Highway contract routes

[drakeME]

What the hell? There are routes that are contracted out?!

 

[ArgyllSocks]

The HCR carrier in our office has a Contract for $79,000.00 per year, excellent Carrier and I would never call this Carrier a scab. People, it is the Postal Service that put the job out there and think it is cheaper to run it this way. This HCR Route has been a contract route for at least 60 years in this area.

Eh, so I'm guessing that's about 50k a year if you take out double social security and have to pay your own health and 401k benefits. Plus the original investment to buy the route would take it down as well. Can you leave town, or what happens if you do and your sub doesn't show up? I'm surprised people sign up for these with all the other delivery options out there, but if they're in a really rural area that might make more $$$ sense.

 

[drakeME]

Why's that funny? @RDruckus

This is truly a thing?

 

[RDruckus]

Yes, it's truly a thing.

I thought you were joking. Sorry.

 

[drakeME]

But....why?

 

[muttleycrue]

there are 2 contract routes in my area - my own mailbox is on one. It's maybe 25 miles, maybe 170 delivery points. Miles out of the way of the only other rural route in this zip.

The other contract route is at least 100 miles. Less than 150 delivery points. Passes through several unincorporated townships. And is literally on the edge of nowhere. There are no POs, or paved roads, and maybe only a handful of residents, north of the highways this HCR runs. At least not in the US.

The shorter route has been contracted for at least 3, maybe 4 generations to the same family until very recently. I don't know how long the longer route has been around.

 

[RDruckus]

But....why?

I was told it's because it saves the USPS money.

Then I have heard stories on this forum that suggest that sometimes, it costs more money than rural delivery.

 

[drakeME]

Some routes are going to be money losers no matter how you slice it.

So we're already semi-privatized. Hmm...learn something new almost every time I go here.

 

[nicolepotterlmt]

I’m an rca, I didn’t bid on an HCR or have the route myself... however, if you want to work on one for extra hours and the contractor that holds the HCR route hires you... you can get approval from usps ethics board to do that.... I just recently got approved for this. It has to be worded that it won’t interfere with normal duties as an rca however.

Could you please tell me how I go about doing this? I have ran both sides and now they tell me that I can't.

 

[Sandygirl]

@Sprocket Monday was a rough day for me and I probably would have behaved myself better if it were any other day. I accused you of acting like a toddler which is exactly what I did. Don’t want to get myself banned from this site, since it’s been super beneficial to me.
Thank you and my apologies.

Some days at the PO are way way more stressful than others.............

 

[oi veh.]

There was content which was posted

 

[monnie]

Hi I was wondering if anyone can tell me where to send the application In for the HCR I can’t find an address anywhere

CDS@usps.gov send in a request to them to receive all HCR routes across the United States. If you see something that you like you can put the numbers together and hopefully you win the route. Good luck my friend and maybe future carrier...