What is drop shipment?
Drop shipment (destination entry) means trucking the prepared mail closer to its delivery area and entering it deeper into the USPS network, which earns lower postage because USPS moves it a shorter distance. The tradeoff is transportation cost and coordination against postage savings.
What are DNDC, DSCF, and DDU entry?
From least to most local, common destination entry points are:
- Origin / None: entered where the mail is produced, no destination discount.
- DNDC / NDC: entered at a Network Distribution Center.
- DSCF / SCF: entered at a Sectional Center Facility serving the destination ZIPs.
- DDU: entered at the Destination Delivery Unit (the local Post Office).
Deeper entry earns a larger per-piece discount. Exact discounts by level are in Notice 123. See DMM 705.
When is drop shipment worth it?
Destination entry pays off on larger mailings concentrated in specific areas, where the postage saved across many pieces exceeds the added freight and drop coordination. For scattered or small mailings the transportation cost usually outweighs the discount. Plavidian's drop-shipment planning weighs this per job.
Coordination
Destination-entry mailings require appointments and correct paperwork at the entry facility, and the mail must be prepared and labeled for the entry point claimed. Plavidian handles the appointment and entry. Final acceptance and the entry discount are confirmed by USPS at the facility.