Tips for delivering Amazon on Sundays in the USPS

[@michelledejesus1717]

I've only done 2 days so far but I literally had little to no training! First day someone trained me for FIVE minutes and put me out there! So I decided to come to KZbin, stumbled across your videos and I would like to thank you from the depths of my soul lol!!! Your videos are really helpful👍🏽👍🏽THANK YOU🤗🤗

[@davidkelln9225]

Thank you for the kind words and good luck with the new job!

[@joshyddog2054]

Lol doing this tomorrow, then start academy Tuesday

[@chrismchenry4373]

First Amazon Sunday yesterday and I found out that day they don’t use dynamic delivery. Huh? Same thing, a few minutes of training and basically sent me out blind with a useless manifest sheet

[@Mooknu1992]

@@chrismchenry4373 nope. You’ll click on/sign-in under “static-rural: on wheels-motorized” OR sum’n like that-on the hand-held device thingy.! Look @ me, acting like I 💯% ‘KNOW IT ALL’ 😂. Nah, but in all seriousness: tom will mark my 2 month mark of being USPS employee. I’m currently just an “ARC”, ATM. However, I really have intentions on making a permanent position change: over from ARC-->RCA! For me, the ARC’s really aren’t allowed that many[enough] days/hours to thrive with! Like seriously, WHO TF CAN SURVIVE SOLELY OFF JUST THAT 1 DAY(SUNDAY) EVERY WEEK + THE FEW HOLIDAYS OUTTA A CALENDAR YEAR, THAT USPS REQUIRES/NEEDS ITS EMPLOYEES TO WORK ON?! 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@thenextdoorgardener]

100 thankful also!!!!

[@davidkelln9225]

Whoops! I forgot to mention a tip! Once you feel somewhat comfortable, start paying attention to your delivery area. Notice which streets you are passing, pay attention to the house numbers (are they even on this side, are they going up or down...) . If you have to go out on the same route a few times, this will help you become more familiar with it and make you more efficient. Here is a link to the video I mentioned about Google maps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnOUk2OQnqtpq8U Thanks again for watching and subscribing!

[@AdventureSeeker29]

One issue I've found on Sunday Package deliveries as an ARC is that my scanner will have me deliver to the left hand side of a house. Is there a way on the scanner to ensure right hand delivery? I use an LLV as well.

[@davidkelln9225]

@@AdventureSeeker29 not to my knowledge. You can, however, deliver them in a different order. Once you become more familiar with the delivery area, you can usually make your own adjustments to the route (unless your supervisor tells you otherwise). You can usually deliver more efficiently and safely as the computer is just using an algorithm to design the route - it doesn't know the nuances.

[@timiahfoster7040]

You have great training videos

[@pappysproductions]

Great videos. My scanner loves to see me do circles, u turns and circle the same streets 2x3 times. Seems to be getting worse. My Zeo delivery app works way better. Great videos. I really enjoy them

[@davidkelln9225]

Zeo delivery huh? I'll have to try that one out!

[@ChrisJoelSmith]

Loved the video! Idk what the green card is but they must not use em nowadays (in the Chicago suburbs at least).

[@davidkelln9225]

It's just a card to keep track of sub hours when you aren't assigned a full route- so if you are assisting on a route or just delivering packages.

[@AdventureSeeker29]

Any help on delivering to businesses with suite numbers but no business name on the package? Sadly google maps directions can't get you to an exact suite #.

[@davidkelln9225]

Well, I will say this. Sometimes you are better off scanning the package "no access" and bringing it back to the office. It's not ideal, but the regular probably knows exactly where to deliver it.

[@vickiejones3406]

Would love for you to provide a tutorial for Dynamic delivery. Load truck features. Thank you in advance.

[@davidkelln9225]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onXZlKSoZ5yCpcU. I talk about load truck in this video

[@jacobgreen1997]

Very helpful video!

[@Novaximus]

Additional Tips: If you let go of the steering wheel while pushing into snow bank the front wheels tend to want to "curb" or twist at an angle. You might not realize this as you're messing around with the mail during those last few inches on approach to the mailbox. When you start to accelerate you're wondering why you might be fish tailing so much or why there seems to be too much resistance for small snow bank. "keep your wheels straight" when pulling out from box until you get enough acceleration that you can power through a small turn. Otherwise your essentially using your truck like a plow instead of an ice skate. Especially if you get stuck... put it in reverse to get that inch or two movement....put it in drive, get that wheel straightened, then hopefully you can get some momentum to get out of there. Tip 2: Use your low gears. The little 1 or 2 after the "D" on your shifter. This gives you more torque and less tire spinning. It's like putting a blender on low power. Tip 3: If you have chains on take advantage of them. Use that day to make your ruts as close to the box as you can but leave a little room to avoid that fish tail bump when you accelerate to leave. When you have a fresh snow fall it's soft and wet. It could be your only chance to make a path that your customers won't dig out. Once it freezes over your stuck with it for possibly a week or more. Tip 4: You'll find yourself stretching a lot to reach those boxes over the snow banks. (otherwise you're gonna wind up bringing everything back) It's inevitable despite what management says about staying safe. By days end you're likely to get a soar side of your back. I like to keep my ice scrapper handy and use that to close and open lids as a reach stick. you can "toss" the letters into the box then use the scraper to close it. This could help with some of the pressure you're constantly putting on your lower right side without realizing it before it's too late and you're already sore. Tip 5: Ask if you can leave your doors unlocked the day before a storm when the temps drop below freezing. It's an empty truck and usually management is ok with it. Saves you on a lot of deicer. Tip 6: Before the snow falls make sure your tires have good tread on them. Tip 7: Don't use your wipers until your confident they're not frozen around the motor area. These old wipers don't take much to burn out. Let your truck warm up!!! Tip 8: Gas up when you get done even if you only used a 1/4 of a tank. Stations might not be open the tomorrow. Tip 9: Becareful of frostbite!! I've known some long time regulars who had some in their finger tips. You're touching cold mailboxes all day. put your hands in your pockets when you can to keep them warm once in awhile. I've honestly had days where I have delivered the route like I was a toll booth operator...."pull up to a box..slide open my door a crack to service it...then close my door immediately with the window always up til I get to the next box. Yeah... it adds time and saps some much needed arm energy but man did it keep me warm.

[@danielblaha2881]

"You don't have to use dynamic delivery" .. we were told recently that we must always use dynamic delivery. Apparently, upper management feels it's the most efficient way to run a package route, even if the carrier knows the area well.

[@davidkelln9225]

That is absolutely not true. Dynamic delivery can be great, don't get me wrong, but I can tell you from experience that it rarely gives you the most efficient route. There are times when it wants you to go back and forth on the same road twice. Other times it will send you miles from where the actual address is. An informed carrier can easily shave hours off of the typical dynamic route. I was recently told that we have to scan packages within the dynamic menu. So if we don't want to use dynamic delivery, we must scan them as nonmanifest.

[@davidkelln9225]

That said, they are paying us by the hour so, I guess...

[@pappysproductions]

I was told the same. I'll inquire again

[@KrystalItaliana]

Is it best to look for the packages that match the street to go faster so it doesn’t take you back to the same block over and over.

[@davidkelln9225]

I do that from time to time. If I know a route pretty well, I will sometimes alter the delivery order to save some driving.

[@christinadayton3484]

How can you turn off mapping in dynamic delivery

[@kirbymills5973]

Can you use dynamic routing on a normal route ?

[@davidkelln9225]

@@kirbymills5973 to my knowledge, no. It isn't designed to follow your mail route. That said, they are constantly updating, so who knows? For now, you can use load truck and package lookahead to help you mark and/or organize, but that's not nearly as robust as dynamic. Honestly though, once you really get to know your route the technology just slows you down anyway.

[@missyjohnson7127]

i have done 2 sundays delivering parcels at the usps . it was bad the first day and this past sunday was a little better but im slow and do u have any advice on how i can be fast . i cant seem to find the addresses easy . help

[@davidkelln9225]

Do you have dynamic delivery with navigation software on your scanner?

[@missyjohnson7127]

@@davidkelln9225 yes i have that on the scanner .it will confuss me it will say turn left then turn right .im like what lol

[@davidkelln9225]

@@missyjohnson7127yeah, it can be sketchy. If you get a good signal with your scanner, use the nav, but don't trust the first thing it says and realize that there are some areas where it just won't work correctly. It's best to use the nav as a guide that gets you pointed in the right direction, but you really have to use your eyes and look for the next road and the address on the box because the nav might communicate too late and it doesn't really know where the driveway is. Have a good smart phone available and know how to use the nav app on it. Satellite view is also helpful if you can't find a building. On Google maps you can enter up to 8 stops on a route, so if you get frustrated you might want to pause and take time to do that if the scanner is driving you nuts. I will get easier and seem more normal. Then you will start to notice how the numbers travel, you will remember roads you've passed, etc. especially if they let you deliver in the same area over and over. For now, just clear your schedule on Sunday and give yourself time to deliver so you aren't panicked and rushing and making mistakes.

[@patlynn6425]

@@davidkelln9225 I see a lot of people saying take your time, our supervisors tell us how long the route should be, so taking our time is not allowed. I’ve been hounded on how long it has taken me to do a route, and if you tell them what happened that may have slowed you down, they tell you that’s no excuse. I don’t know if it’s like that everywhere, but where I am they want you to be done within a certain amount of time.

[@davidkelln9225]

@@patlynn6425 yeah, and truth is that they get hounded by regional management if Sunday delivery costs too much. That said, rushing is still not a great idea. If you cause an accident or make a lot of mistakes.... That would be worse than being late. I am not fast by any means- and I struggled when I first started. I would misplace packages and get flustered looking for them. I would turn the wrong way and the navigation software would try to send me around the block to get on track. Just do your best to be efficient. Try to limit mistakes, keep your packages organized, and just keep moving. If you misplace a package, organize the other ones on the shelf as you look for the missing one rather than throwing things around until you find it. If the scanner says the next address is more than 5 minutes away, maybe check your phone navigation to see if it's behind you- you may have just made a wrong turn. Once you get the hang of it, you shouldn't need to rush to get it done. Stay calm, be alert and organized, and just keep moving.

[@Dylan-bk8ky]

Do you put spurs in mailboxs on Sunday

[@davidkelln9225]

It depends. I don't want to jam things up for Monday, so I avoid it if the package is too big or the mailbox is too small. That said, if the weather is bad, I may stuff it in there anyway if there isn't a good place to leave it. I once left a small box by a front door and it blew away- the customer never found it. In short, be good to Monday carrier, but putting the package in a secure location is paramount. Sometimes that means jamming it in the mailbox.

[@carlosaguilar8032]

Hey dave can you please turn up your volume I have volume all the way up just can't 👂 you loud enuff

[@bonddm1391]

How do you put up to 8 google addresses in maps?

[@bonddm1391]

I mean routes

[@davidkelln9225]

So you type in an address and press the directions button in the bottom left corner. Then, in the upper left corner you should see three small dots which open a menu. Choose "add stop" from this menu. You now can add the other addresses. Once they are in, you can touch the letters in front of them to drag them around and shift the order. Then you press the start button and you are your way.

[@bonddm1391]

@@davidkelln9225 great time saver...for me it was the top right corner...very helpful. Thank you!

[@davidkelln9225]

@@bonddm1391 lol my bad- I guess I don't know my right from my left this early in the morning.

[@richgang9273]

What you recommend for beginners that are doing Amazon Sunday?

[@davidkelln9225]

First, make sure to bring a good smart phone. The navigation software is okay, but it has issues sometimes. Second, don't spend too much time looking for an address and don't leave a package if you aren't certain it's correct. Just scan it no access and bring it back with you. Third, make sure that you have your packages lined up- at least the first 30 or so. Spend an extra few minutes organizing- it can help you from getting flustered on the route. Then it's just patience. You will get better every time. In the beginning, you will rely on the navigation software, but soon you will be able to navigate more efficiently without it. I like Sundays. I know where the addresses are so it's super easy now. No mail to worry about, so I can kick back and listen to music or sip on a pop in between addresses. Don't get me wrong- sometimes there is a curve-ball that can make the day challenging (like weather, dogs, strange addresses) , but overall it's pretty easy. My first 3-4 Sundays were prettty tough, but it's been smooth since.

[@richgang9273]

@@davidkelln9225 thank you 👌🏽

[@davidkelln9225]

@@richgang9273 absolutely! Thanks again for watching.

[@pappysproductions]

Ultimate rule: Make sure your packages are organized before you leave. This will make our break you.

[@patlynn6425]

@@pappysproductions How do you handle a supervisor who is yelling at you that you are taking too long to organize? I got yelled at for taking too long, so I panicked and just stopped organizing like I wanted and just put the packages in the truck and of course that slowed me down on my route and I got told about that. If he would have just let me organize the right way, the route would have taken less time. It’s very frustrating and sometimes just makes me want to walk off the job.

[@andrewtaffjtdfryfhrggylor9453]

Do you have any tips on how to load my truck fast cuz I'm still new at it and my supervisor is telling me I'm going way too slow

[@davidkelln9225]

Do you load at a dock or wheel things out to your truck?

[@brandyt3457]

Can you use dynamic delivery for a regular route? Will it number the packages for you?

[@davidkelln9225]

To use dynamic delivery, a clerk would have to scan the packages and create a dynamic route. The problem is, it likely wouldn't follow your mail route. If you want your scanner to help you number your packages, you can use the load truck function (the one on the main menu, not the one in the dynamic menu). It will tell you the section number (1-6) and the sequence number, which is the customer's position on the route. So if you had 600 addresses on your route, you might scan a package and hear "section 2, sequence 134". That means that the package belongs to the 134th customer on your route. So it won't number them like 1-200, but you can use it to put them in the correct order. You can arrange them by section and then put the section you are working on in order when you are on the route as you pull them forward.

[@pappysproductions]

@@davidkelln9225 I use this every day. Especially on new routes. Saves me a lot of time that I don't have to search the case for addresses to place markers.

[@michaelshackelton4439]

Please wait...REROUTING

[@davidkelln9225]

Lol turn left. Turn right.

[@michaelshackelton4439]

@@davidkelln9225 my personal favorite is...your destination is on the right...when cleary...it's on the left

[@michaelshackelton4439]

And, let's not forget, it's ALWAYS gonna bring you to the wrong side of the street to reach the box

[@arthurmoreno4546]

How long have you been a carrier?

[@davidkelln9225]

Since May 2018.

[@davidkelln9225]

I am an RCA in a small office. My first year I tried making it my full time job. I loaned myself out to other offices and was able to pull down an okay paycheck for a while. Then in January the hours dried up- not as much help was needed. So I took a full-time teaching job. Now I just work a K route on Saturdays and Amazon every other Sunday.

[@arthurmoreno4546]

@@davidkelln9225 bummer. still its nice to see someone who actually knows what they're doing, making vids for others.

[@yadigthat8806]

Sometimes, the navigation is COMPLETELY wrong. Why? Because some neighborhoods are under construction.

[@davidkelln9225]

That is true. I once had a scanner take me down a dead-end road that ended in a grove of trees because it thought I could drive through them- there was another dead end road on the other side.

[@bigperm4119]

Do you want to logoff?

[@bigperm4119]

yes

[@bigperm4119]

no

[@davidkelln9225]

You can, but the scanner will log itself off when you set it in the charging dock.