Delivery Point Barcode Standards Flashcards

How many digits does a complete Delivery Point Barcode encode when including the 5-digit ZIP, the 4-digit add-on, the 2-digit delivery point, and the check digit?

Answer: 12 digits

A full DPBC encodes 12 digits: 5 (ZIP) + 4 (ZIP+4 add-on) + 2 (delivery point) + 1 (check digit) = 12.

What USPS process verifies whether an address is an actual deliverable point before assigning a delivery point code?

Answer: DPV (Delivery Point Validation)

DPV (Delivery Point Validation) confirms that an address represents a real, deliverable location before a delivery point code is assigned.

If a CASS-certified run shows a ZIP+4 coding rate below what minimum threshold, the mailing does NOT qualify for automation rates?

Answer: 90%

USPS requires a minimum 90% ZIP+4 coding rate on CASS Form 3553 for a mailing to qualify for automation postage discounts.

The Intelligent Mail Barcode uses a four-state symbology. Which four states are possible for each bar?

Answer: Ascender, Descender, Tracker, Full

Each of the 65 IMb bars can be an ascender (tall top), descender (tall bottom), tracker (short middle), or full (tall top and bottom), encoding two bits per bar.

When CASS-certified software cannot match an address, what should the mailer do to maintain automation rate eligibility?

Answer: Remove unmatched records from the mailing or correct the addresses before re-processing

Unmatched records drag the coding rate below 90%; mailers should correct or remove them so the remaining matched records keep the mailing above the automation rate threshold.

What is the maximum acceptable skew angle for a POSTNET barcode printed on a mail piece per USPS standards?

Answer: 5 degrees

USPS allows a maximum barcode skew of ±5 degrees from horizontal; beyond this angle, scanning equipment may fail to read the barcode reliably.

Which USPS Move Update method, when applied before CASS processing, helps prevent delivery point mismatches caused by address changes?

Answer: NCOALink (National Change of Address Linkage)

NCOALink matches mailer addresses against USPS change-of-address records to update moved recipients before CASS processing, reducing undeliverable-as-addressed mail.