Enhanced Line of Travel (eLOT) sequence is an option for mailers who prepare carrier route mailings other than high-density/125-piece or saturation mailings. eLOT sequencing is required for Basic Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail except automation-compatible, letter-size pieces. eLOT sequence is not an exact walk sequence but a sequence of ZIP + 4 Codes arranged in the order that the route is served by a carrier. First the ZIP + 4 groups are sequenced. Then the addresses within each group are identified as being in ascending or descending order.
Finalist releases include a monthly eLOT database. The eLOT database ensures that Enhanced Carrier Route mailings are sorted much closer to the actual delivery sequence. The Finalist database and eLOT database must be in synch (for example, September eLOT data must be processed with a September Finalist database). If the Finalist database and the eLOT database are not in synch, there may be ZIP + 4 Codes for which eLOT numbers cannot be assigned. The ZIP Code, ZIP + 4 code, carrier route code, and the delivery point of an address must be provided to assign a LOT code.