Question from RCA looking to transfer out of state

[Blondie13]

Hey guys!! Question from an RCA looking to transfer- I'm currently working up in the Portland, OR area; and offices up here have a pretty good stock of LLVs... it's actually kind of rare for RCAs in this area to use a POV to deliver an entire route.

Due to unforseen circumstances I'm looking to transfer to North Carolina, but have been told by both the local union rep and the the HR lady that they require all new hires to have a POV....
I should mention that I ride a motorcyle all year round and dont own a car, and dont really have any interest in 1/2 my paycheck going to gas, maintenance and insurance.

SO, can they require me to own a POV as a transfer? The supervisor I spoke with at the NC post office said they have plenty of LLVs, and that ot wouldn't be a problem, but the HR lady seems convinced.

 

[gotstamps]

Hey guys!! Question from an RCA looking to transfer- I'm currently working up in the Portland, OR area; and offices up here have a pretty good stock of LLVs... it's actually kind of rare for RCAs in this area to use a POV to deliver an entire route.

Due to unforseen circumstances I'm looking to transfer to North Carolina, but have been told by both the local union rep and the the HR lady that they require all new hires to have a POV....
I should mention that I ride a motorcyle all year round and dont own a car, and dont really have any interest in 1/2 my paycheck going to gas, maintenance and insurance.

SO, can they require me to own a POV as a transfer? The supervisor I spoke with at the NC post office said they have plenty of LLVs, and that ot wouldn't be a problem, but the HR lady seems convinced.

RCAs are required to have a vehicle suitable for delivery regardless of what office they are in. When mgmt needs an LLV for a City Carrier or Regular Rural when their LLV breaks down, the RCA is the requested donor. Saying NO is not always possible if mgmt Direct Orders it. They (mgmt) typically would rather Direct now & deal with the grievance later.
If there are any routes that are POV at the “new” office, you must have a vehicle for those routes, just in case. Mgmt cannot promise an LLV for POV routes. If you work at other offices for extra hours, you likely will need a vehicle there too.
You could try renting a vehicle if needed once in a while... just don’t admit to business use.

 

[btdtret]

gotstamps, Blondie13 et al -- "When mgmt needs an LLV for a City Carrier or Regular Rural when their LLV breaks down, the RCA is the requested donor. Saying NO is not always possible if mgmt Direct Orders it. They (mgmt) typically would rather Direct now & deal with the grievance later."

-- Step 4 ( L-101 ) offers some "protection", but probably not from a Direct Order, which one should ask for in writing and still grieve. In part:

- In the event a postal-provided vehicle is not available for a route to which one is assigned, a rural carrier may be request, BUT NOT REQUIRED, to provide a vehicle. If a carrier provides a vehicle for any portion of the route, normal daily equipment maintenance allowance ( EMA ) is payable.

- Vehicles assigned to rural routes may be used for other duties, as long as that usage DOES NOT INTERFERE with the rural carrier's completion of the assigned route. This usage should be on an exception or emergency basis, and other users MUST return the vehicle with a full tank of gas, since the rural refueling standard only covers the rural route needs.

Blondie13 -- " can they require me to own a POV as a transfer?"

-- Depends on how nit-picking manglement wants to get.

-- Regulars carriers have the "mutual transfer" as an option to move to a new area of the country.

-- RCA's pretty much have to resign, move, then knock on PO doors to let the PM know there is an experience worker looking for work. Back in the day, my first post office had a regular rural carrier who was hired directly off the street - as a regular. Unlikely today, but as an RCA, who knows what a sub-short post master might do.

-- Still might have to take the exam and hope for the best in getting near where you want/need to be.

"gotstamps" mentioned -- "Mgmt cannot promise an LLV for POV routes."

-- Not exactly true -- manglement can promise an LLV, etc. BUT in most cases, if their lips are moving, more than likely it is a lie.

-- Worst case scenario -- get the "promise" in writing, not that it will hold up in "postal" court.

 

[Rcflyn]

My first trc position, required I had a vehicle to use (even though the route hAd an llv), when my trc spot expired, I was able to go rca, but still HAD to have a vehicle capable to deliver, even though same route had an llv.
Now I’m regular, and have no llv to use. It’s all POV for me.

It almost sounds like you west coasters have it better than us east coasters.

 

[Rcflyn]

Might I also say.
You said you ride motorcycle year around. I don’t know OR weather, but I do know, in North Carolina, it gets COLD in winter, and I doubt you’ll ride motorcycle year around.