1. National Zone Charts Matrix Overview
November 13, 2018
Including
Integration of Outbound APO/DPO/FPO Exceptions
for Military Priority Mail Processed in Chicago
Effective January 1, 2018

2. The Basics National Zone Charts Matrix
The National Customer Support Center (NCSC) publishes the National Zone Charts Matrix (NZCM) monthly in support of zone rated postage pricing which is based on mail piece origin weight + the distance the mail piece travels.
The .txt ‘matrix’ uses the service areas of Labeling Lists L002, L005 & L606 to determine the zone & to flag any ‘exceptions’.
The ‘matrix’ uses an X-Y axis format that simplifies lookup of the correct zone between any 3-Digit O/D ZIP Code pair.
The ‘matrix’ is one of the NCSC’s subscriber products which sells for $60 annually and is electronically downloadable.

3. How Is The Zone Really Calculated?
National Zone Charts Matrix
How Is The Zone Really Calculated?
DMM says:
.…the earth is divided into units of area 30 minutes square, identical with a quarter of the area formed by the intersecting parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude. Postal zones are based on the distance between these units of area. The distance is measured from the center of the unit of area containing the SCF serving the origin Post Office to the SCF serving the destination Post Office. The SCFs serving the origin and destination Post Offices are determined by using (Labeling List) L005, Column B.

4. How Is The Zone Really Calculated?
National Zone Charts Matrix
How Is The Zone Really Calculated?
Current Zone Distance Metrics
Local* Zone 1 Non-local zones within 50 mile radius of the origin
Zone mile radius Zone mile radius
Zone mile radius Zone mile radius
Zone mile radius Zone miles or greater
Zone mile radius Zone 9 Freely Associated States**
* Mail deposited at a PO for delivery within service area of the same PO.
** Considering move to International pricing

5. National Zone Charts Matrix File Structure
Example Data Effective 11/1/2018
National Zone Charts Matrix File Structure
3-Digit Origin (y-axis) By 3-Digit Destination (x-axis)
NZCM Technical Guide operations/zone-charts
File format is designed for integration with software via IT support.
.txt file can only be read using a text editor.
File format consists of a 2,001 character linear data ‘string’ for each active Origin 3DG.
‘Exceptions’ flagged as:
* = NDC Entry Discount = PM to Military Zones
a = PM to Military Zones or other mail to Military Zones w/NDC Entry Disc.
b = 5DG w/NDC Entry Disc e = 5DG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
O3DG
001
filler
002
003
004
005
006
967
968
969
970
971
972 * e

6. Example Data Effective 11/1/2018 Matrix Linear File Structure
National Zone Charts Matrix
Example Data Effective 11/1/2018
Example = 969 Origin (position 1-3) to 969 Destination (position 1940) Note Zone 9 ‘e’ flag for 960 to 969
Matrix Linear File Structure
- Position 1-3 = Origin 3DG (y-axis)
- Position 4 = zone result for
Destination 3DG ZIP Code 001
- Position 5 = filler (e.g. exceptions)
Format repeats for each active Origin 3DG (y-axis) & along x-axis for Destination 3DG ZIP Codes

7. Exception Types & File Records
National Zone Charts Matrix
Exception Types & File Records
Zone 9* 5-Digit exceptions for Freely Associated States deployed April 1, 2014
APO/DPO/FPO** 3-Digit exceptions for outbound Priority Mail processed in Chicago going to Military ZIP Codes , deployed January 1, 2018
APO/DPO/FPO 3-Digit exceptions for inbound zone rated ‘retail’ mail originating at Military ZIP Codes , 340, deployed June 1, 2018 but has no impact on outbound commercial mail preparation
* Zone 9 exceptions required only 8 rows of data. APO/DPO/FPO exceptions added in 2018 increased the total NZCM exceptions file to 32,219 rows of data.
** First-Class Package Services to be added to exceptions file & effective 1/27/19.

8. Why deploy the Outbound APO/DPO/FPO Exceptions?
National Zone Charts Matrix
Why deploy the Outbound APO/DPO/FPO Exceptions?
USPS moved outbound Military Priority Mail processing from New York ( ) & San Francisco ( ) to Chicago.
As a result, the ‘destinating’ 3-Digit ZIP Code changed from New York & San Francisco to Chicago.
Military zones are calculated from the origin to the destination mail processing facility because the Military transports the mail from the processing facility to the destination.
Military Priority Mail that originated nearer New York & San Francisco than Chicago experienced greater price increases than Military Priority Mail originating closer to Chicago.

9. Example Data Effective 11/1/2018
National Zone Charts Matrix
Example Data Effective 11/1/2018
- Sample data in columns 2-6 = outbound 5DG (FAS) & 3DG Military PM (01) Destination ZIP Code ranges + zone ‘exception’ & ‘mail type’ results extracted from column 1.
- Users integrate the .txt ‘exception’ data within software computer code or other automated means to extract correct zone result.

10. National Zone Charts Matrix
Questions?