I just started as an RCA and am having difficulty completing my route in time. I have had 6 days on the job running my route (4 Sat. and 2 weekdays when my regular was sick) along with 2 more half route days during on the job training. I have only managed to complete the entire route in time to get the outgoing mail back twice. The other times I required a more experienced RCA to take part of the route off my hands, and still barely made it on time. Last Saturday I was told they can't keep sending me help. I think I am in danger of being fired. I am not doing that bad at the flats/letters casing, and am taking the DPS to the street. My biggest problem is spending to long at each box, due to difficulty fingering the mail. Does anybody have advice on getting my per box time down, working from two bundles (DPS and flats/letters)? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
New RCA, slow on route, think I may be let go.
- Thread starter MBRFD
- Start date
MBRFD -- "I just started as an RCA and am having difficulty completing my route in time. "
-- Nothing new with that. EVERYONE has trouble completing the route in the evaluated time when first beginning as an RCA. Experienced regular carriers also have difficulty in making evaluated time when taking over a new route.
-- When you work more than the route's evaluated time, you are giving the USPS free work. That is the USPS's way to "encourage" carriers to work faster. Working faster and not safer leads to accidents and mis-deliveries, which the USPS will say is entirely the carrier's fault. Just tell manglement that you are being thorough and methodical in your work to reduce errors.
-- Efficiency ( aka speed ) comes with repetition, repetition, and more repetition.
" Last Saturday I was told they can’t keep sending me help. "
-- Yes, they can! And will if they don't want to see the approximately $8,000 already spent on you to get you into the workplace go down the drain.
-- A couple of years ago, the new Postmaster General put out the word just before the holiday season started that RCA's are to be kept "at all costs". Have not seen any retraction of that statement by the PMG. Maybe you local manglement can clear that up when you ask them.
-- Whenever manglement stops by your case to remind ( harass ) you of your slowness, flat out ask them to provide suggestions to improve your speed. More than likely they have mentioned in passing of what great carriers they once were! Manglement often becomes tongue-tied when asked how to improve a carrier's work methods.
-- Taking DPS to the streets takes a while to find a "system" that work for you. Ask you fellow carriers for suggestions too. Observe how they "set up" mail in their vehicle.
-- Don't "finger the mail" between mail boxes as it puts you at risk of an accident.
" I have only managed to complete the entire route in time to get the outgoing mail back twice."
-- Making dispatch depends on several factors - scheduling, amount of mail to work, the number of parcels needing a dismount to deliver. That you have made it twice on your own is a positive accomplishment. Feel free to call or text manglement if you are running late so they can send someone out to get your collected mail.
-- During your probationary period ( 90 work-days or one year ), manglement can fire you for just about any reason and the union can't do much to help, so keep plugging away "by the book" so you don't give manglement any real reason to fire you. Another ploy being used is to offer an RCA a chance to "resign" instead of being fired. They will say by "resigning" you can reapply to work at the post office at a later date. If you get fired, manglement has to explain to higher-ups on the food chain why and that usually brings the PMG's edict into play. Something local manglement would prefer not to deal with. Getting fired is probably a good indication you probably would not like working for the USPS in any case.
-- This job is not for everyone, so give the job an honest effort over a couple of months.
-- Nothing new with that. EVERYONE has trouble completing the route in the evaluated time when first beginning as an RCA. Experienced regular carriers also have difficulty in making evaluated time when taking over a new route.
-- When you work more than the route's evaluated time, you are giving the USPS free work. That is the USPS's way to "encourage" carriers to work faster. Working faster and not safer leads to accidents and mis-deliveries, which the USPS will say is entirely the carrier's fault. Just tell manglement that you are being thorough and methodical in your work to reduce errors.
-- Efficiency ( aka speed ) comes with repetition, repetition, and more repetition.
" Last Saturday I was told they can’t keep sending me help. "
-- Yes, they can! And will if they don't want to see the approximately $8,000 already spent on you to get you into the workplace go down the drain.
-- A couple of years ago, the new Postmaster General put out the word just before the holiday season started that RCA's are to be kept "at all costs". Have not seen any retraction of that statement by the PMG. Maybe you local manglement can clear that up when you ask them.
-- Whenever manglement stops by your case to remind ( harass ) you of your slowness, flat out ask them to provide suggestions to improve your speed. More than likely they have mentioned in passing of what great carriers they once were! Manglement often becomes tongue-tied when asked how to improve a carrier's work methods.
-- Taking DPS to the streets takes a while to find a "system" that work for you. Ask you fellow carriers for suggestions too. Observe how they "set up" mail in their vehicle.
-- Don't "finger the mail" between mail boxes as it puts you at risk of an accident.
" I have only managed to complete the entire route in time to get the outgoing mail back twice."
-- Making dispatch depends on several factors - scheduling, amount of mail to work, the number of parcels needing a dismount to deliver. That you have made it twice on your own is a positive accomplishment. Feel free to call or text manglement if you are running late so they can send someone out to get your collected mail.
-- During your probationary period ( 90 work-days or one year ), manglement can fire you for just about any reason and the union can't do much to help, so keep plugging away "by the book" so you don't give manglement any real reason to fire you. Another ploy being used is to offer an RCA a chance to "resign" instead of being fired. They will say by "resigning" you can reapply to work at the post office at a later date. If you get fired, manglement has to explain to higher-ups on the food chain why and that usually brings the PMG's edict into play. Something local manglement would prefer not to deal with. Getting fired is probably a good indication you probably would not like working for the USPS in any case.
-- This job is not for everyone, so give the job an honest effort over a couple of months.
btdtret,
Thank you for the advice. I had to buy a POV for this job, lots of payments to make, and am not going to quit. To much invested already, and I really think I will like doing this if I can just get the hang of it. Most of the experienced carriers at my P.O. seem to really like the job as well. I am trying to be safe, no fingering the mail while driving, etc. I have set up an old mail box in my yard to sit by in my POV like I have pulled up to it, so I can practice fingering and boxing the mail and trying new systems. I am gong to keep at it, and just hope they give me the time I need to get the hang of it.
Thank you for the advice. I had to buy a POV for this job, lots of payments to make, and am not going to quit. To much invested already, and I really think I will like doing this if I can just get the hang of it. Most of the experienced carriers at my P.O. seem to really like the job as well. I am trying to be safe, no fingering the mail while driving, etc. I have set up an old mail box in my yard to sit by in my POV like I have pulled up to it, so I can practice fingering and boxing the mail and trying new systems. I am gong to keep at it, and just hope they give me the time I need to get the hang of it.
MBRFD - Maybe try casing all your mail/flats and any small thin parcels that will fit in the case. When you are new taking your dps to the street is very hard. You do not know the holds or individual forwards or any "special" notes on the case. Not to mention taking dps to the street in a POV is really tricky, a LLV makes it much easier. Casing all your mail will cause more in office time but in my opinion you will feel much safer and quicker out on the route. It's hard to give advise because some offices force taking mail to the street or it's such a nightmare being there you just want to get out on the street so you can be left alone. This job has it's up's and down's, just like any job. Try to get through the first 6 months and it seems like you will either love it or hate it but you do not let anyone bully you into quitting, eventually you will find a system that works great for you. Good luck and welcome the craziness that is the Post Office!
MBRFD -- "I had to buy a POV for this job,"
-- Ouch!! That's a big commitment, especially heading into a new job. And extra incentive to make the job work out.
-- Did manglement tell you that a POV would be needed? Not all of them do.
-- How many routes in your office and how many LLV vs POV routes?
-- Any prospects of more LLV's being assigned to your office?
-- By all means, ask how other carriers set up their POV's for the route.
-- You will get EMA ( Equipment Maintenance Allowance ) for the days you run the route. As others will tell you, it probably will not cover all your actual vehicle expenses, but it helps. If possible, set up a separate bank account and put the EMA money in it and use it ONLY for vehicle expenses. Keep any and all receipts as you may be able to claim business expenses for tax purposes. Ask other POV carriers if they do that.
-- Make sure your vehicle insurance company is aware that you use the POV to carry mail. Some insurance companies will not cover vehicles used for commercial purposes or increase the rates. Ask other POV carriers which insurance company they have.
-- Although no where in black and white, manglement will expect you to have a back-up vehicle to use or rent one should your POV break down.
-- Good luck.
-- Ouch!! That's a big commitment, especially heading into a new job. And extra incentive to make the job work out.
-- Did manglement tell you that a POV would be needed? Not all of them do.
-- How many routes in your office and how many LLV vs POV routes?
-- Any prospects of more LLV's being assigned to your office?
-- By all means, ask how other carriers set up their POV's for the route.
-- You will get EMA ( Equipment Maintenance Allowance ) for the days you run the route. As others will tell you, it probably will not cover all your actual vehicle expenses, but it helps. If possible, set up a separate bank account and put the EMA money in it and use it ONLY for vehicle expenses. Keep any and all receipts as you may be able to claim business expenses for tax purposes. Ask other POV carriers if they do that.
-- Make sure your vehicle insurance company is aware that you use the POV to carry mail. Some insurance companies will not cover vehicles used for commercial purposes or increase the rates. Ask other POV carriers which insurance company they have.
-- Although no where in black and white, manglement will expect you to have a back-up vehicle to use or rent one should your POV break down.
-- Good luck.
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote"><strong>MBRFD said </strong>
I just started as an RCA and am having difficulty completing my route in time. I have had 6 days on the job running my route (4 Sat. and 2 weekdays when my regular was sick) along with 2 more half route days during on the job training. I have only managed to complete the entire route in time to get the outgoing mail back twice. The other times I required a more experienced RCA to take part of the route off my hands, and still barely made it on time. Last Saturday I was told they can't keep sending me help. I think I am in danger of being fired. I am not doing that bad at the flats/letters casing, and am taking the DPS to the street. My biggest problem is spending to long at each box, due to difficulty fingering the mail. Does anybody have advice on getting my per box time down, working from two bundles (DPS and flats/letters)? Any help would be greatly appreciated. </blockquote>
You may possibly work at our office. I know that they have told one of the new RCA's exactly what you have stated.
Hang in there, it won't come to you overnight and besides they have a lot of money invested in you.
Keep smiling and do the best you can and perhaps talk with the senior RCA and ask for some advice..
I just started as an RCA and am having difficulty completing my route in time. I have had 6 days on the job running my route (4 Sat. and 2 weekdays when my regular was sick) along with 2 more half route days during on the job training. I have only managed to complete the entire route in time to get the outgoing mail back twice. The other times I required a more experienced RCA to take part of the route off my hands, and still barely made it on time. Last Saturday I was told they can't keep sending me help. I think I am in danger of being fired. I am not doing that bad at the flats/letters casing, and am taking the DPS to the street. My biggest problem is spending to long at each box, due to difficulty fingering the mail. Does anybody have advice on getting my per box time down, working from two bundles (DPS and flats/letters)? Any help would be greatly appreciated. </blockquote>
You may possibly work at our office. I know that they have told one of the new RCA's exactly what you have stated.
Hang in there, it won't come to you overnight and besides they have a lot of money invested in you.
Keep smiling and do the best you can and perhaps talk with the senior RCA and ask for some advice..
faceindawind
New member
Only once have I taken DPS to the street. I case all in office. I trust my sorting over DPS any day. Dispatch time has never been an issue for me as an RCA or REG.
Taking DPS to the street is a can of worms to me. I have asked for documentation on how we Rurals are supposed to handle it. Just like the scanner situation and this alleged study going on. They claim high 90's% DPS accuracy. If it's good enough for them it should be good enough for you. So if this is the claim, I'd finger the mail for the location I'm at. When the next letter in this DPS is for 5 houses down off you should go. Now at this house 5 locations down from your last drop you find the DPS mail for the previous 4 locations. This mail then qualifies as MMM mail. This is based on the argument of if I take DPS to the street you are not paying me to look at the next letter in my DPS.
With the shortage of RCA'S applying for this job, I'm willing to say you're safe for a while if there isn't a backlog of people applying in your area. The PO invested a lot of money into your hiring with background checks and training. They try not to lose their investment in you. If your in an APO with RMPO's under your office which are short of RCA'S you're better off too. If this is the case once you mastered your primary assignment expect to learn another route in your office and be farmed out to these other offices.
At the present time we have an RCA who has been unavailable for coverage 50% of the time for the past 2 months because they are in 90 day training for another job and their hiring at this job depends on them passing the final exam. If they fail they are out of luck at this new gig but our office has been bending over backwards to provide coverage because they are a well trained RCA who can cover 4 routes solid and others with a basic 4003.
Pressure from management is to be expected until you have mastered your craft. Once you have they tend to back off a bit. Hang in there.
Taking DPS to the street is a can of worms to me. I have asked for documentation on how we Rurals are supposed to handle it. Just like the scanner situation and this alleged study going on. They claim high 90's% DPS accuracy. If it's good enough for them it should be good enough for you. So if this is the claim, I'd finger the mail for the location I'm at. When the next letter in this DPS is for 5 houses down off you should go. Now at this house 5 locations down from your last drop you find the DPS mail for the previous 4 locations. This mail then qualifies as MMM mail. This is based on the argument of if I take DPS to the street you are not paying me to look at the next letter in my DPS.
With the shortage of RCA'S applying for this job, I'm willing to say you're safe for a while if there isn't a backlog of people applying in your area. The PO invested a lot of money into your hiring with background checks and training. They try not to lose their investment in you. If your in an APO with RMPO's under your office which are short of RCA'S you're better off too. If this is the case once you mastered your primary assignment expect to learn another route in your office and be farmed out to these other offices.
At the present time we have an RCA who has been unavailable for coverage 50% of the time for the past 2 months because they are in 90 day training for another job and their hiring at this job depends on them passing the final exam. If they fail they are out of luck at this new gig but our office has been bending over backwards to provide coverage because they are a well trained RCA who can cover 4 routes solid and others with a basic 4003.
Pressure from management is to be expected until you have mastered your craft. Once you have they tend to back off a bit. Hang in there.
dhoward541
New member
You sound pretty average; that's about what the new people in our office do. Help is backed off as they become more familiar with the route. We are going in the summer months which supposely is a lighter mail situation and will give you time to get proficient.
heyman1104
New member
What is your POV? Bench seat or center console? Column shift or floor shift? How tall are you? How do you set up your vehicle? I ask because we may be able to suggest a different setup for you.
Personally, I drive a 2002 Chevy Blazer. It had a console in it, but I removed it. It has a column shifter. I'm 6'1. I sit in the passenger seat, with the seat all the way up, and reach across with my left arm and leg. In my lap is a tray that holds two of the shorter trays. I put some DPS in one side and cased mail in the other. In my driver's seat I have a tray full of cased mail (bundled up) and then a tray of DPS on top (also bundled up). So I pull a bundle of each and just work my way through them. Take it one box at a time and you'll be surprised at how fast you get through the day.
Personally, I drive a 2002 Chevy Blazer. It had a console in it, but I removed it. It has a column shifter. I'm 6'1. I sit in the passenger seat, with the seat all the way up, and reach across with my left arm and leg. In my lap is a tray that holds two of the shorter trays. I put some DPS in one side and cased mail in the other. In my driver's seat I have a tray full of cased mail (bundled up) and then a tray of DPS on top (also bundled up). So I pull a bundle of each and just work my way through them. Take it one box at a time and you'll be surprised at how fast you get through the day.
