(Note: If you’re only planning to use Basic Intelligent Mail service, this step doesn’t concern you - at least, not yet. But the more you know about this step today, the better prepared you will be when it becomes encouraged, or even mandatory, tomorrow.)

To take advantage of the Full Service level of Intelligent Mail, all appointments must be made electronically through the USPS Facility Access Shipment Tracking (FAST) scheduling system. The goal of FAST is to ensure timely acceptance and processing of customer mailings, improve USPS resource management and service, and enable mail induction visibility through Start the Clock, a free benefit that's exclusive to Full Service Intelligent Mailers.

In the end, use of the FAST system helps the USPS provide better customer service by collecting job details that may come in handy down the road.

Considerations:

• FAST supports both one-time and recurring appointments. You can use either the online tools or Mail.XML to schedule drop ship or Origin Entry appointments for Standard Mail and Periodicals, as well as First-Class Mail Origin Entry appointments.
• FAST supports joint scheduling. Multiple service providers such as printers and transport companies can attach logistic and content information to the same Appointment ID.

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Register

Use the Business Customer Gateway to register for the FAST service. This procedure assumes that you already have Business Customer Gateway access.

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Log In and Log Out

Use the following procedures to log in to FAST:

1. Access FAST either through the Business Customer Gateway or through fast.usps.com->Login to FAST.
2. Either method brings you to the Business Customer Gateway home page.
3. Enter the User ID and Password you would use for any service, such as PostalOne!
4. Click Schedule a Mailing Appointment (FAST).

To leave FAST, click Sign Out. Sign Out buttons are on the top right corner of each page. Signing out returns you to the Business Customer Gateway home page, where you must log in to use FAST or other services.

See section 2.2 of Postal Service Mail.XML Technical Specification for Appointment Scheduling (FAST), and sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the FAST Customer User Guide contain additional screen shots and instructions for configuring and using the FAST service.

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Features

The FAST menu includes the following options. Use fast.usps.com to access items marked with an asterisk (*) without logging in:

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