Speed up Rural Carriers! Tips for getting faster.

[@MrDoomzy]

Thanks for the tips, still in my week of training and I am loving it.

[@Defund_HOA.]

How's it going 4months in? Just finished the academy

[@MrDoomzy]

@@Defund_HOA. going great I love it

[@bayoustateoutdoors9650]

RCA in 1997, made regular in 2000…..good stuff 👍🏼

[@davidkelln9225]

Thanks for watching!

[@Brandywine-farm]

wow that was fast. I hope they eliminate the RCA and make us all career

[@janetleeharrison]

Great tips - thank you! I can use all of these. This gives me a lot to think about & work through in my mind. Have a terrific day!👍👍

[@davidkelln9225]

Thanks for watching, and you have a terrific day as well!

[@Novaximus]

Tip for managers: avoid putting a sub on a route they've never seen before unless if they're training or practicing with afternoon 3rd class. Instead, if need be, you can have other subs in the office who do know the route do the actual casing (at least slop letters and flats) then have the new sub load their parcels and deliver the route. IMO it's really just bad management to have a sub thrown on a route to case it when they've never seen it before in the morning. A senior sub can case up most of it in like an hour. It makes no sense to have a newb sit there for 5 hours. Even in a situation like that, management should let them curtail all circs and 3rd.

[@davidkelln9225]

In my home office, they let me carry half the route for a couple days before I delivered it on my own. In other offices, they either cased it, helped me case it, or had someone else take my large parcels the first few times. Now that's not needed. I can pretty much come in and do a whole route in roughly the evaluated time having never seen it before. It's different for everyone, but after a while you get better at learning new routes. To your point though, you are right. Most new carriers are not going to be able to get a route they've never seen before cased and delivered in a reasonable amount of time. You are just going to frustrate them and they will quit. If they would have done that to me in my first few months on the job, I would have been on the street until 8 pm lol

[@michaelhernandez7505]

I’m a Rca and been doing it since thanksgiving. I average 1-2 new routes a week. It’s a cancer getting back to the truck on time

[@aaronanderson8268]

@@davidkelln9225you can’t do a route you’ve never done before under evaluation. Don’t lie

[@shawnwhite2572]

In my office, they give us a Package Manifest every morning before departing. The manifest is in order, and I use it for anything too big to fit in a mailbox. I simply highlight the package on the manifest as I load them, and then I cross them off as I deliver them. If my manifest has 5 pages, I know any package on page 1 gets delivered first, and anything on page 5 gets delivered last, so I arrange them accordingly. Unfortunately I've noticed some other offices do not do this, and do not know how to even print them out.

[@davidkelln9225]

I've been in a few offices and I've never seen that. It sure would make it easier! The only annoyance would be that the SPRS would be on the list too.

[@shawnwhite2572]

@@davidkelln9225 yeah, the SPRS are on there too, but I use parcel markers for those so I don't highlight them. I use a bright pink highlighter, so it really stands out. I still do occasionally glance at the SPRS on there too though, just to make sure I haven't missed a parcel marker, because it has happened a few times.

[@PostalReptiles]

@@shawnwhite2572 That print out would come in handy. I use package lookahead on the scanner just to make sure I haven't missed any scans, but it's an annoyance clicking buttons to go check

[@AdrianMAson-oo7zg]

I mark my packages before I case I’ve realized that speeds me up my smalls and bigs get marked because the mail is easy the packages slow you down when marking in offices

[@christalone0188]

A woman in my office does that and she is always out faster. I haven't figured out how though. It seems like you are doing the same stuff just in a different order.

[@burningknuckle26]

can you cover holds. pls make a video of wut to do

[@Gaw317]

Have you ever used Package lookahead to mark the parcels?

[@davidkelln9225]

Lol.. Sooo funny you should mention that! No I haven't. I once threw my parcels in back and just used Package lookahead to see when my next package was coming (that kind of drove me crazy). Otherwise, I use it from time to time just to make sure that I haven't missed anything. That said, someone told me that they used it to mark their parcels, so I made this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZiZgHuMnreKqas

[@kevinsoriano5378]

Is this meta ?

[@hollychaffee606]

Hi David! I am a brand new RCA. Do you have a template for the parcel sheet you use? How do you use the parcel sheet specifically? My route has several roads that break up, so I may be on Johnson Rd in the beginning, then two different roads, and then back on Johnson again. So, do you put the address numbers in the exact order under the street name or list the numbers randomly under the street names as you come across the package when you are loading? Also, if the addresses are not in exact order, do you cross them off as you deliver them? I hope I'm making sense! Thank you for your helpful videos!

[@davidkelln9225]

Try this link:. docs.google.com/document/d/1AMT5vVxsmOglQOBNMKgYD4Qar6Q0YILODLytdV9jwlM/edit?usp=sharing you can make a copy and change the street names as needed. I always print 2 sided in landscape.

[@davidkelln9225]

The streets are listed in order. When I write the numbers underneath the street, I don't put them in order. I mean, you could, but usually there are only a few packages on each street so it's easy to work with. I don't cross them out. It would be easy to, but since the streets are in order, I find it easy as I go along so I don't bother. When I have delivered the last package in the third row, I flip the paper over to work on the last 3 rows. Do what makes sense for you. If crossing out as you go or listing them in exact order works for you, why not? I just obsess a bit about packages so focusing on them a row at a time works for me. The biggest challenge with this method is when you don't know a route very well and you visit the same street at different times. Is it main street in the first row or main street in the fourth row? Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions or if this didn't make sense.

[@HollyChaffee]

@@davidkelln9225 thank you so much! The link worked (I opened it in Google docs) and I appreciate you responding!

[@davidkelln9225]

@@HollyChaffee no problem at all.

[@QuestionSpencer]

Great stuff! Cheers

[@janetmarvin8505]

I’m a new on call rural mail carrier, I never get to be on a route for more the 5 days and no matter how hard I try or get in early I can never seem to finish my route unless I stay out till 9pm , then it’s dark , and it’s dangerous, am I normal ?

[@davidkelln9225]

It's normal to struggle with this job for the first few months - especially since you are starting during the busiest season. You have to deal with holiday mail, early black Friday sales, and political flyers. It does slow down.

[@christinabator5705]

Hang in there Janet , it takes time to learn . The more you work the route ,you'll know . Also , be neat with your mail , face it the same way , I always flip my letters right side up if they are flipped in dps . I flip a letter backwards for a parcel or spur . If no letter I use a parcel marker . See which way u like the best . 1 bundle , 2 bundle system. On heavy days I'll do 2 . Take my dps to the street, and my flats are separate . Good luck to you , I've always enjoyed this job but Amazon really sucks !!!

[@aprillsloof8542]

I’m new too Janet. I’ve been out on one route 4 times and can’t seem to finish it w/o help. They don’t let us stay out until dark and want us in before 5:30. I just can’t do it yet. Have you improved any?

[@jenahluna9140]

I got let go at the 60 day mark because I was not fast enough they didn’t tell me I only had 60 days to prove I could do a route on the specific route time they just said improve which I did 😢

[@savagedick1462]

@@jenahluna9140what was it that slowed you down? I used to be a decent auto parts delivery guy but that’s very different than usps cca from just watching vids .Supposed to shadow with someone. Saturday

[@zakboilen3240]

Thank you!

[@davidkelln9225]

Thanks for watching!

[@brandonthomas4175]

Hello. Interesting video you have there. I just applied to be a RCA here in Texas. Got sent back an email stating that they wanted some information from me, went to the website, gave them the info and just playing the waiting game now. Let's see if I get that call. 🙂

[@davidkelln9225]

Yeah, it can take a long time to get hired lol.

[@brandonthomas4175]

@@davidkelln9225 ..so I've heard. I'll be patient. I like the tips and tactics you use for the RCA's. "Smooth is fast. Fast is smooth" from looking at your videos and other videos about rural carriers, it sort of reminds me of an Amazon driver. Is that an accurate comparison, or not really? 🤔

[@davidkelln9225]

@@brandonthomas4175 well, on Sundays and Holidays, they basically will have you work as an Amazon driver. On those days only packages go out. A regular route, however, is much different. You will come in and spent a few hours "casing" the mail- basically putting together different things in the order in which you will deliver them. On a mail route, every address is visited every day, so your route doesn't change. Amazon routes change based on who orders packages that day, so you are following turn by turn directions that are different from day to day. Delivering packages only is much more laid back than delivering mail. You'll see when you do your shadow day.

[@brandonthomas4175]

@@davidkelln9225 ahh...gotcha. makes sense now. And a few hours casing the mail one regular day routes huh? Sounds like it can be tedious..I assumed with how much mail you guys send out a day, the mail would already be sort out to a degree, for the most part, where the truck is sorted or your "cases " are already sorted according to the itinerary where you'd just come in, grab your route and go but looks like I've gotten that wrong by chance huh? 😬

[@davidkelln9225]

@@brandonthomas4175 so it is mostly sorted. Newspapers come in order, magazines and catalogs come in order, and letters are in order. Then there is some loose stuff they give you that probably belongs on your route. The problem is that you have to deliver all that stuff, so you want to marry some of it together. Some people spend 4 or 5 hours at the case, while others can be out the door in less than an hour. It depends on your route, the volume that day, and how you choose to organize. If you are in a good office, casing isn't too bad . It gives you a chance to talk to people and joke a bit- just don't stop casing! Lol. Again, you can check out a few more videos and then see it up close on shadow day.

[@pastrana37]

Hi I been with the post office for 1 months between Orientation, Trainne, Academy but today after I say 7 day by myself they let me go I Love The Job..Cause love walking..But I thinking wasn't enough time for be a Rookie..The give me a Resignation form.But I this point not sure what to do..I Be asking Mailman like you on KZbin what to do..Thanku for any feedback will be appreciated

[@davidkelln9225]

In your first 90 days they can let you go for any reason. You can see if a transfer to a nearby office is possible (someone else might be willing to give you a shot). If not, definitely resign. Don't let yourself get fired- you could always reapply somewhere else.

[@pastrana37]

@@davidkelln9225 ThankU

[@pastrana37]

@MrFinesse316 ThankU So Much For your feedback,But I decide to Resignation today..Can't concentrate do this job Due to my other Night job..Love the usps CCA position but can't take.the risk quitting my job for unsecured job..i talk to the union but the told ne my situation very hard To see cause they told me in my case need to decide.Also at My Age look like it's kind late..but ThankU so much again..Really Appreciate it...👍

[@theTerratronic]

Grab the DPS for groups of consecutive empty cells and place it all in one cell. It saves time casing and pulling down. There is no need to grab and place the DPS of each individual cell if they are empty. Of course, this has to done after casing everything else: flats, hot case, sprs, ...

[@davidkelln9225]

Good tip!

[@ocasion3051]

You should make a video

[@kenshin4768]

Uh unless you use the mail to mark your packages like I do

[@davidkelln9225]

@@kenshin4768 yep. That's where I had to adjust. When I started taking DPS on the side, using parcel markers didn't work as well. Gotta do what works for you on your route.

[@theTerratronic]

@@kenshin4768 :O

[@bored7743]

can my USPS scanner become a police scanner? like if i jailbreak it?

[@davidkelln9225]

@@bored7743 probably can be a lot of things. It runs a lite version of windows.

[@weightlosspower]

Do you have a layout for the parcel sheet ?

[@davidkelln9225]

docs.google.com/document/d/1Nf37hTrdMio2hY2qTP-1VA446hIOdOGB8A0TX5Ndfwo/edit?usp=drivesdk Just make a copy and type in your own street names. It's just a big table with 6 rows.

[@jewelciappio]

Setting it aside… I can’t count how many times I could have sworn it was not on that route and then later found it when casing the dps. Set it aside. It’s okay.

[@thegirlwholovesroblox]

Im new my 60 days is coming also. Im not the best because i dont get the same route in a roll. If i do, by the 2nd day i catch on the 3rd day they swtich me to a route i have not been on for weeks. Its crazy, then state you been on it and what not its this much hours why is it taking you all day. Like really

[@davidkelln9225]

That is pretty messed up. They should really give you time to learn your first route before they put you on a second. In my opinion, they are just shooting themselves in the foot. If they give you time to learn the first 2 routes, you would have a better chance at succeeding.

[@jkkic426]

The FASTER YOUR AZZ GO THE MORE THEY WILL CUT YOU. ALSO WHEN YOU HAVE A WRECK THEY WILL BLAME YOU.😅

[@davidkelln9225]

Had a bad experience? Yeah, I am definitely not condoning speeding or being reckless. You can become faster by changing up how you organize in the office and by limiting your mistakes.

[@christalone0188]

Using "Load Truck" does not help teach you the case. I spent 6 Saturdays in a row helping a guy after my route because he spent too much time hunting packages in his vehicle because he didn't learn the case. Also, I use to number my bigger packages 1 thru whatever. It took longer in the office but faster on the street.

[@davidkelln9225]

@@christalone0188 load truck indeed does not really help you learn the case, it just helps you order the parcels. As far as misplacing parcels in the vehicle, I find it helpful to cluster them in the vehicle (row 1 with me, row 2 on the floor behind the tray, row 3 on the left shelf......etc.)

[@christalone0188]

@@davidkelln9225 I don't really go by rows but by roads. It's all the same really.

[@Doomzdayxx]

Casing DPS and boxholders(usually) and marking packages is a complete waste of time, especially if you are on the route every day.

[@davidkelln9225]

I don't like casing everything either. It can be useful at times, but mostly you are correct.

[@kenshin4768]

I disagree casing everything makes life easy and fast on the street

[@Doomzdayxx]

@@kenshin4768 no doubt fast on the street. All the fastest carriers take to street. It's just logic.

[@eddiew2325]

What if I’m a CCA hehe

[@Brandywine-farm]

Then you get to go career WAAAY before any RCA ever thought about. We are temp slaves for years.