New RCA with questions about speed and 2080-2240 clarification

[lbpd16]

An update on my situation:Last saturday I ran the entire route for my regular.  I was originally told not to come back until thursday to run half the route with my regular again.However, before I left on saturday my super said to come in monday and WE would run an Aux route together.  When I showed up monday the WE got changed to ME.  Only problem was I have never been on those streets before and had to use my iphone map app to figure out where I was going.  The turn by turn didnt help any.  I got through and figured it out eventually.  They had me come back and run that same aux route tuesday and wednesday.  So today comes along and i'm looking forward to running half my regular's route and getting out of there early.  Before I left to run the half route they said when I got back I had to run the aux route again.  But they did case it for me which I was happy about.  I asked what the plans were for the rest of the week.  I was told friday I would run half the regular's route again.  I was told saturday the regular will run his route and I will do the Aux route again and after that WE (me and super) would run another route.At this point, I'm thinking friday will be a repeat of today.  That when I'm done with half the regular route I will be asked to do the Aux route again.And I think saturday after I run the Aux route the WE may be changed to ME again and I may have to do the new route on my own.I really don't care, however I wish they would just come out and tell me ahead of time.  I like to be prepared and have an idea of what i'm doing.  If they want to give me a new route thats fine, I just wish they would let me know at least a day ahead of time so I can google the route and have an idea before I head out.Anyway, thats my gripe for today.

 

[eomr]

As a former police officer I'm sure that you are mentally tough enough for delivering mail. It's putting up with the BS that you might have a problem with. If you can deal with that I'm sure that you can get all of the hours that you want.
I used to work next to an ex-State Trooper. He would tell me stories. One of them was that he could stop himself from fainting if he was in a gruesome situation. If that job skill is required from your former job, this one should be a relatively easier. Good luck.

 

[lbpd16]

Its really not that bad.  I'm starting to figure out the process of what needs to be done daily.  I constantly move from the time I get in to the time i walk out the door to go home, but it makes the day go by pretty quickly.  It seems that upper postal management has no idea whats going on at the local office level.  They give all these orders but it seems all the local offices are severely understaffed.  There is no time for training new people and I would imagine most people get overwhelmed and just quit.  Its a little strange to get used to the concept of crafts and not being able to do certain things.  I'm used to going to work and doing whatever needs to be done not matter how long it takes.  With the USPS you cannot help a city or rural contract person even if they need help and likewise they cannot help you.  This makes no sense to me and seems to lead to inefficiency.  Also this thing about being back by a certain time is a bit strange.  If the office is understaffed and there are new people like me, being back by a certain time is usually not possible.  Why can't that mail wait til the next day to go out?  I could care less if I have to wait an extra day for something, unless I paid extra for it to be delivered by a certain day.  If we had some leeway to take our time and be accurate and learn the process without having to be back by a certain time, I think the post office would have better trained employees and happier and more efficient employees in the long run.  Sending someone out there without training and telling them to be back by 5 is a recipe for disaster and for high employee turnover.Just my input after a couple weeks on the job.

 

[blamethesub]

lbpd16, you're spot on with many of your observations. I tend to think having so many different contracts for different crafts hurts us more than helps us, and certainly leads to inefficiency. However, our biggest inefficiency is that we have way too many layers of management for our own good.

You are really getting thrown to the wolves in your office more than most new RCAs simply because your office is so short staffed. Normally, you would be getting some assistance to help you get back on time for the first few weeks. Your office doesn't have enough help to do even that for you. The fact that you are picking this up so quickly on your own is making you very valuable right away. The problem with being valuable here is that you get used and abused for it. You've already been thrown on two routes, and more will follow. If they don't offer you the aux route outright, you'll be working most every day bouncing from route to route and never feeling like you're getting really good at any of them. It's a tough position to be in, and I hope you get some more RCAs in your office soon before they burn you out.

 

[lbpd16]

The Aux route I've been working is going to someone full time once the bids get sorted out.  My regular is on the OT list and he typically works his route on saturdays.  But I am his primary replacement carrier.  Since he usually works and the Aux route is going to someone I will assume I will be bounced around.  And starting July 8 we start Amazon sundays.  I'm kinda working on a system to get organized.  And I think my system will work with any route.  I get a list of active Forwards and for each route I used pink cards and write the forwarding info on them and case them.  For Holds, I make a 2nd copy of the Hold card and case it also.  When I get a Vacants list I will do the same using the vacant cards.  After I'm done with the route I come back and deal with the Forwards and Holds that I left in the case.I also took photos of the outside of all my CBU's and wrote the box numbers on the photos.  I then use that to mark my bundles for each CBU.  I also mark each parcel with the CBU number.  I find this saves me a ton of time instead of fishing around for a parcel when i come across a marker.  I also made Dismount markers as well so I don't forget to do those. I made CBU number markers so I can just grab the bundle and everything for that CBU is in my hand.  I also case as many small packages as I can and bundle with the mail at pulldown time.I'm also thinking of making some sort of box for my vehicle.  I want a spot to hold a couple bottles of water, trash, parcel markers, rubber bands and outgoing mailThis is just something I came up with on my own.  If there are any other good ideas out there i'm all ears.

 

[btdtret]

lbpd16 -- CBU's

-- At my last post office, its policy was to have a diagram of how the addresses were situated in the CBU's in the Route Book.

-- Ask around the office if there any clear plastic card holders available. Usually one side is sticky so it will adhere to most any surface. Put the card holders in each compartment of the CBU's. If the office does not have any cards, use the cards from the DPS trays. Write the customer's name and address on the card, placing it in the card holder. RCA's that follow you will appreciate it.

-- Getting thrown into new routes? Make sure you are getting the greater of Actual Time or the evaluation ( up to 40 hours ) when running the route on the first day. After the first day, manglement considers you "trained" on that route! Looking down the road, it is the same pay conditions if you have not run a route in over a year.

-- Keep developing your "system".

 

[csparks]

IBPD, this is long, I hope I don't sound like a know-it all, because I am not. Just a similar guy and another retired police officer. I've been at it a little over two years, and thought I'd toss in some things that helped me.

First, the parallels are funny. As I used to say about police work, "it would be a great job if you didn't have to deal with the public." Really, its the same story. Mostly everyone you meet is just fine. A handful are nothing but trouble.

I'm just a bit surprised the regular is not more involved. The route is like a beat/district you are responsible for, and my regular and I take that pretty serious. Our PM is great, and refers any questions that may arise to us to settle with the residents.

I'm fortunate to be in a RHD Jeep, which greatly improves speed and convenience. Driving in the middle, you'll have to arrange things so you can reach as you like. Now these ideas are just to think about or reject:

Casing. Get a printout of the casing address stickers if you can. Study them at home, they are marked where the rows/sections divide at the case. If not, maybe take photos of the case to study at home. Memorization will save you while casing.

Case newspapers/big flats first. I usually taco, but I'm in a tiny town with a long route. There's room in the case.
Decide how YOU want to mark parcels. I have multi-colored file folders that I cut into strips about 5 inches wide. Some colors mean box, some mean small spur, etc. I'll jot a name/partial address on these, then case them. If something gets shuffled, it saves time. In the beginning I'd even jot "blue bag" or "book" etc on some of the small stuff to help me.

Boxes: separate stuff into first half/second half, whatever works for you. Group them, and consider lining them up in delivery order. If OK in your office you could jot 1-1, 1-2, etc on box to denote group and delivery order.

DPS. Think about taking this to the street. I grab it by handfuls, rubber band it, and put into small letter trays to be easier to handle. Then, work the trays on the drive. Number them at first. You'll have to deal with missorts, but it get you out of the office quicker, and saves lots of casing.

Certifieds: Mark these with something to catch your eye, and case. Then, jot all your certified addresses onto a post-it to double check to make sure you either delivered or came back with them.

On the road. When I drove my pickup. I pulled all the flats into big tubs, and stuffed that between passenger seat and dash. I'd stick my short tray of DPS on the seat to my right. Behind driver's seat would be spur/small stuff for scanner.
On the jeep, I can line up DPS by upcoming box along dash/windshield. In the truck, I created a small cardboard tray for the same purpose. If you have the time, line up you next few boxes, then work out of you flats tub. You package markers will be there looking up at you, too, with a bit of address reminder.

For speed, if you miss something, be careful about backtracking. It will slow you immensely. If its a scan, that's one thing. If its the typical solicitation letter, (IMO) it is a better tactic to return it to the case for the next day to prevent yourself from becoming behind to the point you really create issues on a bigger scale. Not sure if that's official policy, but its reality.

In a few weeks it will begin to click. In a few months, it will be automatic.

 

[lbpd16]

Good to know other retired cops are out there doing the same thing.  One of the clerks asked today how I liked the job.  I told her its a lot better than policing.  I really don't miss it at all.  After 24 years I had enough of that.  This is a pretty good gig with the hourly wage, ema, and relatively cheap health insurance.  I like being out on the road too.I may be repeating an earlier post but I'm not sure so I'll say it again.  I made copies of my Holds and Forwards cards and cased them to save me time checking and pulling holds and forwards.  I do that at the end of the day when I get back from the route.  I use different colored parcel markers for big and small parcels.  I've done 2 routes so far and pretty much know how they go.  I divide my minivan into sections of the route and place packages accordingly.  For smaller packages I case them if I have the room.  If not, I put them in tubs in delivery order.  For my CBU's I bundle mail separate from the curbside and put a sticky note with the CBU number in front.  I also put the CBU number on parcels too.  It really helps when there are several CBU's in a row.  So far that is working well for me.  But come Christmas time with a minivan loaded to the ceiling with parcels I may have to use a different method.  I think putting the address on the parcel marker is pretty foolproof, but will take a little extra time in the office.I find 2 things really slow me down.     1. Driving on the passenger side.  Its almost 2nd nature now but the process of doing it, making turns, etc definitely slows me down.  If I had a RHD I think it would save me alot of time.     2.  I stop at each mail box and check every piece of mail before putting it in the box.  That takes ALOT of time.  Multiply that 10 seconds or so by 300 stops and that adds up.  I tried the taco method but found most flats have the address in the center so when I fold it I can't see the address.  And I definitely don't want to look at the mail while i'm driving.  I'm not sure there really is an answer to this one.Otherwise things seem to be going along ok.  I'm finally getting the hang of endorsements, missents, etc and where they go.

 

[csparks]

One thing I failed to mention. Since I pull flats into one tub, and take DPS separately, I "crisscross" the flats, which helps to a degree.

By that I mean when pulling down, on box' mail goes longwise, the next crosswise. Then, when you are grabbing, it is a bit easier to differentiate between boxes.

It may sound impossible, but before long, you'll remember who gets what magazines, catalogs, etc, and be able to tell that way.

RHD will spoil you in about 15 minutes, that's for sure. That's also about how long it takes to adjust to it.

Is your route actually only 300 boxes? Around here, that would equate to a 150 mile route. Mine is 105, with 460ish boxes.

 

[lbpd16]

My main sub route is listed as 360 stops and 23 miles.  Most of it is in the city and I have alot of CBUs

 

[csparks]

Oh, we don't have CBUs in these parts, but I'm sure I know what they are. Also, that I'm probably glad I don't have to deal with them.

Much easier on your car, though.

Different game. I've got enough time and travel between boxes to prep for the next few stops ahead of time.

 

[faceindawind]

Trust your sorting of flats. Give your DPS a quick look through for MMM mail. Find letter for next box drive on. If mail for next box wrong with previous mail for box served before it. This previous box mail goes to MMM. They don't pay you to look at the next 1 or 3 letters in DPS for errors.

 

[lbpd16]

I case my DPS.  So are you saying I should trust my casing and just skip from address to address and put the mail in the box without checking each piece?

 

[csparks]

On that checking every piece question:
Do you currently find many mistakes? If not, and you're already casing stuff, I'd trust my casing, and just look for the next address, and stuff it.
My regular cases it all, then rubber bands it into fist sized bundles when he pulls it down. If flats are involved, those will taco up with the letters inside, and make the transition obvious.

I'm the ultimate anti-caser for DPS; just thinking about it depresses me. If you've got a bunch of those CBU things, I can understand it, though.
At some point you might think about casing those, and possibly taking some DPS to the street if your rural area is more spread out.

While I go thru DPS on the road, I'll pretty well go thru it all to get the missorts, but I have enough time between boxes its no problem. If you've already cased, that shouldn't be an issue.

I also don't get the folks that on the rare occasion you get a letter in the wrong box feel the need to write all over it, or make an issue of it.
Another way USPS is similar to police work: all people expect is 100% perfection 100% of the time.

 

[lbpd16]

I hardly ever find any mistakes.  I tried the taco method but found many of the addresses are in the middle of the fold, which didn't help on the route.  I also have alot of 2-address slots so that makes the taco method more of a challenge when casing, especially on days with alot of flats.  I have to double check to see which flat is which in the slot.  If I had single address slots I can see how using the taco would make things much faster on the road.  The slots that I do have are very thin also, so when I start folding papers or thick flats i have to jam stuff in there.  I wish I had a taller and wider case, that would make things 1000X easier and quicker.  I find I'm constantly putting my mail down because I need 2 hands to jam mail in the slots.   I've gotten a couple complaints already.  Misdelivered mail a couple times, a few missed outgoing mail pieces, and a couple boxes jammed in a CBU that the customer had problems getting out. A few carriers told me of a couple mean people on my route.  I haven't come across anyone like that yet.  However, I'm afraid my old police ways will kick in if that does happen and that most likely will not be good for me.  My plan is to try to keep my mouth shut and let my supervisor or PM deal with it.

 

[btdtret]

lbpd16 -- ". I wish I had a taller and wider case, that would make things 1000X easier and quicker."

-- How many shelves are in your cases? 5 is probably the max you'd want to use. 6 shelves gets difficult with lots of flats as they will "flop" over neighboring slots.

" I find I'm constantly putting my mail down because I need 2 hands to jam mail in the slots."

-- Assuming the majority of your address slots are one inch, there's nothing to prevent you from increasing a slot to two inches if the address gets lots of mail / flats. Manglement may not like it as they are always on the look out for ways to decrease casing equipment. You can point out that you waste time jamming mail into a slot.

-- My last route had about 550 customers, many of whom were professionals and military, so probably 25-30% off the addresses had 2 ( or larger ) slots.

-- Manglement may complain about cutting and pasting labels, but you can counter that with asking how much does it cost for a new set of labels when you only need to increase a couple of slots by cutting and pasting.

-- I preferred to "taco" one flat, then case the rest of the mail. By slightly opening the "taco" you can check addresses on the other mail items. Remember -- the best system is what ever works for you. But don't let that stop you from trying different methods. Developing a "system" is an on-going process.

"My plan is to try to keep my mouth shut and let my supervisor or PM deal with it."

-- It better to keep one's mouth shut so one doesn't have to remove one's foot. Let manglement deal with complaints -- that's why they get the "big bucks".

-- One "alpha sierra" will wipe out numerous "atta" boys ( or "atta" girls )!

 

[w2e2w2e]

So as for the military buy back, you cannot buy back military time until after you become a full time employee, either a PTF (part time flexible) or a regular carrier.
At which time you will be offered that option. Also they (Shared services) will ask for any Operations you have been involved in for certain areas such as Bosnia/Herznogavina (spelling) OIF/OEF and such. Those military actions may get you time without even having to buy back your military time.
As for Sunday this is how it works.
ARCs are scheduled first, then Volunteers scheduled on a rotating basis by last name, then IF NECESSARY non volunteers on a rotating basis by last name.
so if you signed the volunteer list you may be required to work every sunday.
If you are thinking clerk, look at the advancement rate in your hubs/offices, a friend clerk of mine told me to go clerk after being an RCA for 6 months, I said no thanks, they hired 3 clerks 2 quit/fired, the other became regular in 6 months..(crazy fast) 3 years later, I finally made regular carrier 3.5 years is pretty quick..but not as fast as 6 months)
and as you noted, working out in the heat and weather everyday does take a toll, but when you get a 45 K route (9 hours a day) and can get it done in 6-7 hours a day, it is pretty awesome to come in after your clerk friend, go home before him, and get paid more.