Driving the Rural Delivery Route
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?
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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.
Thanks for allowing input.
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