An optional information line is a line above the
postal address on mail in the United States. The lines are usually seen on
bulk mail to indicate the sorting and separation that allows the mail to have a lower postal rate.
Examples of bulk mail that have information lines include
First-Class Mail,
periodical
Periodical literature (singularly called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) consists of Publication, published works that appear in new releases on a regular schedule (''issues'' or ''numbers'', often numerically divided into annu ...
s,
USPS Marketing Mail, and bound printed matter.
Possible optional information lines include the optional endorsement line (OEL), an
address change service (ACS) participant code, carrier route information, and a mailer's keyline.
Optional endorsement line
Examples of OEL include:
Carrier route information
The carrier route information specifies which route at that Post Office handles the mail. The route consists of a type or prefix followed by a three-digit number. Route prefixes and types are:
* "B" for "
post office box
A post office box (commonly abbreviated as P.O. box, or also known as a postal box) is a uniquely addressable lockable box located on the premises of a post office.
In some regions, particularly in Africa, there is no door-to-door delivery ...
section"
* "C" for "carrier route"
* "G" for "
general delivery unit"
* "H" for "
highway contract route"
* "R" for "
rural route
Rural delivery service refers to services for the delivery of mail to rural areas.
In many countries, rural mail delivery follows different rules and practices from that in urban areas. For example, in some areas rural delivery may require homeo ...
"
The number after the prefix on some mail may consist of the last two digits of the
ZIP Code followed by the 3-digit route number.
References
External links
* {{cite web , url = http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/169/what-does-car-rt-presort-mean-on-junk-mail , title = What does "CAR-RT PRESORT" mean on junk mail? , first = Cecil , last = Adams , author-link = Cecil Adams , work =
The Straight Dope
''The Straight Dope'' was a question-and-answer newspaper column written under the pseudonym Cecil Adams. Contributions were made by multiple authors, and it was illustrated (also pseudonymously) by Slug Signorino. It was first published in 197 ...
, date = 1983-07-29 , publisher =
Sun-Times Media , access-date = 2017-05-01
Identifiers
Mail sorting
Postal addresses in the United States
United States Postal Service