prepare for the USPS Rate Case Date: Tuesday, February 20th, 2007 Time: 2:00 EST REGISTER!

According to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, "That small square on the upper right-hand corner of an envelope might be a pair of smiling sweethearts, a posing pet, a classic car or business logo. This trend has the blessing of the U.S. Postal Service. Three vendors --- Stamps.com, Zazzle.com and Endicia.com --- are contracted by the Postal Service to print customized postage for first class, priority and Express Mail. Cost ranges from 24 cents to $4.05, according to Nick Barranca, vice president of Postal Service product development."

The Kansas City Star has reported that "Clay County authorities have charged a 24-year-old man with possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of marijuana. Postal authorities alerted police that they were to deliver two packages — one 33 pounds and the other 19 pounds — to Francesco-Tomas Soltero of Phoenix at a hotel room in North Kansas City Friday. North Kansas City police went to the hotel with a police dog that indicated that the packages held an illegal substance. The Clay County Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant and found marijuana."

From CCNMatthews: "The Royal Mail's first stamp issue of 2007 was to celebrate the 1960's music phenomenon, The Beatles. To acknowledge their international impact, Canada Post will be selling two United Kingdom products at select Post Offices in late February. Offering Britain's newest stamps in Canada will allow the memorabilia market to join in the excitement of stamp collecting. Designed by Michael Johnson, the Beatles set features six era-defining album sleeves, brought together on six stamps. The titles are: With The Beatles, Help!, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Let It Be and Abbey Road."

Caboodle.hu has reported that "The Hungarian Postal Service (Magyar Posta Zrt.) is planning to close 103 post offices before the end of the year, and sell another 1,000 in 2008. Magyar Posta Assistant CEO László Szivi said that offices will also be closed where the volume of traffic does not justify their existence. With the retreat of the company, a full liberalization of postal services can be expected by 2009. There are nearly 100 companies in Hungary registered to perform postal services, including several global firms, many of which are believed to be planning a further expansion of their operations once liberalization occurs."

UNI-Europa Postal stepped up its advocacy campaign on the proposal for a new postal directive in Brussels 7-8 February 2007 when UNI Postal's Head of Department, John Pedersen, met with a number of individual MEPs to opposition to the proposed revision of the postal directive, which would open the way to a full-liberalised European postal market by 2009. The Commission's proposal contains two objectives: Full Market Opening in 2009 and maintenance of the universal postal service (affordable access for everybody everywhere to quality postal services) and at uniform tariffs.

Transport Intelligence has reported that:

The CEO of DPWN, Klaus Zumwinkel, has been touring North Asia this week and outlining his company's investment plans for the region. Reports from Japan indicate that Klaus Zumwinkel has stated that DHL will invest Y1.1bn ($100m/€66m) at its facilities in Kansai International Airport in Osaka and Central Japan International Airport near Nagoya. This is in addition to the already announced decision to establish a distribution hub in Ichikawa near Tokyo for the DHL Express business.
DHL Exel Supply Chain is constructing a new distribution centre for mail-order customers in Ludwigsau near Bad Hersfeld. The centre will deliver to customers in Germany and Europe starting summer 2007. Construction is expected to start at the beginning of February this year. The new distribution centre will be operated by DHL subsidiary GPL a mail-order logistics company handling bulky and transport-sensitive goods. GPL has belonged to the contract logistics division of DHL since 2005 and has been under the umbrella brand of DHL Exel Supply Chain since the beginning of the year.
Palletways Europe Ltd has acquired the Italian operation it licensed out in 2002. The development forms part of Palletways strategy to provide a dedicated and integrated pan-European network for the express delivery of small consignments of palletised freight and now means that the company controls all its networks in the UK and mainland Europe, which today comprise some 250 plus depots and 8 hub facilities, handling circa 20,000 pallets every day.

The Government Accountability Office has published its latest report on the Postal Service, this one dealing with fuel. In it, in part, it said:

The U.S. Postal Service (the Service) is dependent on fuel to support its mail delivery and transportation networks, as well as to heat and operate the over 34,000 postal facilities it occupies....The Service's transportation and facility fuel costs have grown in recent years as fuel prices, particularly for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel have increased....hile fuel costs have directly pressured its financial condition, increasing compensation and benefits were the primary driver of the $3.4 billion operating expense increase in fiscal year 2006. The Service absorbed fuel cost increases through cost containment efforts and increased revenues from the January 2006 rate increase, allowing it to achieve net income for the year. Nevertheless, the Service remains vulnerable to fuel price fluctuations, due in part to its purchasing process, which involves buying fuel as needed, often at retail locations. The Service is challenged to control fuel costs due to its expanding delivery network and inability to use surcharges....

Be sure to read "The Strange Story of Postal Reform" by Professor Murray Comarow.

As WABC-TV has reported, "His job was to deliver packages to waiting customers. But one man is accused of selling those packages right off the back of his delivery truck. And now, police believe there are several other UPS deliverymen involved in the same scheme."

British authorities early Monday arrested a suspect in connection with a series of parcel bombings across Britain that injured several people in recent weeks, police told CNN. The man was held in Cambridge, eastern England, in connection with seven attacks which targeted businesses linked to forensic science laboratories and traffic enforcement.

EUX.TV has reported that "French police raised a nuclear, radiological, bacteriological and chemical (NRBC) alert Monday at the Canadian embassy in Paris when a female employee became ill after accepting a postal object, police sources said.

According to the El Paso Times, "More than two weeks after nine tons of stolen U.S. mail was discovered at the home of a Juárez postal employee, not much has been done to assure El Pasoans that their mail to Juárez is safe. The mail 300 bags was found at the house of Juan Manuel Vargas Lopez, the Juárez postal employee entrusted to pick up local mail at the border and deliver it to Juárez recipients. Many envelopes were open and an unknown amount of money in cash, checks, money orders and U.S. Social Security benefits was missing."

Techworld has reported that "Prepaid credit cards for those without bank accounts and teens without self-control have been available in the United States for years. Now, Visa New Zealand, in cooperation with that country's postal service, is taking the concept to a new level that promises a measure of protection from online identity theft, but also the prospect of abuse by young people looking to access adult services, and criminals needing a cloak of anonymity."

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, "The Board of the Postal Corporation of Jamaica (Post Corp.) remains focused on its mandate to effect the transformation of Jamaica's postal service into a profitable, modern and efficient entity."

Siber News has reported that "Mail services between Jaffna peninsula and other parts of Sri Lanka are disrupted since January 14, according to residents in Jaffna. More than six hundred mailbags and 5537 bags of parcels including food items have been lying in the Trincomalee main post office for the past 30 days waiting to be transported to Jaffna by sea, postal sources said. See also TamilNet.

AMEInfo has reported that "The Sri Lankan Minister for Posts and Telecommunications, Mr. Rauff Hakeem, discussed potential areas of cooperation between the UAE and Sri Lanka in the postal field, while meeting a delegation of Emirates Post in Dubai."

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has reported that "DHL, the express delivery subsidiary of German postal service operator Deutsche Post, is planning to extend its logistics capacity in Dubai by more than 300,000 sq m during the next few years. DHL's logistics operations in the Arab emirate currently cover around 85,000 sq m. DHL already employs roughly 10,000 staff in the Middle East."