Newly hired and need suggestions

[kelker11]

Thanks to everyone that took the time to make suggestions and offer help. I really do appreciate it! Its so much more than I've gotten from co-workers. I'm going to implement some of the suggestions to see if I can get out of the office quicker. That might make a huge difference to me.

 

[Skierstmoritz]

Get thru your probationary period, research other offices immediately after, find one you like that needs rcas, and if still dissatisfied with your current office, TRANSFER! kelker11, you seem to have a good attitude and work ethic, most offices would love to have you and would be far more supportive. Good Luck! Keep us posted if you wish.
Ps- don't let them talk you into resigning, your office sounds like it sucks, many offices are much better.

 

[btdtret]

kelker11 -- "What is an ADR? "

-- If your office does not have an office steward, then your union representative is known as the Assistant District Representative. Ask one of your fellow carriers for the name and number or if need be, management. If no one knows, let us know - there are other ways to find out.

" Especially since 80% of my deliveries are on three roads which have acreage. So its drive down a LONG driveway, get out, escape the dogs, deliver the package, turn the truck around, and drive back down the LONG driveway. "

-- If those l-o-n-g drive ways are longer that 1/2 mile, you don't have to deliver to the house.

-- Section 331.21 of the PO-603 ( Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities ). in part: If unsuccessful in attracting the attention of the home owner, you must deliver parcels to any residence or business that is on the line of travel, or WITHIN one-half mile of the route AND has a passable road leading to it. Is their mail box by the main road way?

-- Other complications:

- If there are dogs loose, leave a 3849 in the mail box. Write on it: Loose Dog(s). For inspiration -- Google: "dog attacks Detroit mailman"! Ask manglement for USPS Publication 174 -- How to Avoid Dog Bites ( 6 pages ) If the pub is not available, see below about the post office having supplies and forms. Be sure to have the can of dog spray with you any time you are out of the vehicle. Dogs and other household pets are not always in plain sight. In the Phoenix area, an air horn is being tested - supposedly to repel dogs. Hope it works better than the dog spray - ask the Detroit mail man!!

- Backing up has become a hot topic. Is there a safe place to turn around at the end of those long driveways - without backing up? If not, inform the supervisor or PM via Form 1767 ( Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice [ such as backing up ] ). Inform the office "Safety Ambassador" if the office has one. If manglement says "Make the delivery". Ask for it in writing. Asking for something in writing usually puts an end to it as manglement dreads putting their signature on anything. [ creates a paper trail which ruins their "I had no idea the carrier was doing that!" ]. Along similar lines, the office "Safety Ambassador" was going to do away with the need for the 1767. The APWU ( the clerk union ) recommended their members not participate -- because it does away with the paper trail.

- If you venture past the 1/2 mile limit, you are literally on your own should anything happen. As far as managlement is concerned: It is ALWAYS the carrier's fault.

- If manglement says "Sorry, there are no such forms in the office." That is a winnable greivance when citing the PO-603's Section 142.3 Equipment and Supplies. The USPS supplies ALL additional necessary equipment, supplies, and FORMS. If manglement does not have the Form 8191 ( Grievance Form ) that is another grievance. Which should have you contacting your Assistant District Representative.

-- Carry the scanner with you EVERYWHERE. There is supposed to be a holster for it. Some use them some don't. The scanner will be playing a MAJOR part in determining you pay check. With the increasing items to carry to the door, having a satchel may come in handy. Manglement was all for it -- until they had to pay extra for the carriers to use it. [ it is all about the money with the USPS ]

-- The USPS and apparently the NRLCA are relying [ heavily ] on scanner ( the MDD ) input for numerous bits of data. The scanner is notoriously inaccurate when changes in elevation is concerned. You've probably read postings here about route mileage being less than previously measured when the scanner is used. Also carriers have been invited to the office to explain backing up [ some times great distances ] or in rare cases why they were off the line of travel and in the next county ( when they weren't ). The NALC ( city carriers union ) has at least unofficially told the USPS -- No discipline based solely on scanner data. Unfortunately the NRLCA is behind the power curve in doing likewise.

"But, I drove on my own time [ taking missed dispatch mail to the plant ], and I was NOT paid for mileage."

-- If that happened within the past 14 days, request to be paid EMA mileage and time. If refused, grieve. You only have 14 days to grieve a problem that can not be settled between you and a member of manglement authorized to resolve the problem [not being paid for trip to the plant].
Also contact your ADR, especially when pay problems arise. Such problems seem to get resolved faster when the ADR is brought in.

"Its like you all on this forum have one set of rules, and my post office has another."

-- Congratulations! You are catching on. PS -- Also applies from one post office to another!

 

[muttleycrue]

1) Yes, its a single cab small pickup with a camper on the back.

4) Two trays, good idea. Stopping to move trays and tubs from the back of the pickup to the seat is very time consuming. I usually have 3-4 trays of mail and 6 tubs. So its many stops over the course of the day.

Your truck is going to hold you back - it's not well-suited for the job, and you already recognize the time issues. Any possibility of getting something with more room up front so less stops for reloading?

 

[oi veh.]

1) I understand why you say that, but if I don't come in early, it will be after 12 before I leave the office. They stop giving me any in office support almost a month ago. So if I'm late leaving, they still expect me back by five. I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed right now.

There is no problem with you coming in early. The problem lies with you falsifying your time. Not only are you working off the clock, but you are putting yourself at risk to be fired. Come in at 6? Write. down. 6.

2) What is an ADR?

@btdtret answered for me.

3) Its easy to say don't case, but are you driving an LLV or a POV? It makes a huge difference.

I have never cased DPS. Drive a Blazer (and have driven a Taurus, minivan, Explorer and many rental cars [<---while an RCA])

4) How long have you been working here? Most of my office beat me back by over an hour. The supervisor is literally sitting there waiting on me to walk back in each night. She leaves as soon as I do.

I'm a regular and have been delivering for 13 years. Your supervisor gets paid to be there and that is part of being management. Don't worry about her, she'll be fine.

Keep your chin up. You'll get better. You have a great attitude.

 

[blamethesub]

The only suggestion I can offer that hasn't already been said is this. If you are going to try something new the next time you work (like taking DPS to the street), you don't have to do it for the entire route the first time. You might want to take just the first tray of DPS to the street, and case the rest like you usually do. This way, if it's a disaster for you, it will only be a temporary disaster. If it works well, then you can go full-on with it the next time.

It seems to me that you really are doing just fine so far. All you really need is time and lots of repetition. Speed comes with experience. Try to relax out there and find your natural rhythm rather than trying to force yourself to go faster and faster.

 

[WestCoastRural]

I don't know the route classification. But thanks for the kind words.
1) Yes, its a single cab small pickup with a camper on the back.
2) Amazon.
3) I'm not sure what you mean by "load one at a time"? And yes, I'm still marking.
4) Two trays, good idea. Stopping to move trays and tubs from the back of the pickup to the seat is very time consuming. I usually have 3-4 trays of mail and 6 tubs. So its many stops over the course of the day.
5) On the bottom row, the last side (right) is only half full. The rest of the case is full. And parcels are a pain in my a..... It is extremely time consuming to do this. Especially since 80% of my deliveries are on three roads which have acreage. So its drive down a LONG driveway, get out, escape the dogs, deliver the package, turn the truck around, and drive back down the LONG driveway. Go two houses down and do it all again. Its like a death knell to my time.
6) Seriously? WHY HAS NO ONE TOLD ME THIS?!?!?! I've been trying to save some time between stops (especially when there is mileage between stops. You'd think someone would have mentioned this! Thanks!
7) I did. Supervisor said I needed to go faster. Post master said he didn't know what to tell me. Its so frustrating.
8) I wonder if that's still in effect?
9) I was calling, but they told me they'd call me if they needed to speak with me. But then they complain when the truck has already left without my first class. I did make one run to the trucks next stop, which is in the next county (maybe a 20 minute drive one way). Supervisor told me to take it, but when I got there, the truck had already left because the supervisor didn't tell them I was coming. I later spoke to the driver (he's our regular driver and he's great!). He gave me his number so I could call him myself if this happens again. But, I drove on my own time, and I was NOT paid for mileage. Its like you all on this forum have one set of rules, and my post office has another.
10) I'm not handy with stuff like that (though it sounds great!). You know that old saying, Measure twice, cut once? For me, its like measure thirty times and you'll be lucky to get two numbers that match. But having something like that would be awesome!
11) I've been trained on four routes (2 are auxiliary). I thought it was crazy for them to train me on more routes while I hadn't mastered the first one yet. I'm also fortunate that the carrier I sub for is on vacation a lot!

Thanks for all your thoughts and kind words!

How do you mark your parcels?
How long does it take you to mark them?

From past experiences, it’s far easier and faster to write down your parcels in order by section on a piece of paper. You will know exactly which house has a parcel and you learn the route faster. Marking on your parcels in the case will take forever.

Parcel forward looking is great as a reference for those who knows the route well. They served as a reminder but not for a new carrier, they take too long to load and you will be checking it all the time.