Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)

FAST is an appointment and visibility system for business mail entering postal facilities.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“The Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®) system allows mailers to provide advanced notification of drop shipment and origin entered mailings into postal facilities.”USPS original It is for business mail owners, preparers and schedulers.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“FAST is for business mail owners, preparers, and schedulers.”USPS original It gives one integrated customer service and product visibility for all mail classes.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“FAST provides a single, integrated customer service and product visibility for all mail classes.”USPS original

Mailers use FAST to track shipments and get advance notice of redirections.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“With FAST, mailers are able to track their shipments, receive advanced notification of redirections, submit and manage recurring appointment requests online, and have joint scheduling capabilities.”USPS original They also submit and manage recurring appointment requests online, and schedule jointly with other users.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“With FAST, mailers are able to track their shipments, receive advanced notification of redirections, submit and manage recurring appointment requests online, and have joint scheduling capabilities.”USPS original

FAST connects to other USPS systems so that both USPS and customer users see more.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“FAST interfaces with a number of systems to improve visibility for both Postal and customer users.”USPS original Surface Visibility, a scanning system on the dock, collects real-time data as shipments move through appointment closeout.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“Surface Visibility is used to collect real-time data by scanning shipments as they move through the appointment closeout process.”USPS original It is one of several dock systems that report appointment closeout information.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“Surface Visibility is one of several systems that is utilized on the dock to provide appointment closeout information.”USPS original

A mailer makes an appointment in FAST before bringing mail to a facility.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“To make an appointment, log in to your FAST account.”USPS original The facility scans the shipment as the appointment closes out.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“Surface Visibility is used to collect real-time data by scanning shipments as they move through the appointment closeout process.”USPS original

FAST holds each facility's hours of operation, which vary by facility and also appear in the Mail Direction File.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“Hours of Operation will vary by facility, and will be available in FAST and published in the Mail Direction File (MDF)”USPS original

A Hub is a facility that cross-docks properly prepared destinating volume to the delivery units it serves.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“If a facility is identified as a Hub, it will serve as a cross-dock facility for destinating volume that is properly prepared and entered at the Hub location. The Hub will transport mail to the downstream delivery units that the Hub services.”USPS original FAST lists the current Hubs in its Drop Ship Product File Download section.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“A list of current Hub facilities can be found in FAST in the Drop Ship Product File Download section.”USPS original The list is also on RIBBS, under Important Updates in the FAST section.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“It can also be found in RIBBS under Important Updates in the FAST section.”USPS original It gives each Hub's facility information and the 5-digit offices that Hub serves.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“The published Hub list contains Hub facility information as well as the 5-digit offices that are served by each Hub.”USPS original

Mail eligible for a Destination Delivery Unit can go to a Hub instead, at the Hub discount.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“Anything currently eligible to be dropped at a Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) can be dropped at a Hub, but will receive the Hub (DSCF) discount”USPS original

eInduction is a USPS process for drop shipments and expedited plant load mailings.3Guide to eInductionpage 6“The electronic Induction (eInduction) process streamlines the preparation and induction (how and where the mail physically enters the USPS mailstream) of drop shipments and expedited plant load mailings.”USPS original It streamlines how that mail is prepared and how it physically enters the USPS mailstream.3Guide to eInductionpage 6“The electronic Induction (eInduction) process streamlines the preparation and induction (how and where the mail physically enters the USPS mailstream) of drop shipments and expedited plant load mailings.”USPS original It also speeds appointment processing in FAST.3Guide to eInductionpage 6“It enables quicker appointment processing in the Facility Access Shipment Tracking (FAST) online system, it eliminates the need for clerks to manually reconcile containers against paper documentation (PS Forms 8125 and 8017), and it provides 24/7 appointment resolution.”USPS original

A mailer joins eInduction by asking the FAST Helpdesk.4Guide to eInductionpage 16“After fulfilling the requirements for eInduction, mailers will initiate the onboarding process by requesting to participate in eInduction via the FAST Helpdesk (1.877.569.6614 or FAST@usps.gov).”USPS original After activation, the mailer may schedule appointments in FAST and submit eInduction mailings.4Guide to eInductionpage 16“Upon activation, the mailer may schedule appointments in the Facility Access Shipment Tracking (FAST) system and submit eInduction mailings.”USPS original

eInduction mailers book FAST appointments for drops at processing facilities and Hubs.5Guide to eInductionpage 17“Mailers dropping at both SV and Non-SV USPS Processing Facilities and Hubs must schedule appointments through the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) online system.”USPS original Drops at destination delivery units need no appointment.5Guide to eInductionpage 17“Mailers dropping at destination delivery units (DDUs) do not schedule appointments.”USPS original Mailers no longer have to tie containers to a specific appointment ID in FAST.6Guide to eInductionpage 9“Mailers are no longer required to associate containers (content) to a specific Appointment ID in FAST.”USPS original

The eInduction module in PostalOne! creates container records and sends them to FAST and Surface Visibility.6Guide to eInductionpage 9“The eInduction module in PostalOne! creates container records and automatically transmits these records to the SV and FAST systems.”USPS original A mailer checks the SV Enabled indicator in the Mail Direction File version 4 to see whether a facility scans with Surface Visibility.5Guide to eInductionpage 17“Mailers can identify if a facility has SV scanning capability by checking the Mail Direction File (MDF) V4 and confirm a Yes is listed in the SV Enabled indicator field.”USPS original The Mail Direction File is in the resources section of FAST.5Guide to eInductionpage 17“The MDF is located in the resources section of FAST https://fast.usps.com/.”USPS original

A Hub turns away some mail even with a FAST appointment.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“Hubs will NOT accept • Letters • FSS prepared mail”USPS original It does not take letters or FSS prepared mail.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“Hubs will NOT accept • Letters • FSS prepared mail”USPS original It does not take any mailing that needs a bundle sort operation.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“Any mailing that requires a bundle sort operation”USPS original

Flats bundles on 5-digit scheme pallets prepared under labeling list L007 are not eligible for Hub drops.2Service Hubs and Facilities Fact SheetPDF page 1“Bundles on 5-digit scheme pallets prepped according to the L007 are NOT eligible for Hub drops”USPS original

The held sources do not say what happens when a mailer misses or arrives outside a FAST appointment.

The USPS Help Desk answers questions about FAST by email at fast@usps.gov or by phone at 877-569-6614, option 2.1PostalPro: Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®)“For questions about FAST, contact the USPS Help Desk via email fast@usps.gov or telephone 877-569-6614 (choose option 2).”USPS original The FAST Helpdesk also takes requests to join eInduction, at the same email and phone number.4Guide to eInductionpage 16“After fulfilling the requirements for eInduction, mailers will initiate the onboarding process by requesting to participate in eInduction via the FAST Helpdesk (1.877.569.6614 or FAST@usps.gov).”USPS original