Low H route, not sure if I should bid off

OKCdude1527 · Wednesday at 5:58 PM

Need a little advice and info. I have a 37H that has dropped an hour each count for the last 2 years. When I got it 4 years ago, it was a 42H. I’ve heard it can go as low as 30. Is that correct? I’ve also heard once it hits 36, I’m basically forced off of it and sent to the next vacant route. Should I bid off any chance I get? Should I stay and hope it stays where it's at or goes up? Money isn't an issue, I love my route and grew up in the area. I'd never want to leave unless there was the chance the route would go away. Any info and advice is much appreciated

mail1000 · Wednesday at 7:00 PM

OKCdude1527 said:
Need a little advice and info. I have a 37H that has dropped an hour each count for the last 2 years. When I got it 4 years ago, it was a 42H. I’ve heard it can go as low as 30. Is that correct? I’ve also heard once it hits 36, I’m basically forced off of it and sent to the next vacant route. Should I bid off any chance I get? Should I stay and hope it stays where it's at or goes up? Money isn't an issue, I love my route and grew up in the area. I'd never want to leave unless there was the chance the route would go away. Any info and advice is much appreciated

Who knows, with RRECS it is very hard to predict what every 6 months-1 year is going to bring. Things can happen and change really fast with this system and seems its almost always for the worse, really scary for the rural craft. Best of luck to you!

Maillady2024 · Wednesday at 7:17 PM

The post office is hard to work for. If you generally love your route and it makes you happy and money isn’t an issue, I would probably stay on it. We are all at risk with the unpredictability of Rrecs, you might as well be happy.

OKCdude1527 · Wednesday at 7:42 PM

mail1000 said:
Who knows, with RRECS it is very hard to predict what every 6 months-1 year is going to bring. Things can happen and change really fast with this system and seems its almost always for the worse, really scary for the rural craft. Best of luck to you!

Thank you! How low can the route go before I’m essentially kicked off of it? I heard it can go to 30H, some say 35H.

btdtret · Wednesday at 9:40 PM

OKCdude1527 -- "How low can the route go before I’m essentially kicked off of it? I heard it can go to 30H, some say 35H."

-- According to the M-38's ( Management of Rural Delivery Services - from 1980!! ) Section 212.2 Auxiliary Routes:

- An auxiliary route is one which normally evaluates under 35 hours per week, and the carrier is compensated for the hours actually worked.

-- Just remember, manglement does not always abide by the M-38.

-- On the other hand, there is the contract's Section 12.3.A.1.a:

- When an auxiliary route reaches an evaluation of forty-two ( 42:00 ) standard hours, it will be converted to a regular route within thirty ( 30 ) days of the increase to 42:00 standard hours. ( thanks, Arbitrator Clarke!! It used to be 39:00 standard hours to convert an AUX to regular route status )

-- From the dusty files: "Below a 40H?" in the general discussion at RI back in 2018:

- As long as you are on the route it would not be converted to an Aux if it went under 35 hours. If a route became vacant within 50s miles of your office you would be declared "excess" and be required to transfer to that route. ( Still applicable? Anyone?? ) If forced to transfer, you'd retain seniority and retain retreat rights to your former office.

-- This came from my previous District ( with no references ): A post office can not have two AUXs in the same ZIP Code. Does your post office already have an AUX in your ZIP Code? If so, it might buy you some extra time.

-- Manglement may not want to deal with the paper work involved and let you stay on the route.

-- Any opportunity for future our growth on your current route?

-- If you like your route and $ is not a concern, wait to see what happens with next round of a MMS.

-- Remember: They refer to RRECS as "wrecks" for a reason!!

-- Good luck!

Rt2mailman · Wednesday at 10:19 PM

You need to grow your route. Tell me how you load, how often do you map, and the number of boxes you have?

Charlie Brown · Thursday at 10:50 AM

btdtret said:
- As long as you are on the route it would not be converted to an Aux if it went under 35 hours. If a route became vacant within 50s miles of your office you would be declared "excess" and be required to transfer to that route. ( Still applicable? Anyone?? ) If forced to transfer, you'd retain seniority and retain retreat rights to your former office.

-

I'm not too sure about the route not being converted. I believe that if a route falls bellow 35 hour it can be converted and if that happens "a" regular carrier can be excessed to any vacant regular route within 50 miles. I say "a" regular carrier because it would be the junior carrier in the office, not necessarily the carrier on the affected route. See page 65 of the contract under reassignments.

jsthere723 · Thursday at 11:09 AM

Are you the junior most carrier in the office? If not you are not the one will be excessed if situation arises . The junior most carrier will be . So I would stay if I were you as you love the route and money is not the issue .
Having said that as someone else suggested I would pay attention to some minute procedures of RRECS diligently——- like load truck in loading time , EOS works , door delivery etc etc . I believe one can always boost their evaluation by at least one hr legitimately if they set their mind to it .
Hey it’s a blessing when money is not an issue . I wish I could say that

Rural-life-0323 · 2026-06-12T07:58:26-0500

When it was still allowed I was a 32H the day I was made regular on the route I'm on now. I'm now a 48k over burdened. As already noted, now that the freezes are over, when you get to 35 standard hours they will have to try to build you from and auxiliary route or you'll have the option to become a regular at another office withing 50 miles or go back to being a PTF, if you are the lowest in seniority.

At this point the only thing that can save you is the route growing on it's own. maybe there is a 48K route or two that needs to be cut that would add territory to your route or there is natural growth in the form of new homes or businesses on your route.

My first question is are you SURE you're getting every credit possible in RRECS?
Are you doing more than just the mandatory 6 scans?
Have you gone through and properly mapped everything on your route? DPM AND LTM?
Are there ways to get further distances by not violating street laws on your route? For example can you have further park points by not parking in red zones or in front of fire hydrants and such. If so change those NOW.
Are you doing your mapping every months as we are required to do. Whether things change or not doing this adds to your return2DU time.
Are you doing things on the street that you aren't supposed to that if done at the office (as required) would add to return2DU time? I see carriers who are out of the office 5 minutes after they get back and yet complain they are dropping.
Do you do your edit book every month at the end of the shift too.

I could be here all day, but look into the RRECS guide and make sure you aren't losing money and risking losing your route.

As an H route you're coming in 6 days a week. Get paid for it! Make sure you're getting paid for everything you can get paid for to protect not just your route but the entire rural craft!