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GREAT NEWS!!

BSA has consistently taken the position that Federal Express was covered by the statute that mandates that any airline that has a mail contract with the USPS must carry "day-old chicks and such other live animals as postal regulations allow" unless the carrier "commonly and regularly refuses to accept any live animals as cargo."

BSA has demonstrated to the USPS that Federal Express does, in fact, accept live animals as cargo (with the exception of dogs, cats and bees.) The United States Postal Service now agrees with BSA and has informed Federal Express that within sixty (60) days it must accept live animals for air mail delivery.

We will keep you informed of the progress of this most important work.

Posted by mcmurray at 09:38 AM

Huricane Katrina Postal Update

VERY IMPORTANT TO SHIPPERS:

Please log on to these web sites for precise information on how Katrina might effect your shipping to the areas of the hurricane in the next week or two:

http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/index.html United States Postal Service Rapid Information Bulletin Board System website

http://www.usps.com/communications/news/serviceupdates.htm Hurricane Katrina Postal Service Update

Posted by mcmurray at 11:50 AM

Latest USPS Updates

This is the most recent communication with the USPS and their latest proposal:


Just wanted to give you an update and get your feedback on the following. As you know, the spring mailing season for lives was extremely trying – loss of air transportation with Delta airlines severely restricted the ability of USPS to move lives, coupled with the suspensions of American & US Air, the movement of lives was challenging to say the least. Things have not gotten any better. I received notification last week from US Airways effective October 1; they will no longer accept lives as cargo or mail. This is a result of their merger with America West. America West will manage the partnership and they do not accept lives.

As I’ve mentioned to a few of you on many occasions, I have been involved in negotiations with a cargo carrier to provide much needed lift to the industry, however, this lift comes at a cost. As you know, Northwest Airlines requires a $1.00 surcharge to transport lives. The cargo carrier will require a $.99 surcharge should we contract with them.

They will take lives out of the following markets:

Memphis

Nashville

Jacksonville

Orlando

Honolulu

San Francisco

San Diego

Phoenix

El Paso

Austin

New Orleans

Columbus, OH

Cleveland

Charlotte

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Louisville

Anchorage

Seattle

Portland, OR

Denver

Omaha

Kansas City

Buffalo

Albany

Springfield/Hartford

Boston

Fort Wayne, IN

Milwaukee

St. Louis

Richmond

The sites above were provided by each postal area where lift is either limited or non-existent. Where it is limited, the surcharge would apply to all carriers in that market. The cargo carrier only goes to 65 destinations, however, in most cases, they can get your product close to home – USPS may be in a position to truck the remaining distance. Movement of lives on this cargo carrier would be coordinated through their web site – a reservation system if you will. USPS employees would reserve space the cargo carriers’ planes – the lives industry would be required to coordinate shipments with local postal folks.

John C. Bonafilia
Manager, Commercial Air Operations
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260-7137

202-268-2784

Posted by mcmurray at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)