Rural Carrier POV load and setup for USPS *rural carrier associate tips
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- How to set up your POV (privately owned vehicle) with mail and packages as a rural carrier for the postal service. I've been delivering mail for over 12 years and I love the job. There are many different methods for delivering, this is how I load my vehicle for delivery when I use my Ford Taurus station wagon. Hopefully this video is helpful to new rural carrier associates (RCAs)
Thanks for watching!
I just got a job doing this and I don't know if they have postal vehicles but I definitely will not take the job if I have to drive my car. I have an S UV and driving like this down the road just does not seem safe not worth the pay they give.
A cheap alternative is to buy right hand drive pedals. Can get them installed for roughly $500
Crazy. This should be illegal.
i don't know what his contract is but we get notices pretty much every month regarding social media, however i do not know the fine print. I'll ask my PM tomorrow.
I have a 2008 Chevy Impala. I'm thinking about trying this job out... Just need to get my foot in the door. I have a CDL so I couldn't drive one of their 5-ton rigs!
Thanks for the video. i'm beginning a rural route and every bit of additional insight from those doing it is helpful. General top level training doesn't give the same perspective. Luckily i get a metris van so my butt will be saved from sitting on my tiny center console 😆
Awesome. I'm glad you found it helpful, that's why I posted it! Good luck with the new job, having a metris will make things quite a bit easier and relieve the stress of maintaining your own vehicle. Let me know if you have any questions whatsoever! I love to help
These are some other POV's that I used to live in. I mean WORK OUT OF!
I applied for an RCA position but there's no way in hell I'm sitting in the passenger seat trying to drive I'm not dying for this Job lol. Do they really expect everyone to try to drive like that?
They do unless you are on a route that is designated a postal van. Which is very possible, those routes are becoming more and more popular and eventually every route will have a postal van. But yeah if you don't, then you have to provide your own. There are right hand drive vehicles you can buy, I normally drive a 1996 Jeep Cherokee right hand drive. But right hand drive vehicles are hard to find, so many people end up sitting in the center like I show in the video. It might seem unsafe, but once you get the hang of it it really isn't that bad. And you don't have to, but you can put your seatbelt on. Definitely find out if you need your own POV for the office you're working at. Maybe you'll be lucky and they'll have a bunch of postal vans already
I delivered out of the same car shown in this video, although I am a taller person so I sat directly in the middle with my mail to the right of me and smaller packages to the left of me. After doing my full route for a couple of days it was pretty easy. My first day driving like that was a little scary, but it gets easy. Usually POV routes are in really rural areas. For example, my route had less than 350 boxes on the route and was over 100 miles long. One of the other rural routes was closer to town and had over 1000 boxes, but only went maybe 15 miles total. They had a mail truck.
yes. We have to drive on the right hand side. That's where the mailboxes are.
@@PostalReptiles it should be illegal and banned from being allowed by OSHA…
@@kevinguzda1131 I don't disagree. But before they ban carriers from delivering like this, they need to either provide vehicles or they need to allow carriers to import right hand drives excluding us from the 25-year importation law
How do you remember when a package needs to be delivered? I get the letters are in order in your lap, but when a bigger package comes due do you have to memorize it, or is there a system I don’t know about?
Some people go off memory. I don't like going off memory though, because I don't want to have to be thinking non-stop on route what my next package is.
Those trays that are on my driver seat is the mail that I had to case in, that is where I also will case in package markers for every house that has one. That way, I get to a package marker I know I have to find a package. If they're loaded properly, it should be one of the closest ones to me. There's still a lot of memorization cuz often somebody will get packages, but no mail that had to be cased in. So I will just have a ton of package markers in a row so I'll have to remember what houses they were. Which isn't a problem when you know the route. A lot of the times subs, who are doing many routes and may or may not know them perfectly, will write the address on The package Marker to make it more simple.
You can use package lookahead in the MDD. Some people use the Load Truck feature and scan parcels but not SPRs, a ✅ means trip to door.
I'm amazed that the Federal Government requires you to use your own vehicle to deliver. That's absurd.
I agree. They are in the process of buying an entire fleet of right hand drive vans for rural carriers. But they've been saying that for years, so who knows when there will be one for me
its less surprising when you think about how many rural post offices there are. they are everywhere. i can't imagine how many they would need for every rural carrier to have one, and the maintenance. 133,000 rural letter carriers. i'm lucky and we have new vans.
you don't have to accept the job...... we agree to do it and get paid an equipment stipend which makes our wage about $30/hr. Use the extra money for vehicle maintenance and to buy another when you need it.
It's a shit show thanks amazon
If you're ever looking for RHD pedals. I got the Safedrive ones. They have a steering stick too for driving on the right side.
it would seem that for the idea of safety AND saving MASS money, they USPS should just GET you that.
Could you possibly show driving the left hand drive while delivering? Guess I’m not sure how USPS can consider that safe. Also not sure how anyone just getting started would go all in and invest in right hand drive when not sure if job is long term at the very beginning but required to have one. Why not deliver for UPS or other instead?
I don't want to record while delivering as I don't want to get into trouble. Plus I have two right hand drive vehicles now so I hardly ever drive my backup backup left hand drive. I agree though I won't rush out and buy a right hand drive until you know whether or not you're going to stick with the job, but there are cheaper options. You can buy kits that are only a couple hundred bucks or you can get the gas and brake pedal put over on the right side. And then for more money you can have the steering wheel moved even, or you can just reach across. Here's a video I made that's a bit older where I do show how I drive from the right side with my left hand drive. Hopefully it gives you a better idea ua-cam.com/video/2iDp9ZPZbmk/v-deo.html
@@PostalReptiles appreciate the reply, thank you!
They make RHD kits you can install in your vehicle. They're like $600-$700. And you can still use your vehicle normally on the left. I have the Safedrive pedals.
I'm just about to start my job there soon, I have a 2016 jeep renegade. That has a center console and everything, but with a pillow in the center, I think I should be good to straddle it. And I only live in Maine. And in one of the easier towns and not one of the challenging ones. I was THINKING about just buying one of those things that you use to grab the mail. But my girlfriends Mom said I should just straddle, cause she's been working there for 25 years. I already know the first few months of doing it are gonna suck, but I think it'll definitely be easier with practice. Can't wait to start though. Goal is to become a full time carrier. And make it a career. Once you make it high up, you definitely make great money. Plus I love driving the back roads.
Did you start? How do you like it? I'm not familiar with the jeep renegade so idk what the center console looks like, hope you were able to straddle or found a vehicle that works!
Damn that’s actually a beautiful setup
It works great. I gotta say though I prefer my right hand drive setup 100x more. Makes the job so much nicer having a factory rhd and a bench setup. I have two factory rhd vehicles now that I drive on the route, jeep cherokee and toyota hilux surf), but I still have this Taurus wagon for a backup-backup :)
I just got offer for RCA. Been also waiting on CCA. Now not sure what I should do as I have a 2020 ford escape and I don’t want to convert to RHD and can’t buy another car. Not sure I can RHD my escape.
Just give it a try or two on a dead-end or back road to practice. I didn't think I could in my Jeep but I drive find now straddling
Thx. Just got me a Suby and looking for ideas!
How is that safe??
Too bad bench seats are hard to find these days. I'm stuck straddling for the summer.
Def getting harder and harder to come by! Luckily now importing rhd vehicles has become more common so finding a factory right hand drive is a bit easier. Still more expensive than finding an old lhd with a bench seat but makes the job so much nicer. I bought an imported toyota hilux surf and I can not brag it up enough. I think the surf with the 2.7L engine may be the ultimate mail delivery vehicle, especially if you live where it snows. And they are damn near bulletproof
Sooo how do you separate the locations and know what order (address) to go to first so you won’t be running around like a loose chicken
If you're talking about the mail, I drive the exact same route every day. We case the mail in the morning and then pull down in the order that we drive the route. So the mail is all in order. As for packages I mark them in the mail so that I know who has a package, and when I load the car I load them in route order. Not perfectly, but enough where I know the next package will be one of the closest ones to me. Hope that helps
I'm starting as a rural route carrier this week. I'm going to try to use my truck which is a Dodge Nitro and which has a center console floor mounted shifter. I've made some slight modifications to the console to make it flat and I plan to straddle the shifter. I'm 6'2. What do you think of this set up. I realize that I should have like a minivan or open wagon like you but financially it isn't possible right now. Thank you!
If you managed to flatten the center console out and you have long legs and arms it might work just fine! I've had coworkers use vehicles with center consoles, it can work. Give it a try. Another option is to buy right side pedal kits. You can get just the pedals installed for under $500. There are a lot of different brands to choose from. Or for closer to 2500ish bucks you can also get the steering wheel installed but just the pedals is a nice cheap option that your hips, knees and legs will thank you for. Good luck at the job. It's difficult to learn but once you get the hang of it, I still consider it a good job 🙂
I just got offered this job. I'm curious to how much mileage they pay and the stuff. I have a pickup truck. I'm not sure if it would be my own vehicle or not. It's rural carrier assistant
I know a lot of people who deliver out of pickup trucks. It all depends on what kind it is and if it has that center console or not. The mileage pay right now is about 90 cents a mile. That is supposed to cover fuel and also car repairs. It really adds up. I highly recommend saving that mileage pay, because you will need it as the route is very hard on vehicles. Good luck with the new job. It's difficult at first, but once you get the feel for things it's much much easier
Where did you get the cardboard half trays for working the dps?
They're available at every post office I've been at. Ask management to get some if not. We've ran low on them before and management has always been able to get more
pretty neat to see that aspect of our delivery! is it illegal to drive like that? jw
It is legal for only rural mail carriers to deliver like that, also without a seat belt. I remember how strange it was when I first started the job driving by cops and waving while sitting like that 😅
And I am quiting in 3...2...1...GONE! 1st day training as a CCA crazy, I have have more training hauling fuel (3 months!) and CCA you get 3-4 day option. Big stuff is easyer to visuize I just cant do this not for me. 25 years of LTL and I can't held this.
Hello is it for the Highway contract routes?
Negative. I am a rural carrier, an employee of USPS
@@PostalReptiles why are you using your own car ?
@@alazantv3835 many rural routes have to provide their own vehicle still
How are you feeling about the RRECS?
I'm in one of those heavy Amazon offices who has been delivering Amazon for free for years prior to rrecs, so I love it! Route went from a 41k up to an overburdened 48k. Feels good to finally beginning paid closer to correct anyway 😂. I'm assuming you must be a mail carrier, how do you feel about it?
@PostalReptiles I just got done with RCA Academy yesterday, and I start my first day tomorrow doing Amazon. I have just been doing some research about the job. From what I've heard, the people that got royally screwed were the ones that weren't doing something right with their evaluation before RRECS came into play, but I don't know for sure. I started my training and shadow day and stuff last may when RRECS was being rolled out, so I was seeing the very beginning of the mass exodus.
@@tededonthugback yeah they had been talking about rrecs being implemented for years, so I think a lot of people were not taking the scans seriously thinking it wasn't going to happen again. But it actually happened and the ones that didn't do the proper scans definitely got hurt. And then also routes that had lost Amazon got hit hard. So yeah a lot of different mixed feelings on it all. Good luck to you though, seems like you already know more about rrecs than most carriers do so I'm sure you will be fine! 😜
@PostalReptiles Oooh, I had a question I was going to ask my carrier, but maybe you can answer for me. Lol. Do you guys have depart to route and return from route stickers you guys scan with the scanner? And if so, is it the same as clicking the DEPART2ROUTE button in the RRECS scan area?
@@tededonthugback my office doesn't have those scans. I think though if your route has a government vehicle then that's when you have those stickers to scan. My office everything is done on the scanner through rrecs.
Damn our rural carriers use llvs
I did something like this with a golf cart, never imagined doing it with a car XD
Many do not have that roomy bench seat and column shifter setup anymore sadly.
You have a nice setup! Miss driving with my left foot. Have llv now, and miss my radio. Used to drive explorer with full size truck as a backup for Christmas!
I use a portable speaker when I drive an llv, I'm jot doing this shit in silence 😅
How are the hours, whats the earliest and the latest you're on the job?
Oh man that really varies. There are days I am done at 1:00, and during peak season there are days I'm not home until after 8:00 p.m. . Some weeks I'm only working 30 hours, and some weeks I am working 60. The mail and package volume varies greatly from day to day so that's a hard question to answer when it comes to this job
Wisconsin!! I’ve been a rural carrier for Canada Post in British Columbia for a few years but will be coming home to Wisconsin in August and am hoping to do the same job once I’m home! Watched your video to see if you guys do things pretty similarly to us, and it looks like you do lots of the same stuff. Little different terminology but that’s about it. I’m curious what part of the state you’re in?
Very cool! Well luckily for you I don't think there's a single post office in Wisconsin that isn't short staffed. A lot of offices don't even have enough subs to fill full position routes, so you should be able to go full-time relatively quickly. I am in northwestern Wisconsin. Where will you be heading to?
@@PostalReptiles Well that’s fantastic news…I’m certainly hoping to go full-time as soon as possible. Gonna be down in Ozaukee County, clear on the other side of the state from where you are.
Do you think a Buick would be too small?
For sure! I use to use my brother's Buick LeSabre on the route and it worked great! Few of my coworkers over the years drove LeSabres and also Buick century. The 3.8 liter engine is legendary and bulletproof. Buicks are a great choice, only downfall is they don't have a tremendous amount of cargo space like a station wagon. It really depends on the route and how many packages it averages. It's amazing how much more room you have though if you take the rear seats out
Why it cannot be driven normally ? 😮
You need to be on the right side of th vehicle in order to reach the mailboxes
Do you use your own vehicle often ?
6 days a week. 95% of the time I'm driving my own right hand drive jeep. Only drive this Taurus when the Jeep is getting work done
Definitely a hard job to learn...especially when your not trained right. I recently resigned from the office I was at because of having just one day of training on a big route then thrown on it myself a few days later. Must of been 170 packages that day plus the mail. No wonder they can't keep anyone.
Absolutely. My route is getting over 200 on the daily now, and over 300 during the holidays. The job has definitely changed. I do still enjoy it usually tho. Thanks for the comment 🙂
@Postal Reptiles I would of stayed but unfortunately being understaffed and seeing how everyone was so stressed all the time I went back to the boilermakers. You could feel the negative vibes around ya lol. Maybe later this year I'll try another office. Take care brother!
@@banger5682 I definitely feel that. Things have escalated so fast and for the worse since the start of covid. Almost two years of working six days a week because we're understaffed, Amazon packages going through the roof having to make two or three trips almost daily. I'm holding out to see how this rrecs turns out. We will find out on Monday our new route sizes. If my route some how went down I am out of here. But I'm expecting it to go up significantly because of the packages. We will see you though. Thanks man take care
WHAT!?
Thank you for video. I am wondering if it is possible to sit at left ( as usual) and put mails into the mail box by using a Grabber ( or some sort)?
There is! I have never used one but I've heard of people who have and it worked. I would never want to use one everyday but in a pinch I could see it working! One popular one is called the Hawkbill reacher made by mailhawk
not a bad reach? you gotta be fucking kidding me. The post office should get burned at the stake for asking/allowing carriers to drive like this
Haha I do agree it's pretty ridiculous that carriers have been driving like this for years. I do stand by what I said though, once you get used to it's really not difficult whatsoever. However, it doesn't compare to how nice it is to drive out of a factory right hand drive. They claim everyone will have a postal van in a couple years. But they've also been saying that for quite a few years lol
Was looking for some good ideas. Unfortunately all I can see is several defensive driver safety violations.
That tray on the floor near the gas and brake peddles is a no no. It could slide forward and prevent you from braking when needed. Also you can’t easily set the parking brake when exiting the vehicle to deliver a package with that tray there.
Those rubber bands around the shifter are also a no no. They could prevent the car from going all the way into Park.
The mail tray in your lap is also a no no because it’s a distraction while driving.
Just took this class today. So it’s all pretty fresh in my mind.
Park it.
Brake it.
Curb it.
Take it.
I can’t recommend doing things this way to anyone as several of these things could get you fired.
You're right. A lot of the ways I was driving a pov is not allowed today. But 13 years ago that was exactly the way I was taught to do it. My academy teacher taught me how and where to put everything like I did in this video. They changed the rules a bit. I don't ever drive a left hand drive anymore, I bought two rhds, but I never stopped delivering this way when in my Taurus and had numerous postmasters do ride alongs with me and safety inspections and no one ever had an issue. Appreciate the comment though, do whatever technique you are taught in academy and then tweek it to what works best for you. Good luck with the new job!