Expands the main menu

Breadcrumb

Pushing the Envelope Blog

Driving the Rural Delivery Route

Date: 02/07/22 | Category: Finances: Cost & Revenue

The U.S. Postal Service has almost 80,000 rural delivery routes serviced by some 133,000 rural letter carriers. For some of those routes, USPS provides the vehicle; for others, the carrier uses a private vehicle and receives a maintenance allowance from the Postal Service for wear and tear. In fiscal year (FY) 2020, the Postal Service paid out nearly $583 million in maintenance allowances — a rise of $71 million, or 13 percent, over FY 2015.

Not long ago, the Postal Service started converting some private-vehicle rural routes to USPS-vehicle routes, estimating the change would save $888 million over six years. For a recent audit, we reviewed a sample of these completed conversions nationwide as well as future conversions, and found that the Postal Service’s strategy for these changes was generally effective. We also discovered a few shortcomings.

For instance, maximum savings weren’t realized because USPS wasn’t implementing conversions in a timely manner, and we determined that some of the future conversions wouldn’t be the most cost-effective. We made a couple recommendations to improve the process, and Postal Service management agreed with both.

Are you a rural letter carrier, or do you know one? How does a USPS-vehicle route compare with the private-vehicle route? Does one seem more cost-effective from your point of view?

Leave a Comment

Your Name
Elizabeth Wagner
May 9, 2022
Your Comment
You couldn’t pay me enough to use my own vehicle on my rural route. I actually turned down the position in a neighboring office before being hired almost 10 yrs ago in my current office. I get that some people won’t give up their personal vehicle because they’re making a fortune in EMA (not so much lately) or added safety/convenience. Unfortunately for Amazon offices, sometimes not even a LLV is enough to fit everything. One thing is certain, usps will never save more money by keeping 20+ yr old vehicles with 200k or more miles running..
Your Name
Ronald stroup
May 9, 2022
Your Comment
As a rca it would be better for my wallet and my stress level if given a rhd postal vehicle. I would make less money but at least my body wouldn't go through the constant abuse of having to straddle my center console. Rhd is more comfortable for delivering mail period. And im much quicker on routes with a postal rhd vehicle
Your Name
Anonymous
May 6, 2022
Your Comment
This may not be totally relevant, but it relates to cost savings. I am a regular with a 25 mile a day route and drive an LLV. I did an experiment this week in "hypermiling"...basically, go easy on the accelerator and coast when possible. These things coast really well. I improved my gas mileage by 50 percent! So in a year, at $4 a gallon, I can save the post office around $1,000. Multiply that by 80,000 routes and we could save 80 million bucks. Not to mention 50 percent less carbon emissions. Which since we're apparently getting new gas hogs soon, is a pretty big deal.
Your Name
Justin
May 5, 2022
Your Comment
usps needs to start providing the vehicles. You expect people to work 6 or 7 days a week plus maintain and pay for their vehicles with ema not covering the costs and if so by a very thin margin. Also should try smaller vehicles for smaller offices. This move would help keep people from quitting. The provide your own car thing is absolutely insane. It costs more to work for the postal service than it’s worth pay 10k for a car and then 12k for fuel and only make 30 or less in a lot of cases
Your Name
ARKANSAS RURAL ROUTE CUSTOMER
May 3, 2022
Your Comment
Service continues to deteriorate for rural delivery as postage increases for "stamps", local post offices, close their "window" prior to scheduled time, frequent delivery to wrong address, no postmark date as businesses pre-sort and obtain permits, etc., etc. From my point of view the cost continues to shift toward the ordinary citizen living in rural areas.

Perhaps more time be devoted on process improvement prior to conducting audits and "pretty reports" would identify deficiencies prior to failures. Blogs such as this reveal significant factors to be addressed.prior to implementing changes. The rural carriers's comments clearly demonstrate that "one size does not fit all" and issues that need to be addressed. Patterns & trends are evident such as increased burden with delivering packages for the Amazons of this world.
Your Name
Amy Carol Butler
Apr 23, 2022
Your Comment
I need to upgrade my RHD. I dont want to purchase something and then be given a USPS vehicle. How do you find out if your route will get a USPS owned vehicle?
Your Name
Kevin Howson
Apr 19, 2022
Your Comment
I am a regular carrier (RCA) but my 8.8 hr, 5 day a week route does not have a postal vehicle. The volume of packages are too large to carry in my GMC Envoy. I'm having to load packages and tubs of mail on top of my roof rack which is unsafe but I have no choice if I want to make the delivery in one trip and on time. Once the mail is on the roof rack, now I have to worry about protecting it from the weather and possible theft. It is very stressful situation and one that we should not be in while working for the largest employer in the USA. If I do not use the roof rack then I will be making 3-6 21 mile trips back to the office for another pickup. The little Mercedes vans are no better because they do not hold anymore then my GMC. We are a package driven company thus we need to start acting like one and not rely on smaller vehicles to deliver the large capacity of packages. And not rely on employees to furnish their own vehicle to deliver mail. Some people do not have the money to afford a decent size vehicle and if we get a used one then we run into is it reliable to handle the day to day grind of the USPS work. This policy is unjust and unfair and its another reason why people quit thus you lose thousands of dollars training these people just to have them quit. Its time to rethink your strategy and spend the money now because in the long run it will pay off. Reuse and rotate the LLVs to other areas once the new vehicles come in. But what I hear is that the LLVs are going to the bone yard. Not a good idea.
Your Name
Randy
Apr 3, 2022
Your Comment
I have been delivering in a Metris for a year on a 26 mile, paved, 42k route. The front right tire wears smooth on the outside of the tire within 2,000 miles. I never had this happen on my pov. I believe experimentation on a different camber should be done! The headlight bulbs last for around 3,000 miles. I believe aftermarket LED bulbs should be tried (something that can handle the constant heat build up found in a delivery vehicle.) The brake pads wear out in about 3,000 miles. When I used lifetime pads on my pov, I could get 20,000 on a set (the trade off is faster rotor wear) The mailtray is too far from the drivers seat. All in all I like delivering in the Metris but I'm glad I don't have to pay for the maintenance! The turning radius is awesome, but rear wheel drive makes no sense in an area that receives regular snowfall.
Your Name
Michael
Mar 25, 2022
Your Comment
As a rural carrier associate assigned to POV routes, having to make sure my personal vehicle stays on the road with very little downtime is extremely stressful. The initial cost of a RHD vehicle is very prohibitive in retaining RCAs and the EMA is just barely adequate to pay for rising fuel costs and short notice maintenance. Constant stopping and starting is very rough on vehicle transmissions and fuel economy. Converting rural routes to postal vehicles would most certainly improve staffing and morale issues and allow both regular carriers and their substitutes to perform their job safer and more efficiently. Human beings perform their job much better when workplace stresses are reduced or eliminated.
Your Name
Elizabeth - Rural Carrier in Arkansas
Mar 23, 2022
Your Comment
Rural USPS vehicle route is the only way to go. For USPS savings , the vehicle has to be equipped to handle rural roads, the metris is fine on routes with all pavement. Rural routes with gravel, mud, sand, snow, etc. need 4x4 capability and good ground clearance. You are mapping these routes and have satellite images of the roads, use this information in deployment. Employee retention and morale will definitely be boosted by 100% conversion to USPS vehicle fleet. The only caveat is, please take your employee into consideration and give us something to actually help us get the job done for the American people. Rural carriers have been doing more with less for far too long. Thank you.
Your Name
Arkansas
Mar 22, 2022
Your Comment
I am a regular going on almost 5 years. The vehicle is the most stressful part about this job. My route, along with many other rural routes everywhere, have huge pot holes, the highway is broken up on the shoulders, which is where I’m at delivering to boxes! I can’t afford to buy a brand new vehicle just to tear up out there. Along with the commercial insurance we have to have on delivery vehicle, and everything else. I’ve got 2 vehicles that I have put a new motor and transmission in both, and now both need the computer. My delivery vehicle is my daily driver also, just whichever is running is the one I’ll drive. I’ve asked my postmaster to request for me a van on my route. I’m not sure if he did or not. But I welcome a van to 71670. I just currently went from a H route to a J route, I know I would feel a huge burden off of me, just knowing if something happens to my vehicle, I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to get another one to finish route in, that rarely ever is the case. Never have more than one of my vehicles going at the same time lol. Maybe one day, I will be able to get a brand new truck to use strictly for delivery, but at the moment I’m just not able to do that, financially. I don’t have a Rca on route because ppl can’t afford to have something with low miles in order to be dependable, the car payment that goes with that, and the insurance which is ridiculous, gas prices are sky high, and then wear and tear just by sometimes delivering the mail on these horrible roads, you can’t drive slow where you won’t feel the holes, i have gravel roads filled with the rub boards the whole way down em, and then we gotta come back up them. I love my career, but it gets overwhelming quite often with these issues. With me anyway:/.
Your Name
Kevin D. Marquis President Maine Rural Letter Carriers
Mar 21, 2022
Your Comment
Most carriers are all for USPS provided vehicles, provided they are the equivalent of what they are replacing. The vast majority of our carriers run 4x4 vehicles and in winter months (October to late April in many cases) these vehicles are equipped with 4 studded snow tires. Putting a rear wheel drive vehicle on many of these routes is impractical as well as very dangerous. Rural is the operative word here, unpaved roads often just mud for a month or two, ice covered in the winter and steeply crowned. Remember, we drive along the shoulder most of the time. Perhaps we as rural carriers need input on these decisions. We have been providing vehicles to service the routes since 1903. Do any of the people on the committee have this depth of experience? I am more than willing to provide guidance on the issue, I came out of the auto industry world and have delivered rural mail for 29 years.
Your Name
Anonymous
Mar 15, 2022
Your Comment
I am a Rural Carrier Associate. The USPS vehicle route is a shorter route compared to the personal vehicle routes in the area where I am residing. When a new fleet of vehicles are provided for each location, the LLV’s should be used for the rural routes versus personal vehicle.
  
Your Name
Annoymous
Apr 13, 2022
Your Comment
I run my POV on my route. It is very profitable for me to do so. I do not mind. My small post office only has a handful of routes and we like how things are.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Anon
Jun 9, 2022
Your Comment
Carriers that think using a POV is profitable, must have the longest mileage routes, use the same vehicle for their personal use, and not get alot of Amazon. Maybe they are not good accountants either.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Jon
Mar 3, 2022
Your Comment
Designed and manufactured USPS vehicles are now a must for routes to be successful. RHD Jeeps are totally inadequate for the task at hand. Inefficient, to expensive and way too small. Three trips a day to deliver a route in a Jeep. there is no other RHD alternative to purchase. RHD conversions are unsafe and destructive. While you can find an installer my local shops refuse to install conversions due to safety liability, and they have a very good point. With the weight and volume of packages being crushed in a private vehicle, crash is a danger. What would USPS liability be for a dead carrier??
With Staff shortages the demand to work 6 days a week leaves no time for vehicle maintenance and repair, they don't fix themselves!
New hires leave due to the destruction of their own vehicles running rural routes. last 3 RCA left after their cars/van had two broken struts and a cracked oil pan. The Maintenance Allowance does not cover operating and owning your private vehicle which also is useless to you for personal use once you commit to delivering mail. I would never recommend a rural RCA position to anyone.
The NGDV visually looks totally inadequate for many rural routes. it's too low to the ground, won't handle dirt, grave or snowy and icy rural roads with steap un plowed driveways.
  
Your Name
charlie
Mar 9, 2022
Your Comment
metris rear wheel drive vans were and are not the answer... Front wheel drive vans like Chrysler just stopped manufacturing would be a better answer... And--no one design fits all.... with doors on both sides and rear there is no need for walking into a van and wasted space... Carriers know what they are doing... Just give them a right hand van and they will figure out what is best for their routes... and how to set up their individual vehicle... Why is rural delivery less expensive that city?...Rurals have initiative and incentive to work smart...

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Teresa
Mar 1, 2022
Your Comment
I've been employed by the USPS for 15 years. I totally agree with the postal providing RHD vehicles. I'm not understanding the process of how the route is selected to be assigned Mercedes Metris RHD vans. My office has 2 routes mines which is a K and an Aux. The Mercedes Metris RHD van was assigned to the Aux route, which is only 2 hours and low volume of mail and pkgs. The carrier(s) can literally carry All mail with pkg in their arms to load a spacious van. Subs complain having to travel up to 20 miles to work this route that has no EMA, only to be reimbursed their gas for coming to work. The decision to assign the Mercedes Metris RHD van to the Aux does not benefit the data in their findings, which is needed to make an accurate decision. I'm trying to hold on to my job, but it is wearing on me with All the maintenance for 2 vehicles... HELP!!!
Your Name
M
Mar 1, 2022
Your Comment
Providing vehicles v. POV... Is a must, especially if the postal service is trying to increase employment. Everyone do not have the money to buy and or maintenance a vehicle(s). Coming to work stress FREE v. being concern of a POV breaking down is a PLUS... The CARRIER will be able to offer the customer services that is expected, with a smile, which will include increase of health, increase of better relationship with management and co-workers, and also with FAMILY!! Providing the Mercedes Metris RHD or whatever RHD is decided upon, NEED to be implemented ASAP!!! Having a Stress Free work environment is not just a individual movement, but it's a "FORCE" BEING TOGETHER.... USPS may also need to look into supplying uniforms for rural carriers, it's a more professional look and it will also exemplify carriers as an USPS employee. FYI... Carriers will act according to how they feel...
Your Name
Sheri Dearmon
Feb 28, 2022
Your Comment
Don't reinvent the wheel! A 4 wheel drive right hand steering jeeps already available for 42,000. For private buyer. Surely USPS could negotiate a better deal for volume as well as manufacturers warranty on these. Saving approx. 20,000 per vehicle vs. Mercedes.
  
Your Name
Michelle Swisher
Mar 7, 2022
Your Comment
So true! Why not use what works! I’ve said every since we were metris trained it is stupid putting these on rural routes. For the price, buy a fleet of RHD jeeps or purchase the carriers jeeps from them, if they want to do away with paying ema.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Karry Medina
Feb 27, 2022
Your Comment
I've drove a metris route and loved it. That being said I wouldn't want one on my current route. They are rear wheel drive and are not equipped to go down some of the roads on very rural areas. They are made for pavement and most are a mixture of both. If it was front wheel drive I'd say give me one bc the cost of keeping one up can be very expensive.
Your Name
Dawn
Feb 25, 2022
Your Comment
As a carrier, I agree with what folks are saying about retention issues and vehicles with new hires but it also needs to be noted that if we are given vehicles to drive by the usps, they need to be actually able to traverse the routes. I deliver in high sand and mud areas and the vans get stuck, a lot. A vehicle that is capable of something for other than on street driving is the only way we could ever convert to use in our areas. Great idea in theory but also the 100+ mile a day routes would make the usps shy away from putting their vehicles on the routes with the cost of maintenance and gas.
Your Name
Randall Wilson
Feb 24, 2022
Your Comment
USPS reimbursement for wear and tear does not come close to covering the use of a 4x4 vehicle necessary to service rural routes in Vermont. The abuse the vehicle endures causes even the best vehicles to last 1-3 years. The only right-hand drive vehicle available in the US is a 4 door Jeep Wrangler which does not hold the volume of packages caused by the Amazon contract. Carries are forced to make multiple trips to get all the packages delivered. Having the "right" vehicle from USPS would be a big improvement.
Your Name
Sandy Kennedy
Feb 23, 2022
Your Comment
I have A rural route and I’ve ran it in my POV For 10 years and I’ve seen new hires come and go and each one of them that leaves is they can’t afford the upkeep on their POV. I think If these rural routes had a company vehicle retention would be a lot better. I would Even try one as well. With gas prices soaring this would definitely be a money saver if everyone in our office had the vans.