Opelousas rural mailwoman dies from injuries suffered in crash on January 5

[Ruralinfo]

OPELOUSAS, La. — Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a two-vehicle serious injury crash on LA 3043 just east of Webb Lane in Opelousas on January 5 shortly before 10 a.m. This crash ultimately claimed the life of Nakeisha Pitre, 46, of Opelousas. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 1998 Chevrolet United States Postal ... Read more

 

[lbpd16]

I don’t understand how driving in the passenger seat is continued to be allowed. There is no way someone can control their vehicle from the passenger seat if evasive action must be taken In my prior career in law enforcement I would have stopped and ticketed anyone I saw driving from the passenger side, postal excluded of course. It’s simply was too dangerous and every few months we see yet another tragic example of usps allowing this. Of course they will wash their hands of the situation and blame the carrier for not being seat belted. However we all know it’s nearly impossible to do the job with a seatbelt on.

 

[DB.Cooper]

I don’t understand how driving in the passenger seat is continued to be allowed. There is no way someone can control their vehicle from the passenger seat if evasive action must be taken In my prior career in law enforcement I would have stopped and ticketed anyone I saw driving from the passenger side, postal excluded of course. It’s simply was too dangerous and every few months we see yet another tragic example of usps allowing this. Of course they will wash their hands of the situation and blame the carrier for not being seat belted. However we all know it’s nearly impossible to do the job with a seatbelt on.

I figured the 1998 "chevy" was an LLV (Chevy chassis).... was it a POV????

 

[muttleycrue]

I figured the 1998 "chevy" was an LLV (Chevy chassis).... was it a POV????

the last LLVs rolled off the line in 1994, if I remember correctly.

 

[DB.Cooper]

the last LLVs rolled off the line in 1994, if I remember correctly.

It seems odd that they would describe it as a 1998 Chevrolet US Postal Service Mail Vehicle if it were a POV, but I guess it could be....

 

[Shannonboy]

OPELOUSAS, La. — Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a two-vehicle serious injury crash on LA 3043 just east of Webb Lane in Opelousas on January 5 shortly before 10 a.m. This crash ultimately claimed the life of Nakeisha Pitre, 46, of Opelousas. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 1998 Chevrolet United States Postal ... Read more

That is so sad....probably just trying to pick up some weekend holiday hours to get her family through....an ARC, so highly unlikely she got the kind of training she needed. Another person killed by ineptness of the po mgmt training system....if you are moving, lap belt should've been on I would think, at a minimum....I dont know though, was it an llv, or pov....regardless, I'm sure she was overwhelmed, and under trained. It's standard operating procedure now a days....another family member murdered by the po....☹☹

 

[Shannonboy]

In my pov, I wear my seatbelt to the beginning of rt., and from ending to office, not while delivering rt....federal law does not require it, but somedays I wonder if it should...

 

[DB.Cooper]

Yeah, it was a Sunday... Amazon strikes again... if she was just delivering parcels, would she have even been straddling in front seat, even in a POV????

 

[DB.Cooper]

Very sad, prayers to the family and loved ones....

 

[Surprise!]

If the United States Postal Service requires a specialized POV to deliver mail, It is reasonable that there should be more compensation to supply a POV.

At this time the argument is you may use the family car so you should only be compensated for its use while delivering. If a specialized vehicle is required you are for practical purposes loaning the Postal Service the money for your vehicle.

 

[muttleycrue]

It seems odd that they would describe it as a 1998 Chevrolet US Postal Service Mail Vehicle if it were a POV, but I guess it could be....

much of the public - including reporters - have no idea that our POVs are not USPS owned/supplied. It has USPS signage, it must be USPS owned, I guess is the belief.

 

[Surprise!]

I think it is generally believed we receive very generous compensation for a POV.

I remember the Postal Service arguing that we could buy a new vehicle every five years with the compensation we receive. If we did not have to pay for fuel and repairs it may be true.

 

[Surprise!]

We don't seem to have the resources available to keep our union running. How we could bring together the people to pursue even one fight for any period of time I find difficult to guess.

 

[ATCBigE]

I think it is generally believed we receive very generous compensation for a POV.

I remember the Postal Service arguing that we could buy a new vehicle every five years with the compensation we receive. If we did not have to pay for fuel and repairs it may be true.

Theres's no way in heck you can do that. RHD jeep brand new is 53K.

My route EMA for the year was 20,900 roughly & it just dropped again to 95 cents at beginning of the year. I also have 4 vehicles

Gas eats up around 8-9k a year and I have vehicles that get at worst 16 MPG and at best 22 MPG. License in my state is $151 bucks so there's another $600+ bucks there. Insurance is probably another 1k at least if not touch more (depending on how much insurance you have on it too.) Could be a lot more too.

So right there alone, I am at 10,800 bucks without any sort of labor or any parts.

Roughly part wise, I have to about 7-8 oil changes a year. I do myself and just pay parts ($25 bucks and if not it would be closer to $60-$75 bucks by a normal mechanic).

Tires and just plugging tires. I have to buy usually 1 sometimes 2 sets a year. So another $250 since dad gets them and I put them on but again if not for that there's another $500 to $750 bucks easily. Plugging tires cost few bucks but if you go to mechanic probably another 25 to 50 bucks a pop. Oh also if you are like me, I have 2 snow tires so another couple hundred bucks.

Brakes again I do myself so only have $100 in parts. Non mechanic would have $250 to $500 bucks depending on rotor and more if need calipers. Brakes could be more if rear needs done and would double that easily.

That's just basic stuff. Down to about 8k to 9k depending on vehicle you have and etc. There's no way you could even sniff a RHD Jeep. It would take easily 6 years without any major expensive or ton of extra expenses.

 

[Surprise!]

We had a lot of people thinking they were making big money by doing their own work. The Postal Service seems to be under the impression that the savings should belong to them.

I feel we should be reimbursed for commercial rates weather we do the work or have it done commercially. Any money a carrier gets out of doing their own work should be between the IRS and the carrier not the Postal Service and the carrier.


A lot of issues have been posted on the board in the last few months. Enough that if organized should cause havoc during arbitration. Not one has been pursued. Dealing with these issues is not instant gratification. You don't win because you think you are the good guy. You have to show they are the bad guy.

 

[Rogtar]

We don't seem to have the resources available to keep our union running. How we could bring together the people to pursue even one fight for any period of time I find difficult to guess.

I think it would be easier if people connected. City gets hundreds of members within blocks of each other to the point they have about 3 factions politicking for control of their union. Rural needs to travel hundreds to assemble dozens.

That said: it would absolutely be worth it to go road tripping across the states to assemble grievance cases and complaints that were never filed, members and non paying members, all to accumulate a record of how both the union and the usps are mishandling everything. The requirement, a LOT of annual leave from somone(s) as the work is assembled and then presented. The more widespread, the less sacrifice per person. Sacrifices are what likely stops this idea in the womb...

 

[stillfirstclass]

Theres's no way in heck you can do that. RHD jeep brand new is 53K.

My route EMA for the year was 20,900 roughly & it just dropped again to 95 cents at beginning of the year. I also have 4 vehicles

Gas eats up around 8-9k a year and I have vehicles that get at worst 16 MPG and at best 22 MPG. License in my state is $151 bucks so there's another $600+ bucks there. Insurance is probably another 1k at least if not touch more (depending on how much insurance you have on it too.) Could be a lot more too.

So right there alone, I am at 10,800 bucks without any sort of labor or any parts.

Roughly part wise, I have to about 7-8 oil changes a year. I do myself and just pay parts ($25 bucks and if not it would be closer to $60-$75 bucks by a normal mechanic).

Tires and just plugging tires. I have to buy usually 1 sometimes 2 sets a year. So another $250 since dad gets them and I put them on but again if not for that there's another $500 to $750 bucks easily. Plugging tires cost few bucks but if you go to mechanic probably another 25 to 50 bucks a pop. Oh also if you are like me, I have 2 snow tires so another couple hundred bucks.

Brakes again I do myself so only have $100 in parts. Non mechanic would have $250 to $500 bucks depending on rotor and more if need calipers. Brakes could be more if rear needs done and would double that easily.

That's just basic stuff. Down to about 8k to 9k depending on vehicle you have and etc. There's no way you could even sniff a RHD Jeep. It would take easily 6 years without any major expensive or ton of extra expenses.

always said, ema is a cash cow if you are a mechanic or shade tree mechanic or sleeping with/married with/ related with a mechanic,, or bad with math and think it is gas money only... but even then depreciation is alot different on a mail ride vs a normal daily driver.... even postal/voodoo math, e.m.a. should be $1.45

 

[Surprise!]

In my pov, I wear my seatbelt to the beginning of rt., and from ending to office, not while delivering rt....federal law does not require it, but somedays I wonder if it should...

This is an issue I am not clear about, but I think should be brought up now.

In my state, we have driving laws (DMV) that mirror Postal Regulations for when we drive without a seat belt in my state. My understanding is that the state law makes it legal for us to drive that way not Postal Service regulations. I believe Postal Regulations makes it clear we are subject to all State Driving laws.

I have also been under the impression that there are a few states in which a Rural Carrier may not drive without a seat belt because state law prevents it.

 

[Surprise!]

I think it would be easier if people connected. City gets hundreds of members within blocks of each other to the point they have about 3 factions politicking for control of their union. Rural needs to travel hundreds to assemble dozens.

That said: it would absolutely be worth it to go road tripping across the states to assemble grievance cases and complaints that were never filed, members and non paying members, all to accumulate a record of how both the union and the usps are mishandling everything. The requirement, a LOT of annual leave from somone(s) as the work is assembled and then presented. The more widespread, the less sacrifice per person. Sacrifices are what likely stops this idea in the womb...

Possibly some retired carriers may want to take action.

I realize retired carriers at the National Conventions have been a difficulty pursuing their vacations. However, I have also noticed retired carriers are some of the most vocal on this board when it comes to the poor treatment of Rural Carriers.

 

[Shannonboy]

This is an issue I am not clear about, but I think should be brought up now.

In my state, we have driving laws (DMV) that mirror Postal Regulations for when we drive without a seat belt in my state. My understanding is that the state law makes it legal for us to drive that way not Postal Service regulations. I believe Postal Regulations makes it clear we are subject to all State Driving laws.

I have also been under the impression that there are a few states in which a Rural Carrier may not drive without a seat belt because state law prevents it.

Hhhmmmm....good comment! I don't know actually. In my state, good ol slick willie, aka: Bill Clinton passed a law saying we did not have to wear seatbelts while delivering. I'm not sure if it was a state law, I'm pretty sure it was a federal law. Regardless, directives were to put it on while leaving office, once to rt, remove it, deliver without seatbelt on. Reverse it on way back in to the office...that was directive from po mgmt...