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
Kimberly Droysen
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
We only have one POV route out of 49 routes. It is not only difficult for relief carriers to obtain a vehicle to use on relief days, it is also not safe for the carriers to have to straddle while delivering. I believe the PO should do away with POV routes and provide vehicles for all if possible.
Your Name
Barbara Stone
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I prefer my on pov. I have alot of back roads that an llv has a tough time maneuvering on especially in rain and snow. I can put my pov in 4 wheel drive and have no issues
Your Name
Denise
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I prefer my pov to usps vehicle because I like my heat, 4x4 and A/C. Why not make usps vehicles more appropriate for the areas they are used in. Like electric for CA, 4x4 and heat for the northern states, air conditioning for the Southern states. Wouldn't that be more cost effective?
Your Name
Amber Carter
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
Getting a van would save the USPS so much. Many times Rural carriers have to make more than one trip for packages especially in the holiday season because their vehicles simply won’t hold what the new vans will. Safety for rural carriers would be increased too because a marked van pulling up to someone’s house is much better than a personal vehicle. USPS needs to get these vehicles delivered to all rural routes and start saving money today.
Your Name
Christine Kessler
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I am on a POV route. Fortunately I have a husband who provides my maintenance. Brake pads every 3 months. Oil changed every 3000 miles. Tires once per year with frequent plugs for nails etc. Transmission service once per year. Those are the basics. I feel that my POV is better maintained than any LLV in the country. But it comes at a cost. If the USPS would purchase a durable vehicle that was made to endure the conditions we encounter and provided routine maintenance to prevent breakdown it would probably be beneficial to them. The initial cost would be a lot, but with proper maintenance it could save them in the long run. But they need to do some research and see what engines are built to last, what transmission have issues or not. Either way without proper maintenance nothing will last. I’m still waiting for the Metris I was trained for a year ago!
Your Name
Theron Bloom
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
This would be a big cost savings for USPS in more than one way. Not only would USPS be saving on EMA for a majority of routes, they would also save on employee retention. One of the biggest reasons part time rural craft employees quit is because they have to provide a vehicle. If all routes had a vehicle, USPS would be able to hire and retain more employees saving on expensive training costs.
Your Name
Joy M Mitchell
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I believe that its more cost effective to have government vehicles on rural routes; I’ve had to use my own vehicle when I first started and the stress of breakdown and cost was why I switched to a route with a LLV . With that said I also believe it should be a choice I know a lot of carriers want to keep their POV’s. Also the new vehicles should at least have all wheel drive / 4 wheel drive.; some of these rural routes need it in the winter weather to be able to deliver the mail without getting stuck ; then there is the expense of tow truck cost .
Your Name
Danielle Curtorillo
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
The LLV’s are 30 years old and they break down constantly, they are not cost efficient (or safe) for the USPS anymore. I drive one and hate it, I miss my POV! And the new vans are complete junk, every carrier I know with one is also constantly having issues. Would it really be to hard for the USPS to go to Jeep and make a deal? Especially for the routes with weather issues!
Your Name
David Prentice
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I am not sure if it is cost effective. However, my route could not be completed with a 2wd postal vehicle. I have mountainous, muddy, ruddy dirt roads. I believe the postal policy of “one size fits all” approach to vehicles is the problem. Vehicles need to be assigned by need and type for different routes and areas. USPS should purchase RHD Jeep’s for some routes. Also, I believe employee retention would greatly improve with all routes being assigned vehicles. I like my POV, however, the rising cost and inability to find a cost effective replacement, are making me consider if this job is worth keeping. With the staffing shortage and most carriers working 6 days a week, then working on our POVs on our one day off, is unsustainable. You should consider if more lost employees is also cost effective due to this issue. I hope this helps. Please feel free to contact me if you want a more detailed understanding from the carriers perspective.
Your Name
Joshua Burns
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I was recently awarded a route that requires a POV. This route has been supposed to get a government vehicle for years but it hasn't happened. I'm disappointed that I'll have to purchase a 10-20k vehicle just to get this promotion. It will be very very hard to get a sub on this route too, as they would have to make a similar investment to be able to work on this route.
Your Name
Carol Puccio
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I’m a rural carrier in WV with a 53 mile POV route. Denied incentive last October to purchase new POV. USPS had 60 days to put vehicle on my route. Hasn’t happened yet. I don’t want it anyway. I have more than 5 miles of gravel/dirt roads and the metris nor an LLV would be able to go across some of my roads in the snow. Without 4wd I can’t go. USPS does not take those needs into consideration and should.
Your Name
Pamela Brundage
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I had a government vehicle (metris van/LLV) assigned to my rural route for almost a year. VOMA deemed both unsafe, but management still made me drive it. These vehicles would work on routes that are on hard surface roads, but not on rural gravel/crushed rock. There are some routes that only a POV can be safely driven. The metris van I had could not safely be driven on my route. Doors would open as I was driving, fan motor filled with dust, entire van filled with dust, doors would not shut, traction control quit, tires would be shredded in 3000 miles and maintenance was not done in a timely manner. I filled out vehicle repair tags and would need to wait a few days/week because I work out of a RMPO. If I had trouble on the route vehicle maintenance took an hour to find me and most of the time only had an LLV for a replacement, which was extremely dangerous on a gravel/crushed route of over 100 miles. I filled out numerous safety forms and management would ignore, said they would look into it. I would get stuck in the winter multiple times daily and then sit waiting for over 3 hours for a tow. I feel safer in a POV that I know is able to serve my route in all weather conditions.
Your Name
Beth L
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
When I was an RCA, I had a POV. In fact, I maintained 2 POVs just so I would not miss a day of work. It was very expensive. Between gas, insurance, car payments, repairs, etc. the EMA did not cover what was needed to maintain one POV let alone 2 so I transferred to an all LLV office. The LLVs are great as far as cargo capacity and moveability within the vehicle. I can easily access mail without causing undue stress to my body. When it comes to the winter, we really need a vehicle on these rural routes with AWD or 4 wheel drive. I have entire roads on my route I cannot access for months in the winter with an LLV. It is really a disservice to our customers, especially our elderly customers in rural areas. I was never an anxious person driving in the snow until I was given an LLV and I nearly rolled one over on an icy road. Now, I have to take several anxiety medications just to get through the winter. I would feel much safer if the postal vehicle could handle snow.
Your Name
Greyson
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
My route was converted to one with a government vehicle. They should all be this way. There is no problem with a carrier not coming to work due to a broken down POV. It saves carriers backs, hips, legs, and arms which will cause less payouts for health insurance or workers comp in the future. It helps retain RCAs who have trouble maintaining a route vehicle for only 1 guaranteed day per week. It also helps retain and train new hire RCAs because the training can be standardized for on street delivery. This eliminates hiring and training costs that are lost when a new RCA quits.
Your Name
Lori C
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I think it would be cost saving over time. New vehicles shouldn't require much maintenance. I would like to have an llv.
Your Name
Jennifer Gower
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
POV. But I'm not speaking just in terms of cost effectiveness. I'm saying POV for multiple reasons. As rural carriers we are in very rural, secluded areas. The closest place to me to provide vehicle maintenance on a government issued vehicle is an hour away from my furthest point in my route. As a result the time spent waiting to be rescued is astronomical compared to the mechanic that lives in my town who can be where I am in ten minutes. As a carrier with a POV, I can be selective on my choice for a vehicle. I can also choose to put studded snow tires on my vehicle in the winter and climb Mount Everest in it if I want to. So as you can see, there are so many other factors involved in a pov vs government issued and cost efficiency isn't the only thing. It's also about reliability, function of vehicle, and time that may be lost on a route waiting for a replacement government vehicle. Honestly, neither one is cost efficient for the carrier. I suggest instead of providing rural carriers with government vehicles, offer an incentive to have the POV vehicles be converted to right hand drive with the kit we can purchase. They don't have as many of the right hand drive vehicles available for sale these days. But government vehicles to Rural carriers in the back roads of America? Seems like a bad idea to me.
Your Name
Deana Rosales
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I think that going from POV to GOV would be mutually cost effective for carrier and USPS. With the rising cost of everything from gas, tires, car parts and mechanics it has become increasingly difficult to maintain a vehicle. This is especially difficult for RCA’s that might only work a few days a month. With that being said, if the GOV provided vehicle isn’t adequate for the route, it isn’t worth having for either side. A rear wheel drive van was the worst idea that could have been implemented for a country route. There are other issues I’ve heard about but that is the biggest. If the vehicle won’t move on a slick surface then the mail won’t be able to be delivered.
Your Name
Crystal Layer
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I am a regular rural carrier. Cost comparison from my personal experience: I am losing money every year because repairs more than just general maintenance (transmissions, engines, rear end). Right hand drive vehicles are very difficult to come by and when i did find one that is in decent condition, it's out of my price range. I have come close to quitting many times because I cannot afford to keep up with the cost of repairs.

Employee acquisition and retention: Finding people willing to spend money on a vehicle that only guarantees 1 day a week is almost impossible. Subs and regulars are leaving in droves because the expense is not worth it. If my office had USPS vehicles, we would not have lost a great carrier and we would not have as many issues with hiring new carriers.

Vehicle type: My route would require a four wheel drive. The LLV and Metris would struggle with any kind of moisture. I have a 107 mile route and 80% is dirt road.
Your Name
Teresa
Feb 8, 2022
Your Comment
I think there would be several reasons that converting to usps owned vehicles would be cost effective. First being that we carriers would not have to struggle to find rhd vehicles or find someone to convert a lhd vehicle, and to also be granted leave to be able to take a vehicle to a mechanic of our choice for said conversion. Second, carriers wouldnt have to struggle to get approved leave time to get vehicles maintenance because we are so short staffed and cannot all work on our own cars and have to schedule maintenance when the mechanic can get to it. And I also believe we would have a better chance at hiring and retaining rca's because they wouldnt have to figure out how to afford a vehicle and the insurance and maintenance it takes to do our jobs, and some of them only work 1 day a week.
But I also know that if usps vehicles are to be used on rural routes they have to be able to withstand the wear and tear the rural routes will cause so we aren't sitting around waiting for a back up vehicle to arrive when they break down. And the usps will definitely need to implement more mechanics to be servicing such vehicles, not rely on dealers servicing them especially when the brand of vehicle doesnt have service techs within 100 miles of every post office
Your Name
Cathy
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I believe it could be beneficial for both the carriers and the postal service if the vehicles were better suited to the truly Rural Routes. Awd or 4 wheel drive similar to a Jeep would be best. Not the Metris Vans.
Your Name
Misty
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
My route is rural. Not with Amish mud roads and creek bed crossings but I have roads that you must get near to the edge. Sometime my wheel must leave pavement. That’s a problem in the Metris. The metris can’t get out of it. End of story. My Jeep, just pop it into 4 wheel and I’m unstuck without damage or ruts. The metris was so poorly designed to carry mail, it’s shameful. Don’t stack it over the window. How else am I going to carry the mail and ton of sprs that are exactly little wish packets. Shameful. You can’t even put a tray between the tray and the seat. Yes it’s nice and sits and drives well. That’s it. It randomly turns on by itself. It’s electronics are sketchy. The tires are CRAP. The rear wheel what a joke!! We don’t get a ton of snow and ice but what a joke in any weather beside DRY. I’d rather have a payment to make sure I am SAFE in all situations. Not just when it’s dry. We know the postal service prides on safety but do they really? It’s all about the numbers. So let me do my own numbers. Give us a choice. So many in our office want an assigned vehicle while others don’t!
Your Name
Mandy Smith
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I’m currently on a POV route that is 45 miles. I love the extra income the EMA provides but for efficiency I love days when I can use a company vehicle it’s just easier because my route is so far out it’s difficult to have to make second trips and sometimes I have large pickups and my vehicle just isn’t big enough.
Your Name
Melissa
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
I have pov route also in the past had a Llv route. I think it is more cost effective to have pov routes. The llv and Mercedes don’t do very good on rock roads. Your need 4x4 on some routes when the weather is bad!!!
Your Name
Heather
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
POV routes cost not only the post office more money, but also the carriers. The up-keep on vehicles is so expensive. Especially with used RHD vehicles, which is what most of us buy. Do away with ALL POV routes and save us all the hassle.
Your Name
Eugene Mitchell
Feb 7, 2022
Your Comment
That a very complicated question on postal vehicle vs pov now when I was hired I bought into it whole heartedly and purchased new rhd vehicle but most can’t or want .The big difference is comfortablity do I feel safe in your government contract built by lowest bidder vehicle and answer is no ,do I feel safer and comfortable in my pov yes,it is a give and take it could pay on some small routes to replace povs but some bigger routes it could be a maintenance /repair nightmare,due to maintenance being overwhelmed due to increase in postal vehicles while always short staffed taking hours to arrive on a route to fix a simple flat.just one example there are to many variables to say which is actually better in long run.All I no at moment is no thank you I’ll keep what I got