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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
MailLady
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I am a rural mail carrier.

While having the headache of vehicle maintenance land on my shoulders can be daunting, I MUCH prefer knowing that my safety is in my hands.

I have seen carriers with bald tires, carriers whose vehicles catch on fire or literally have wheels fall off in the postal provided vehicles. I am able to make sure I have everything in good working order. I am able to have 4 wheel drive, good snow tires, bright headlights, good interior lighting, and have the set up that I want for loading my vehicle.

The new vehicles have a large cage which prevents you from getting packages from the front. No 4 wheel drive is a nightmare in the winter and spring (I have seen postal employees stuck on flat ground in the postal metris).

If the post office wants to change rural delivery vehicles, they need to INVEST in good options and continue to invest in top notch maintenance. Our safety relies on it. Heating and cooling are not luxuries- they are necessities. 4 wheel drive is a necessity in many areas.

Whatever happens I hope cost isn't prioritized over safety.
Your Name
Cheryl Dobrowolski
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
It is getting harder and harder to find RHD vehicles of adequate size for packages, and the cost of them can be inflated because of the need for them. I think it would be easier to hire RCA's if a postal vehicle was supplied. Maintenance costs on a POV add up real quick. Tires, frequent oil changes, brakes, and gas are a constant and costly need. Then you have the surprises like sensors going bad, ball joints, wheel bearings, transmission issues, just to name a few. Its very stressful. Plus we have to use multiple vacation days to get vehicle fixed, if we have an RCA to cover our route. So now USPS is paying 2 people plus EMA for me to get my POV fixed. I feel having a USPS supplied postal vehicle for all routes would be financially beneficial to everyone involved.
Your Name
Bradley
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I like the fact I don't have to maintain a work vehicle and do not have to take vacation time to fix. Also a lot less stress. So company vehicle is my choice. Can't wait to get behind the wheel of a Metris.
Your Name
Nancy V Vigil
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
Some rural routes are not cut out to have a LLV assigned to them, It's a safety issue. They tried a LLV on mine we had the postmaster ride along in the winter time ....needless to say it was change back to a POV immediately! Your article is comparing 2020 to 2015.....we all know when the covid hit everything on the planet went up in price. Not really a fair comparison. I would choose my 4x4 any day of the week.
  
Your Name
Christina
Feb 13, 2022
Your Comment
Wouldn’t give up the safety of a 4wheel drive. I wouldn’t get a quarter of my route done in the winter with a mail truck!!!

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Marc J Wolf
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
My recommendation would be to have all wheel drive vehicles. This would eliminate towing expenses greatly and may help prevent slide offs and things that occur with rear wheel drive on icy/snowy roads. The all wheel drive would increase street time efficiency due to increased traction/mobility .
Thanks for allowing input.
Your Name
C Miller
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I can tell you I dread the day they kick me out of my POV. They DO NOT KEEP UP MAINTENANCE ON THESE VEHICLES THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT COST EFFECTIVE. Pay me to drive a safe reliable vehicle.
  
Your Name
Anon
Jun 9, 2022
Your Comment
I agree with the fact that they don't keep up the maintenance on the LLV's. The mechanics are lazy, management doesn't care. They leave it up to the regular carriers and they don't want to take the time to write the trucks up and risk not having a mail truck while it is being fixed. So often the mechanic says he fixed it but he didn't. If it wasn't for Amazon, I would actually like a pov if it were equipped with RHD. USPS should pay more for the pov conversions, and make the routes a little smaller. So many POV's are stuffed to the top. They cannot see out of the windows. They are putting mail and pkgs on the roof. They have to make second trips. If I didn't have an LLV, I think I would have quit already.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Elisabeth Boylan
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I liked using my vehicle. It had 4 wheel drive for winter. Rarely ever was there anyplace I couldn't go and never had as many issues breaking down. Now that we have vehicles provided I wouldn't want to ho back to all the wear and tear. I can see it isn't cost effective for the post office and they sure know how to waste $$. We got the new metrics and not even 2 years battery issues bc water from our feet are seeping through the floor onto battery. Who was the genius there? And Power windows failing.
Your Name
Wanda Miguez
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I dont feel the usps vehicles holds up better to a pov vehicle. Rural county roads are very hard on vehicles.. First they get stuck in the mud more often than a personal vehicle. Second they go through tires more. If you have trouble with the usps vehicle we have to call for someone to come fix it. We have to get a sub to finish route depending what the issue is. Where as our own vehicle if we have a flat we change it ourselves.
Your Name
Linda Hunter
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I’ve had a POV route for 33 years, the cost is overwhelming for most rural carriers. The time on our days off to fix and maintain our vehicles is difficult at best. I believe forcing a new employee to provide a specialized vehicle on their first day on the job is a deterrent to most people taking the job.
Your Name
Laura Zombro
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I'm a rural carrier for 6 years and using my own vehicle this long. It's very difficult for me to find parts for my rhd or even to find another vehicle to use as a back up per my post master. We should all have government vehicles it saves us alot of time for taking off work to get our own vehicle fixed etc. I would take an llv if they had no other new ones to give out. I was promised a metris but our office never got anymore when we were told we would by end of 2021.
Your Name
Shannon Magnus
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
My route was assigned a Metris December 2020. Before that it was a POV route. My POV was not a RHD, but I was able to accommodate all my mail and packages, even thru the Pandemic. My POV was kept up to proper route specs. I like the Metris. I do not like how the maintenance on the vehicle is maintained. I drive 121 miles a day. I go thru tires quickly, because low grade tires are used on these vehicles. I have to constantly fight to get my brakes changed, to the point where they have to replace the rotors as well as the brakes because they don't "have the parts". It takes me over 20 minutes to fuel up each day as there is an issue with the Metris that Mercedes claims is not thier fault, but then why do so many of the Metris' have the fuel issue? If I had run my POV on bald tires and bad brakes it would have been flagged as unsafe and not route worthy, but it seems to be a double standard when it comes to the vehicles that are provided to us. Personally my vehicle was safer.
Your Name
Roberta Liane Webv
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I think that some people like their own vehicles but personally I want a postal owned vehicle. It is hard to balance work and family. I get so tired of worrying about my vehicle, who will fix it, new tires, breaks, transmissions. It most times makes the job overbearing. Also as a trainer the number 1 problem is new hires having a vehicle to deliver from. Most people do not want to supply a vehicle when the pay wages dang near equal any job in America. I have a very Large route and the rcas always get a LLV because of volume but I have to constantly make more than one trip. Its time to get with the times and catch up to all other delivery services and sell the brand thru vehicles and good service.
Your Name
Kimberly Olcott
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I have a 70 mile route. A lot of
My roads are dirt and out in the country. Roads are
Not kept up during the winter. If I didn’t have a 4 wheel drive vehicle mail
Would not get delivered most days in the winter. The metris is not ideal for a lot of
Rural deliveries
Your Name
Connie Campbell
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I am a Rural carrier who was assigned a Metris in 2021. It is nice to have a right hand vehicle you don’t have to worry about doing the repairs on. A Metris isn’t a good vehicle for a rural route in my opinion. They should be 4 wheel drive . The chains cost $140. a set and don’t last long. Maybe a week if your lucky . They are harder to maneuver in some areas . The tires wear out fast and the breaks shoes too. Rural carriers should have more input in the type of vehicles we need. Thanks
Your Name
Ami Bauer
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
Since receiving the metris we have a hard time getting tires to hold up. Sensors on doors and bad, vehicle will not fuel up righr because of a filter. I could change a tire in 10 minutes now stuck waiting for tire changes. I put good tires on my Jeep and mail service never stopped. Since May this has been such a stressful issues having this metris. All parts come from Germany and LLV are not safe on my roads due to rock roads and 18 wheelers.
Your Name
Maria
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
The idea is great. I'm on a route that was converted from POV to GOV, metris van. I love not having to worry about maintaining the vehicle or providing gas. I just don't believe the meteis van was the right vehicle to use to deliver mail. It wasn't designed with delivering mail in mind. Overall the good outweigh the bad.
Your Name
Williams Sherri
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I would say it would depend on whether your area has a wrecker service or a VMF if you was to put a government vehicle on my route I am about an hour or so from the post office and the nearest wrecker is 2hrs away we are in a very rural area it would take forever to get to us so in these cases it would not be beneficial
Your Name
Delia Mayo
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
Personally I Love using my POV. I would like to keep using my own vehicle. But something needs to be done to help Rural Carriers and RCAS get a vehicle. $500.00 and $1000.00 isn’t enough money anymore to help get RHD installed. Thank you!
Your Name
Sabra Morris
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
All routes need to have goverment vehicles no more POV'S. This would improve hiring new employees. POV'S are getting harder to find that can accommodate someone to sit on the right side and deliver and are more damaging to the body reaching and stretching, unsafe because most carriers sit in the middle with no seat belt. The ema is not enough to keep up the pov's, transmissions go out you have to spend thousands at once or go buy another car. The ones you can buy are older and usually have over 100 thousand miles on them. A new hire will not invest in a car to work only guaranteed 1 day a week. I think this is the major problem on getting new employees.
Your Name
Danielle Williams
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I believe all routes should be converted to government vehicle. The POV routes and hard to get subs to want to deliver. Not many subs can go but vehicles just to deliver out of. And the EMA isn’t really worth it if you have a vehicle that you have a payment on. I think it would be easier to get employees to stay on routes when a vehicle is provided. I had a pov rhd wrangler and put 197,000 miles on it in 3 years! I finally got a promaster on my route. Couldn’t be happier! And I never could have fit the parcels I get daily in my wrangler. I have all cbu route
Your Name
DONNA Renee PATTERSON
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I just finished a horrible day. I have a Metris. It is rear wheel drive! It's unrealistic to expect me to finish an over burden route in my evaluated time on snowy, treacherous roads. I love having a gov vehicle but you need to buy at least front wheel drive.
Your Name
Kim B
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I am a rural carrier. I have my own rhd Jeep for my route. On the roads that I drive, my Jeep is best. The postal owned vehicles are NOT made to drive on these gravel back roads throughout the year. There are many times that I NEED my 4x4 to be able to reach all of my customers on my route, especially in the winter, spring and fall. The postal vans they are wanting us rural carriers to use are not beefed up for rural use. If I had a postal van on my route, there will be a lot of customers that I wouldn’t be able to make it to. How is that a good thing for customer service? They would be better off putting them on city routes that have those very outdated LLV’s. I understand that they are trying to save money but they should go about it another way.
Your Name
Sabrina Burleson
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I think it would help retain RCAs which would be more cost effective in the long run. If we had postal vehicles and did not have to keep up our own RCAs would be more likely to stay. That saves time and money not having to train new hires all the time.