What are the 5 processing categories?

The correct answer identifies the five processing categories used by the USPS: Letters, Flats, Machinable parcels, Irregular parcels, and Outside parcels. These categories are crucial in classifying and processing mail effectively.

Letters are typically standard-sized mail that can be easily processed through automated systems. Flats refer to larger, flat-shaped items like magazines and brochures, which require different handling than standard letters. Machinable parcels are items that can fit certain size and weight criteria, making them suitable for automated processing. Irregular parcels are those that do not meet the machinable criteria, often due to their shape or packaging. Finally, Outside parcels encompass items that do not fit into the other categories, typically larger or irregularly shaped parcels that require special handling.

Understanding these categories is vital for USPS employees as it directly impacts how mail is sorted, routed, and delivered, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in the postal system. The other options do not align with the official categories used by USPS, focusing on different types of mail or delivery services rather than providing a structured classification of processing.