Linehaul and InterconnectBusiness Letter Services

IntroductionThe Linehaul and Interconnect options are transport services that are available to Business Letter services customers. They allow customers to transport lodgements to interstate facilities and get cheaper Same State postage rates.

In this moduleThis module covers Linehaul and Interconnect option for the Print Post PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail and services.

Learning outcomesBy completing this module, you will be able to: identify the difference between Linehaul and Interconnect identify the reasons why Linehaul and Interconnect are used

Linehaul and Interconnect at a glanceWhat are Linehaul and Interconnect?

Linehaul and Interconnect are terms used to describe the transportation of mail either by Australia Post or other private providers so that customers can take advantage of Same State rates, which are usually the most economical.

Linehaul is used by customers lodging large volumes of Print Post articles.

The Interconnect option is used by customers lodging large volumes of PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail articles.

A cost benefit analysis of the transportation price and the Same State rates usually needs to be performed to determine the cost savings of using these services. For example, if you are in Qld and have mail for delivery to NSW, is it more economical to lodge the NSW mail in Qld and pay Other State postage rates, or transport the NSW mail to NSW and pay Same State postage rates?

Not a simple question to answer, so detailed analysis needs to be done by the customer to determine the most cost effective approach.For delivery to Metropolitan or Country addresses within the state of lodgement.Print Post is an economical choice for the delivery of magazines, newsletters and periodicals within Australia.The PreSort Letters service offer reduced prices to those customers who can apply barcodes to their letters, sort them into a particular order, place them into appropriately labelled trays, complete documentation prior to posting at a designated postal outlet and comply with relevant mailing conditions.Acquisition Mail is an addressed (non personalised) bulk mail delivery service. It allows customers to geographically target an addressed mail campaign to residential address points in specific postcodes, suburbs (localities) or Census Collection Districts (CCDs).

Linehaul and Interconnect at a glanceMore informationMore detailed information about Linehaul is available in the Linehaul and Interconnect Fact Sheet and the Print Post service guide and the Australia Post website (auspost.com.au).

More detailed information about Interconnect is available in the Linehaul and Interconnect Fact Sheet, the PreSort Letters service guide the Acquisition Mail service guide and the Australia Post website (auspost.com.au)..

These guides are also available at any Australia Post outlet.

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectLinehaul and Interconnect OptionsLinehaul and Print Post

Linehaul is a freight transport service available for use with Print Post. It allows you to pay Australia Post (or a private freight service) to transport lodgements to an interstate gateway processing facility to access the cheaper Same State or Local Sort Division rates. Gateway facilities are identified in the Print Post Sort Plan by a symbol.A Linehaul fee is charged by Australia Post. This fee is determined by the pickup and delivery point. For information on pricing for Linehaul charges, contact your Australia Post account manager.

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectLinehaul and Interconnect OptionsLinehaul and Print PostWhen Australia Post is used to Linehaul articles, the articles are contained in Unit Load Devices (ULDs). To facilitate the charging of the ULD transport a ULD Supporting Document/Linehaul Mailing Statement is required. This records the number of ULDs for each destination mail centre. An example of a ULD Supporting Document can be downloaded from www.auspost.com.au/printpost.

Additionally, for any Print Post lodgement a Print Post Mailing Statement (8835283) is required. For lodgements that exceed 5,000 articles a Print Post Supporting Document is also required. The delivery standard for articles that have been Linehauled commences when the ULD arrives at the designated facility for processing.

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectLinehaul and Interconnect Options

Preparing a Print Post ULD for LinehaulIf there is spare capacity in the ULD, you may top-up with Print Post articles for different Sort Divisions subject to the following: Articles contained within a ULD must all terminate in the same state CBD Sort Division articles and Residue articles must terminate at a designated gateway processing facility for that state. A minimum of 100 identical Print Post articles for each processing facility is required.

Consolidation and LinehaulConsolidated lodgements may be linehauled using Australia Post transport. The linehaul fee will be charged to the mailing agents Business Credit Account.The ULD Supporting Document must list each of the job numbers and publication titles contained in the consolidated lodgement.

Articles lodged at a Mail Centre for delivery by postal delivery offices within the postcodes served by the Mail CentreA CBD Sort Division is a designated range of postcodes - there are 6: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectLinehaul and Interconnect OptionsInterconnect for PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail articles

Interconnect is an option that is available to PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail customers. It allows customers to arrange their own transport of a PreSort and Acquisition Mail lodgements interstate to a designated Australia Post facility to benefit from the cheaper Same State rates.

Acquisition Mail customers are required to register for the service and at the time of registration the Lodgement form will be provided .

PreSort Letters customers are required to: complete an application form - Application for Lodgement of PreSort Letters (8835117), nominating the facility/s where the letters are to be presented for lodgement and forward the application to the Australia Post contact in the State in which their business is located.

A list of Designated Interconnect Facilities can be accessed in the PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail service guides.For delivery to Metropolitan or Country addresses within the State of lodgement.The PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail services offer reduced prices to those customers who can apply barcodes to their letters, sort them into a particular order, place them into appropriately labelled trays, complete documentation prior to posting at a designated postal outlet and comply with relevant mailing conditions.

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectLinehaul and Interconnect Options

Interconnect for PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail articles

At the time of lodgement, the following documentation may also be required: Acquisition Mail Lodgement Document PreSort Letters Lodgement Document (8839151) Manifest document, if the lodgement exceeds 2,000 articles Metered Lodgement Document, if a postage meter was used for payment of a PreSort Letters lodgement. Acquisition Mail customers need to tick the appropriate meter payment channel on the Acquisition Mail lodgement form.

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectLinehaul and Interconnect Options

The difference between Linehaul and Interconnect

Linehaul is available as a service to Print Post customers customers can use Australia Post transport or a private freight service for lodgement attracts an Australia Post Linehaul charge when Australia Post transport is used Print Post articles must be lodged at letter processing facilities or Gateway processing facilities depending on the level of sort achieved (Local Sort, CBD, Residue, Country, Metro)

Interconnect is available as a service to PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail customers customers organize their own private transport for lodgement lodged at specific designated Interconnection facilities

Advanced: Linehaul and InterconnectSummaryYou have now completed this module. The key points covered were:

Linehaul: is available as a service to Print Post customers customers can use Australia Post transport or a private freight service for lodgement a Linehaul fee is charged by Australia Post requires a ULD Manifest / Linehaul Mailing Statement

Interconnect: is available as a service to PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail customers customers organize their own private transport for lodgement lodged at specific designated facilities Using the Linehaul or Interconnect options allows customers with large lodgement volumes to access the cheaper Same State postage rates

You now need to complete a short assessment to check your understanding of the information covered in this module. This assessment consists of 10 multiple-choice questions and should take you approximately 10 minutes to complete. To pass the assessment, you need to answer at least eight of these questions correctly.Attempt this assessment as many times as you need to. If you do not pass, it is recommended that you review this module again.Assessment

Assessment1For which Business Letter service can customers use Linehaul?a.Unaddressed Mail b.PreSort Letters c.Print PostClean MailAcquisition MailCorrect answer = CLinehaul is available to customers who lodge Print Post articles.

Assessment2For which Business Letter service can customers use the Interconnect option?a.PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mailb.Clean Mailc.Print Postd.Unaddressed MailCorrect answer = AThe Interconnect option is available to customers who lodge PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail.

Assessment3True or false?Customers who use the Interconnect option can transport their lodgement to any Australia Post facilitya.True b.FalseCorrect answer = BCustomers who use the Interconnect option can only transport their lodgement to a designated Interconnect facility.

Assessment4True or false?A fee is payable to Australia Post for the Interconnect optiona.True b.FalseCorrect answer = BPreSort Letter customers who use the Interconnect option pay for their own private transport of their lodgement to an Australia Post facility.

Assessment5Print Post customers who use Linehaul to transport their lodgement cana.Use a private freight service b.Use Australia Post transportc.Both of the aboveCorrect answer = CPrint Post customers can arrange for a private freight service to transport their lodgement to an Australia Post facility, or arrange transport through Australia Post, where a Linehaul fee is charged to transport the lodgement.

Assessment6PreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail customers who use the Interconnect option to transport their lodgement cana.Use a private freight service b.Use Australia Post transportc.Both of the above

Correct answer = APreSort Letters and Acquisition Mail customers can only use a private transport service to transport their lodgement to Australia Post facilities.

Assessment7True or false?A customer using Linehaul for their Print Post lodgement only needs to provide the Print Post lodgement documentation.a.True b.FalseCorrect answer = BA customer using Linehaul for their Print Post lodgement is required to provided the Print Post lodgement documentation as well as a ULD Manifest / Linehaul Mailing Statement.

Assessment8True or false?The delivery standard for Linehauled Print Post articles commences when the ULD arrives at the designated facility for processing.a.True b.FalseCorrect answer = AThe delivery standard for Linehauled Print Post articles commences when the ULD arrives at the designated facility for processing.

Assessment9What is the maximum weight for a ULD (including the weight of the ULD)?700kg500kg600kgCorrect answer = CThe maximum weight load for the ULD (including the ULD) is not to exceed 600kg.

Assessment10If you are in QLD and have mail for delivery to NSW, is it more economical to lodge the NSW mail in QLD and pay Other State postage rates or transport the NSW mail to NSW and pay Same State postage rates?a.Yes, it is more economicalb.No, it is not more economicalc.Difficult to say without completing a detailed cost benefit analysisCorrect answer = CA detailed cost benefit analysis needs to be performed by the customer to determine whether the transportation costs and the Same State postage rates would be more economical.