Press release:

CHICAGO, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, has been selected as the map data provider for inclusion with RouteSmart Technologies’ Carrier Optimal Routing (COR) solution, which was developed in partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS). RouteSmart’s solution is designed to create more efficient USPS delivery routes and lines of travel, improve customer service and reduce daily operations costs.

USPS is responsible for the delivery of mail throughout the United States and plans to deploy and utilize this software nationwide to create more efficient and safe delivery routes. The NAVTEQ(R) map includes in-depth coverage for urban and rural areas together with comprehensive, field verified routing attributes. The RouteSmart optimization algorithms take advantage of the NAVTEQ attributes to accurately optimize delivery route data and to calculate and provide optimized travel directions.

The RouteSmart algorithms embedded in COR and the highly accurate and detailed map data from NAVTEQ will allow the USPS to optimize its delivery resources and to make route adjustments when necessary. NAVTEQ employs one of the industry’s most comprehensive map development and quality control programs for the highest levels of excellence and precision.

“The NAVTEQ map is critical to our ability to deliver quality solutions that meet the complex precision routing needs of our customers,” states Larry Levy, Vice President, RouteSmart. “The success of this project for the United States Postal Service points to the continued success of our collaboration.”

“RouteSmart’s solution takes full advantage of NAVTEQ data to deliver high quality results,” says Roy Kolstad, Vice President and General Manager – Business and Government Solutions, NAVTEQ. “We have a strategic relationship with RouteSmart and are excited about our collaboration on this important project for the United States Postal Service.”

About RouteSmart

RouteSmart Technologies is recognized as a world leader in the field of route optimization software solutions for the newspaper, postal, public works, and utility industries. A wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bowne AE&T Group ( http://www.bownegroup.com ) — a Mineola, NY based engineering and information technology firm with over 100 years of experience — RouteSmart Technologies is based in Columbia, MD, and has over 20 years experience serving clients within these industry segments. Current clients include the United States Postal Service, FedEx Home Delivery, Republic Services Group, and nearly 100 municipalities around the world who use the RouteSmart product to solve diverse, high-density residential routing problems. RouteSmart Technologies’ clients save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by using RouteSmart software in their operations.

About NAVTEQ

NAVTEQ is a leading provider of comprehensive digital map information for automotive navigation systems, mobile navigation devices, Internet-based mapping applications, and government and business solutions. NAVTEQ creates the digital maps and map content that power navigation and location-based services solutions around the world. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1985 and has approximately 2,100 employees located in 139 offices in 25 countries.

NAVTEQ is a trademark in the U.S. and other countries.

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Department of Justice press release: 

Los Angeles, CA – An Aliso Viejo man has pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charges for conspiring to pay kickbacks to an employee of the United States Postal Service in exchange for the illegal referral of postal workers to his physical therapy clinic.

Daniel Gallacher Parker Jr., 54, pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Los Angeles Monday afternoon to conspiracy, two counts of paying kickbacks and seven counts of health care fraud. The case against Parker relates to his operation of Cooperative Care Medical Group in Aliso Viejo. The clinic was later called Performance Health Medical Group, which also had operations in Garden Grove and Torrance.

The Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP) administers the workers’ compensation program for employees of federal agencies, including the Postal Service. The OWCP pays for medical care for federal employees injured at work, but the program will not pay for medical services or items that are provided as the result of a kickback paid by a medical professional.

By pleading guilty, Parker admitted that he conspired to pay kickbacks to an Injury Compensation Specialist at the Postal Service who agreed to refer injured postal employees to Parker’s clinics. Parker used a middleman to enter into an agreement with the Injury Compensation Specialist to disguise the true nature of the kickback scheme and to provide “legal insulation” for Parker. Parker had his co-conspirator pay the Injury Compensation Specialist $1,000 a month for the illegal referrals, but promised more money if enough referrals were made to Parker’s clinics.

After being asked to participate in the illegal kickback scheme, the Injury Compensation Specialist contacted administrators at the OWCP and fully cooperated in the subsequent investigation.

Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2007 by United States District Judge Margaret M. Morrow. Parker faces a statutory maximum sentence of 85 years in federal prison, although his actual sentence will be determined by the judge.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, IRS – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General.

Shipping Digest reports today that parcel shippers expect ”rate increases of about 2 to 3 percent on most products … as the industry waits for UPS, FedEx Express and DHL to unveil their 2007 rate cards.”

The story is based on a Morgan Stanley survey of “more than 250 of the largest U.S. parcel shippers”.

The survey also found that shippers continue to “shift more loads to lower-cost ground from air”, and that

“…shippers projected the fastest growth in shipment volume for the U.S. Postal Service at 4.4 percent, reflecting service improvements by the agency and cost savings because ‘USPS cannot charge a fuel surcharge.’”…

… Shippers said USPS “has a long way to go” to make up the quality gap it has with UPS and FedEx…

… Since USPS is the biggest customer for FedEx, Morgan Stanley said the postal rate increase also has the potential to dampen FedEx volume to the benefit of UPS.

From USPS Newslink Extra:

Absentee ballots must be delivered

That includes short-paid mail

The U.S. Postal Service has a very important role during every election cycle in the proper handling and delivery of political mail and absentee ballots.

Due to the size of the upcoming general election ballots in some states, the standard 39-cent First-Class postage voters are accustomed to using to mail their filled-out absentee ballots may be insufficient.

Regardless of whether or not these absentee ballots have the correct postage, they must be delivered. Any delay of absentee ballots is a violation of postal policy.

All employees must adhere to postal policy as follows:

• Any absentee ballots identified as short-paid will be accounted for according to postal policy and will be delivered to the addressee.
• No absentee ballots or other election material may be detained or treated as unpaid mail, as directed by Postal Operations Manual section 171.3.
• Questions about possible abuse or impropriety must be referred to supervisors.
• Willful delay of absentee ballots or other election material is a violation of policy, ethics and law.
• When presented with absentee ballots, Retail Sales and Services Associates should ensure correct postage is applied.Any questions or concerns about handling absentee ballots should be directed to District Political Mail Coordinators.

Posted in the  Headquarters Announcements section of the NAPS forum:

NAPS has requested a meeting with USPS Headquarters as soon as possible concerning the difficulties that our members are experiencing in the field with respect to selection of Core goals that are appropriate for their positions of record.

The limited offerings in Core goals that have been presented to supervisors this year are making it difficult, if not impossible, to have meaningful discussions in negotiating Core goals.

NAPS HQ will provide updates to the field following our discussion with the Postal Service on this important matter.

“Core goals” are individually assigned targets that, along with performance on corporate and unit goals, determine the level of a manager’s annual salary increase.

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Adrian MacNair at the Thought Mechanics blog notes the flap over ‘hate mail’ in Vancouver, and is disappointed that Canada Post has said it will deliver flyers sent by an Ontario religious cult that blame gays for, among other things, the spread of AIDS. MacNair muses:

I wonder how quickly CP would cease delivery if the headlines were based on peoples of more significant demographics:

“All Muslims worship Osama bin Laden as a father”
“There is a Zionist conspiracy to perpetrate the holocaust myth”
“Medical evidence shows that blacks are inferior to whites”

The Fight Against Hate Mail