The End of NDC Discounts: Why Smart Mailers Are Shifting to SCF Entry Now

The United States Postal Service is set to make one of the most disruptive changes to direct mail postage costs in recent history. As part of ex-Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s “Delivering for America” plan, the elimination of NDC (Network Distribution Center) postage discounts and a 30% reduction in SCF (Sectional Center Facility) postage discounts for destination entry mail are slated to take effect in July 2025. These changes will dramatically alter cost structures across the direct mail industry.

If you rely on NDC entry to enter mail closer to its final destination at discounted postage rates, now is the time to adjust your strategy. The key takeaway? Smart mailers will move aggressively to maximize destination entry savings at the SCF (Sectional Center Facility) level—and they need a logistics partner that makes this transition seamless.

What These Changes Mean for Direct Mailers

For years, mailers have used NDC (National Distribution Center) entry as a cost-effective way to drop ship business class direct mail deeper into the USPS network, thereby benefiting from discounted postage rates. But with NDC discounts disappearing in mid-2025, relying on NDCs will no longer be viable for cost-conscious mailers.

Meanwhile, the 30% reduction in SCF destination entry discounts means that while SCF savings remain significant, they will shrink. This puts pressure on direct mail companies to optimize every aspect of their logistics to maintain competitive pricing and maintain improved in-home performance.

The Smart Move: Maximize SCF Entry Savings Now

With NDC savings gone and SCF discounts reduced, the best strategy for mailers is clear: maximize entry at the SCF level to preserve the highest possible postage discounts. SCF entry is already the preferred method for many high-volume mailers because it brings mail closer to final delivery, reducing USPS handling time and improving speed-to-mailbox. With the upcoming changes, SCF entry will become even more critical for direct mailers determined to stay competitive.

But to succeed in this transition, direct mailers need a fast, simple, and efficient way to estimate, book, and track SCF entry shipments. That’s where TruckDirectMail.com (TDM) comes in.

TDM: The Only Logistics Solution Many Mailers Need

For presorted, palletized marketing mail that qualifies for USPS destination entry, TDM (by Direct Logistics) is the fastest and easiest way to drop-ship SCF entry mail and provides a complete solution for:

• Estimating Costs & Transit Times: Get instant, real-world pricing and delivery timeframes so you can plan and budget with confidence.
• Tendering Shipments: Book LTL (less-than-truckload) and full truckload shipments directly through the TDM platform.
• Tracking Mail Movements: Monitor your shipments in real time for complete visibility and accountability.
• Confirming USPS Entry & Delivery: Ensure your mail arrives at the correct SCF facility for optimal postage discounts.

For many direct mail companies, TDM may be the only logistics solution needed to navigate the post-2025 landscape. With its ability to streamline and automate destination entry shipping, backed by over 20 years of dedicated human experience shipping mail-as-freight, not to mention existing integrations in the industries leading presort and mail-dot-dat software, TDM dramatically simplifies what could otherwise be a complex and lengthy transition from NDC to SCF drop-shipping.

Act Now to Stay Ahead

July 2025 may seem far away, but the smart money isn’t waiting. The time to test, refine, and maximize SCF entry logistics is now. Shifting to SCF entry today gives you the best chance to maintain cost efficiency and reliable in-home performance when NDC entry is no longer an option.

With TDM by Direct Logistics, you can make the transition to SCF entry mail with confidence. Get started today and ensure your direct mail operations are optimized for the future.