D.p.s. to the street

[INEEDANSWERS]

Hello all,are post office seems to be going backwards as of late. Today are supervisors told all rural carriers that D.p.s. must be carried on the side. I thought this could only be done on a route by route basis. I.E. are you going to make it back by 6, if not take your d.p.s. to the street. Any help is appreciated.

 

[POSTL80]

This is to be done on a case by case basis. If consistently going over WEEKLY, not daily evaluation, by more than 3 hours (I believe), the supervisor/PM can begin to make changes to "make you go faster". Your office should file a class action grievance on this.

 

[Surprise!]

This is to be done on a case by case basis. If consistently going over WEEKLY, not daily evaluation, by more than 3 hours (I believe), the supervisor/PM can begin to make changes to "make you go faster". Your office should file a class action grievance on this.

Does anyone actually go faster because of this?

I have always assumed this to be more of a bully tool to cut corners or we will make life unpleasant as we can.

 

[POSTL80]

Does anyone actually go faster because of this?

I have always assumed this to be more of a bully tool to cut corners or we will make life unpleasant as we can.

I am definitely slower on the street. I also burn more fuel in my POV. In my office, if I were mandated to do this my start time would be pushed back by an hour because clerk wouldn't have mail sorted. I'd just be standing around every morning if I didn't case dps. My one bundle system is very efficient for me.

 

[hockey94]

DPS to the street in a POV in most cases cannot be faster especially if you do not have a RHD vehicle (with tray). Pulling the mail down without DPS is quicker for sure.
If I was forced to take DPS to the street, I would go as SLOW as possible !!

Mgt tries this with me at xmas time, they want all DPS to the street and I flat out REFUSE, if at all possible I am not working 2 bundles when I know its going to be dark at the end of my route.

 

[Dumbassclerksyndrome]

Ask for this in writing stating who is mandating and reason for this action. Round date and signature of all persons mandating.... from sup, PM and POOM. Stand up!!! Do not be forced to do something not required.

 

[LostinDakota]

Management uses this tactic because they can AND they really don't know what to do instead. Threaten to cut the route? Sure do it. Who will now be delivering that part? No, you are not getting any assistance. We are short coverage anyway and the RCAs are all working a route... or two. The people who are making the decisions have NEVER figured out that it is the Amazon that consistently puts us over evaluation. And for some reason USPS has never figured out that elections produce a lot of mail so don't plan for that possibility. DPS to the street slows me way down and is so poorly prepped some days that it would be a waste of time.

 

[btdtret]

INEEDANSWERS -- " Today are supervisors told all rural carriers that D.p.s. must be carried on the side. I thought this could only be done on a route by route basis. "

-- You are correct.

-- The "Galligan" Letter 9 aka Step 4 ( C-14 )) states in part:

- The carrier may be required to take DPS directly to the street IF it is anticipated that they will be unable to meet the overall evaluation of the route for the week; and during the Christmas period this would place the carrier in an overtime situation.

- The decision to carry DPS directly to the street should be made on a case-by-case basis and MAY NOT MINIMIZE TOTAL ACTUAL WORK HOURS if the carrier normally cases the DPS mail and WILL NOT PERFORM EFFICIENTLY ON THE STREET.

-- Be thorough and methodical when taking DPS to the street.

-- Used to be missing a few dispatch trucks would bring an end to it, but with mail sitting in post offices overnight, it is not such a tactical any longer.

-- Step 4 ( C-158 ) in part:

- Any management decision to require DPS letter mail to be taken directly to the street by regular or replacement carriers MUST be based on route-specific conditions that require efficiency and scheduling remedies TO BE ATTEMPTED FIRST. If these attempts to improve efficiencies fail to eliminate the operational concerns by providing a more consistent leaving and delivery time, management may require the rural carrier take DPS letter mail directly to the street.

-- Per C-158, have your Assistant District Representative ask to see manglement's "efficiency and scheduling" remedies.

-- While the ADR is at it, have the ADR request the "corrective action" considered when carriers time to serve the route consistently varies more than three hours, either below or in excess of the route's standard hours. ( Section 151.2 of the PO-603.

-- Good luck.

 

[Surprise!]

Ask for this in writing stating who is mandating and reason for this action. Round date and signature of all persons mandating.... from sup, PM and POOM. Stand up!!! Do not be forced to do something not required.

I was under the impression that we can’t force management to Sign and round date their orders.

 

[Dumbassclerksyndrome]

I was under the impression that we can’t force management to Sign and round date their orders.

I don’t know where you got this impression Other than the fact that management may have told you this,but if management will not put it in writing then how are they going to enforce it? Whenever I’m directed to do something I want it in black and white with the name and signature if every person responsible for giving this directive and round dated. If management refuses, write a statement manage refused to give me written documentation of directive.

 

[w2e2w2e]

On the issue of DPS to the street, with a CBU Route it can save 45 to 120 minutes depending.
Think.about it, you are not putting it all up, then taking it all down then putting it all into mail slots.
However, I have a mixed route of CBU and OTWso a little difficult.
I have just taken DPS from CBU portion to street and think it saves me about 45 minutes.
I still cases raw and presort, but pulling those down is usually like 5 minutes.
I do bundle DPS by stop sometimes.

But....no they cannot tell all yo do this as BTDRET showed

 

[Haychica]

This is to be done on a case by case basis. If consistently going over WEEKLY, not daily evaluation, by more than 3 hours (I believe), the supervisor/PM can begin to make changes to "make you go faster". Your office should file a class action grievance on this.

EVERYONE knows my stand on this.
It ..is...unsafe. Period...esp when a safer function is already in place
Ugh

 

[Itstillfun]

I find it really dangerous in winter. My fingers and feet are numb by the time I'm done stuffing boxes out in the freezing cold. Then jump back 8nto the fréezing llv to carry. on. Summer times better unless the black flies or mosquitoes are out. Very dangerous during heat waves too. I enjoy setting my route up in office so I can stay alert to my surroundings while delivering. Safer for me.

 

[gettingcloser]

Does anyone actually go faster because of this?

I have always assumed this to be more of a bully tool to cut corners or we will make life unpleasant as we can.

In an LLV I think it’s usually better to take DPS to street as long as the final pull cut off is reasonable. My moto is get out of the office earlier usually equals get done sooner.

 

[LostinDakota]

EVERYONE knows my stand on this.
It ..is...unsafe. Period...esp when a safer function is already in place
Ugh

Yes, but safety is not considered unless it appears to cost no money i.e. time. These people have never heard of haste makes waste. I myself deliver along a 65MPH state highway. I am NOT going to be delivering along there in the dark, SPMs are sometimes skipped, and definitely am not going to being grabbing mail from 3 or 4 places at each mailbox. I do not have a death wish.

 

[csparks]

DPS to the street in a POV in most cases cannot be faster especially if you do not have a RHD vehicle (with tray). Pulling the mail down without DPS is quicker for sure.
If I was forced to take DPS to the street, I would go as SLOW as possible !!

Mgt tries this with me at xmas time, they want all DPS to the street and I flat out REFUSE, if at all possible I am not working 2 bundles when I know its going to be dark at the end of my route.

This whole DPS to the street thing is so variable, it should be left to the carriers, I think.

That said, I began taking the DPS to the street shortly after starting, after my old PM suggested giving it a try. For me, it was a light-bulb, better speed thing for two reasons.

I'm left handed, mostly. Casing all that DPS was awkward. I'd be switching between hands all the time.

I have a RHD Jeep. This is a huge factor. I have room for both flats and DPS on my left, and the dashboard acts as a perfect "desktop" to line up DPS for a few upcoming boxes. This is a long route, with empty roads, and generally some space between boxes, so I'm ready when I arrive at a box.

 

[btdtret]

All -- As "csparks" noted, taking DPS to the streets does work - even with a POV. After all, city carriers have been doing it.

-- That being said, it does take time to find a system that works for the carrier - no matter if LLV or POV.

-- My contention has been: If taking DPS to the streets was such a great thing, rural carriers would have been doing it shortly after the USPS went to DPS.

-- It will take more than just a few days to determine if taking DPS to the street will work for you. Try just starting with a half or a full tray. Then increase the trays as time goes along.

-- If someone in the office does it, ask for pointers and how to "set up" your vehicle. Or better yet, ask manglement, since they are the "experts" in everything dealing with rural carriers.

 

[RDruckus]

I filed a grievance for DPS to the street and won. (They pulled it on me on a historically cold day.)
Since I had to follow orders and file, I brought extra trays with me, and loosely packed my mail. I pulled over at a safe spot on my line of travel, and worked my DPS into my one bundle tray. I just did enough to take me to another safe pull-over location, where I worked in more DPS.
(You can turn the seat in the LLV by pulling a knob located at the bottom right. It has a globe-shaped handle.)
Did it save them any time. OH, !%£! NO!

Will they have today me cash if they try it again? Guaranteed.