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. FAST provides business mail owners, preparers, and schedulers enhanced visibility of their scheduled mailings at each facility. To make an appointment, log in to your FAST account.
Who is FAST for?
FAST is for business mail owners, preparers, and schedulers.
Latest Updates
Description
FAST provides a single, integrated customer service and product visibility for all mail classes. 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.
FAST interfaces with a number of systems to improve visibility for both Postal and customer users. Surface Visibility is used to collect real-time data by scanning shipments as they move through the appointment closeout process. Surface Visibility is one of several systems that is utilized on the dock to provide appointment closeout information.
For more information, visit the FAST website. To make a FAST appointment, log in to your account.
To access FAST, customers must register through the Business Customer Gateway.
Featured Resources
04/01/2011
FAST® Overview
This presentation gives a detailed overview of the Facility Access and Shipment Tracking system including all of its components.
01/03/2022
Facility Access & Shipment Tracking (FAST) - Frequently Asked Questions
This one page document answers some common FAST FAQ and provides important FAST-related links and contact information.
01/01/2014
FAST® Origin Entry Facilities
This origin entry spreadsheet lists all origin entry facilities as of January 2014.
01/23/2017
FAST®: Facility Contact List
Get the latest contact information for USPS FAST® facility members!
11/01/2011
FAST®: Customer User Guide (Origin Entry)
This guide describes how to use the FAST Origin Entry functions.
11/01/2011
FAST® Customer User Guide (Drop Ship)
This guide describes how to use the FAST functions.
USPS Mail XML Tech Spec Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST)
03/11/2021
FAST Mail.XML 14.0A Technical Specification
Postal Service Technical Specifications for FAST.
03/11/2021
FAST Mail.XML 16.0 Technical Specification
Postal Service Technical Specifications for FAST.
FAST® Release Notes
FAST® Job Aids
Customer/Supplier Agreements: eDoc Association Job Aid
The Customer Supplier/Agreements-eDoc Association Job Aid contains useful information around correctly mapping CSA information from FAST to eDocs.
Joint Scheduling Job Aid
Joint Appointment Scheduling is a capability in FAST® to allow multiple owners to own their specific pieces of the appointment scheduling process.
Mail Direction Search Report
The Mail Direction Search Report is used to search for default drop entry points and redirections.
Preferred Publication Job Aid
The Preferred Publication Group is an area which allows users to select and save their regularly used publications.
Creating Drop Ship Appointments Guide
The Creating Drop Ship Appointment guide contains instructions to help the user create drop ship appointments in FAST. This guide provides users with step-by-step directions for creating one-time and recurring drop ship appointments.
Creating Origin Entry Appointments Guide
The Origin Entry Appointments guide contains instructions to help the user create Origin Entry appointments in FAST. This guide provides users with step-by-step directions for creating one-time and recurring Origin Entry appointments.
Facility Profile Information
The Facility Profile in FAST provides users the capability to view Facility related information.
Managing Drop Ship Appointments Guide
The Managing Drop Ship Appointments guide contains instructions to help the user manage their drop ship appointments in FAST. This guide provides users with step-by-step directions for managing one-time and recurring drop ship appointments.
Managing Origin Entry Appointments Guide
The Managing Drop Ship Appointments guide contains instructions to help the user manage their Origin Entry appointments in FAST.
Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST®) Appointment Container Association Quick Reference Guide
The FAST Appointment Container Association Quick Reference Guide contains instructions to help the user understand the appointment container association process, Full-Service appointment scheduling options and best communication approach for their business process.
Appointment Shell Job Aid
The Appointment Shell job aid contains instructions to help the user understand the impact of creating and cancelling appointment shells.
Formatting and Printing Reports Job Aid
The Formatting and Printing Reports job aid contains instructions to help the user properly format and print the FAST reports.
Resolution and Internet Browser Settings
The Resolution and Internet Browser settings document will help the user adjust their screen resolution and browser settings.
Web Services Overview
The Web Services Overview document contains introductions to the features and benefits associated with Web Services.
Retrieving 99M Barcode Data from Mail.XML Job Aid
This job aid contains overview information for users on how to query their 99M barcode data through Mail.
Related Products
Drop Shipment Management System (DSMS)
The Drop Shipment Management System (DSMS) program allows authorized users to streamline the Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) process through consolidating PVDS documentation from multiple jobs and mailing locations in electronic files.
eInduction
The electronic Induction (eInduction) process simplifies the induction of drop shipments and expedited plant load mailings by leveraging existing eDoc, Intelligent Mail Container barcode (IMcb), and handheld scanner technologies to verify payment and preparation of commercial mail containers.
Mailer Identifier (MID)
The Mailer Identifier (MID) is a field within the Intelligent Mail barcode that is used to identify mailers. MIDs are assigned by the USPS® to a Mail Owner, Mailing Agent or other service providers who request them.
Contact
For questions about FAST, contact the USPS Help Desk via email fast@usps.gov or telephone 877-569-6614 (choose option 2). Or visit the FAST website.