USPS Rural Carrier / RCA Pay

[@joshobrien5317]

I know this is a old video but here's a couple thing to help anyone else out. 1. Rca are supposed to be assigned up to 3 routes. 2. Rca's are only paid eval time after the 90day period. 3. Know your contract you can find rural carrier contract thru Google

[@Avocado_Ruler]

How long each route takes?

[@lovely31bluprint]

YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO EXPLAIN THE PAY OF A RURAL CARRIER

[@thatsthewayitis1]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

[@Juan_The_Mailman]

Actually city mail carriers also have their routes evaluated the difference is the route is adjusted to as close to 8 hours as possible because you’re guaranteed 40 hours a week and on city carrier side after 8 hours you are guaranteed overtime and penalty after 10 hours. if you are a regular carrier…CCA’s and PTF’s are paid differently depending on if they are on a hold down route. Generally if you’re a junior carrier you tend to work a lot of hours depending on the size of the office.

[@HootieOwl]

Can you explain different types of routes like a H route and how to understand the time restrictions? Make it make sense please! Thanks

[@mikemcclellan870]

Hi Tony, have my orientation in a few weeks in a town of about 30,000. Heard this PO in my town is a good one so I'm hopeful.

[@melissawilliams7238]

RCA following from (most) south central Washington. Second of your video ive come across this week... 💲new subscriber

[@jdmart2472]

Thanks a lot Man U really helped explain a lot just applied 3 weeks ago and already got my fingerprints and start date!

[@koolpopjones6499]

Yep. Doing mine as well

[@wickedhouston5538]

the worst part about the post office are the people working there. too many bad attitudes. i got into a couple of fights. always defend yourself and resign if necessary. you can always apply to another station in the future

[@richh650]

Thank you, Tony. Very good explanations!

[@chuey9313]

You get overtime for anything over 40 hours regardless of the routes weekly eval. If you're route is a 45 hour a week eval, and you finish the week in 39.99 or under, you get paid 45 hours straight time. If you finish the week at 40, you lose those extra 5 hours of pay. If you work 50 hours, you get 10 hours of overtime. Also the 13 day rule is not a real rule. According to our contract, we can be worked every day of the year. Some districts do make sure to not go over a certain limit like 13 days straight, but they do not have to do that.

[@annskaggs4475]

Sadly in the state of CA u get OT after 8 hrs but since we are federal employees it’s not till 40 yrs

[@RSGAEL]

Why do you lose 5 hrs of pay at 40?

[@chuey9313]

@@RSGAEL that's how evaluation works. You get paid the routes evaluated pay, regardless of how long it takes you to run it, but once you hit 40 hours, you're no longer getting paid eval, and you're paid hourly for actual time worked. The route I'm on has a 9.4hr eval. I'm running it 6 days a week, so the total eval for the week is 56.4 hours. I clocked out at the end of the week with 39.97 hours, so I got paid the full 56.4 hours. If I had worked a few more minutes and hit 40 hours, I would've became hourly, and only been paid the 40 hours of actual work time.

[@RSGAEL]

@@chuey9313 Ok thanks so much for detailed explanation. Made so much sense to me. I'm starting as RCA next week.

[@142857ness]

​@@annskaggs447540 years is quite a long time

[@Satanhadapoint]

Basically you get trained the basics and if you have trouble doing a route you haven’t done before you get cussed out.

[@noseefood1943]

Just started as an RCA my office has 6 routes and only 2 RCAs I’m subbing for route 2 which is evaluated at 8.2hrs but really difficult mountain roads. My regular is doing it in 5-6 hrs after 2 hrs of casing. My first day on my own took like 12 hrs including casing

[@moniqueinherfifties]

Hello are you still doing it ?I'm here in Florida , how do you like it

[@noseefood1943]

@@moniqueinherfifties I quit after two weeks too dangerous not worth 19 bucks an hour risking my life

[@moniqueinherfifties]

@@noseefood1943 wow thanks do you think it was the location where you're at?

[@noseefood1943]

@@moniqueinherfifties yes the area was in the mountains of California while we had record storms

[@moniqueinherfifties]

@@noseefood1943 wow ok

[@josephhamilton8123]

what about amazon sundays ? how do those hours get evaluated or affected ?

[@tomm2271]

Hello from Ohio. I applied for a City position, on the pre-hire list. Then a Rural opened up next town over. I applied and was offered with a letter. Did fingerprints today. BUT, I really applied too quickly, didn't read line per line and did not realize the PT status and use of own vehicle ?? No way will I use my new car for this position. Have you?

[@rcatony3956]

If you’re post office is small and you’re “actually” filing in for another rural carrier then you’ll use their postal vehicle to deliver on the days you are filling in. If they want you running an aux route, depending on the post office you may have to use your own vehicle. If they really wanted too, they could always get a spare vehicle from another post office but would be unlikely since your new.

[@tomm2271]

@@rcatony3956 lol...ok thank you Tony. We'll see what happens. After fingerprints today, I filled out the 85 questionnaire for complete background. If I pass and truly offered the position, I guess I can ask the postmaster about the personal vehicle usage ....what do you think? Have you been forced to use your car?

[@rcatony3956]

@@tomm2271 they sometimes have other vehicles you can use that are not postal vehicles, like a van. They can’t force you, but it is apart of your job requirement if they ask you to. The union will help you out more.

[@germansalinas7947]

Becoming a RCA on Monday. How many hours do they work a week? Also how do you learn your route? By a device ?

[@rcatony3956]

Depending on how big your office is, you can get upwards of 60+ hours a week. A RCA fills in for every rural carriers day off. Even if they don’t have a day off, you can work something out with the carriers like you take the packages and they take the mail, most of them will agree. You learn the routes by first doing a ride along with the carrier. You can also learn the route on your own time by following the route sheet in your own car.

[@HootieOwl]

Is it normal to get hired, then tell you you need to use your own personal vehicle? Also you have to pay out of your own pocket for the steering wheel to be put on the right ?

[@soundsoftherainpouringfrom1938]

Hey Tony, I was hired as an RCA start orientation tomorrow!

[@rcatony3956]

Great news!

[@Chancel388]

Not worth it?

[@j.e.thomas9759]

Proceeds to not post anymore videos…thanks for the info

[@billhampton8004]

Hi Tony I’ve read some the replies you’ve posted to the questions. I’m wondering how are people using vehicles with the driver’s on the left side delivering mail curbside?

[@TonyAndDieu]

We were told some people buy something called a mail claw, which is an extended clamp that lets you open and close mall boxes from the driver side. Some people drive sitting in the middle console with one leg and arm controlling the vehicle (unadvisedly)

[@inkedmaiden]

Just started. My job offer email stated 20-30 hours a week. I'm assuming that's a generic email everyone gets, because I'll be lucky to get 2 days a month as a RCA !! The regular I will be a sub for takes off 2 Saturday's a month, that's it. They already have a couple subs that run the regulars routes in my office. The USPS needs to get their act together. People are quitting their jobs believing they're getting hours stated in email. I'm sure some are, and above. But some like me, are not. Do your homework people. Call the office you've applied for and ask the PM what your hours will look like, before leaving your current job. Yes, you can sub for other offices, but when ??? after your 90 day / 1 year of service , which ever comes first, right away ?? who knows.... my PM said it would be awhile... not sure what that means. Looking into dual employment with USPS, since i'm not a career employee, but even that information is muddy and not really clear. I was told I'll be expected to get faster as I get the job down 😂 How do you get ANY job down (especially the casing) only working 2 days a month ??? Clearly, i'm not going to last 🤦‍♀The casing alone gives me angina, and to be told i can always sub somewhere else, where I don't know the case/route at all ??? lol .... Jesus take the wheel... literally and figuratively, cause those route descriptions are usually wrong!

[@CHARLESSBRONSON]

😂 You have scared me too not even think about applying at the post office. In a good way thank you 😁😅

[@inkedmaiden]

@@CHARLESSBRONSON sorry 🤣

[@CHARLESSBRONSON]

@@inkedmaiden 😂 no Worries.

[@DeliaNErik]

Thank you so much for the info

[@kurticmuzik_]

I saw that its a PT position and obviously every where is different but is it really part time hours or are you generally getting 40+

[@rcatony3956]

It’s always going to be 40+ as long as you want more hours. Your specific office may only have 20 hours available, but you’re allowed to go to post offices within 50 miles and ask for work as well. Luckily enough for my post office, I got 70+ hours every week.

[@chuey9313]

You may only get 2-3 days a week for the 1st year other than peak season as you learn routes, but eventually you'll get more than you want. I was told 3 days a week, occasionally more, and there's plenty of times where I only had 2-3 days off in a month. Right now I'm on 7 days this week.

[@Reddeadeye85]

I'm confused with the Standard Hours and Evaluated Hours... Which one should I worry about?

[@tomp4925]

Standard hours are based on a 6 day week It gets more complicated to calculate the daily evaluated hours. It is a messy system. In this gentleman's example the route he is relief for is evaluated at 54 standard hours. Based on a 6 day workweek it would be rated at 9 hours per day. If he worked all 6 days on this route and his actual hours was 39 hours he would be paid for all 54 hours but all 54 would be straight time, no OT. If the actual time he took was 40 hours he would only get paid for 40 hours of work. Any actual time over 40 hours would be paid at the OT rate. It pays to keep track so you do not get burnt. If I were on it for 6 days I would take my time and get paid all the OT. Some like to burn it up and do it in 39 hours to get paid the 54 hours of straight time. I was the opposite. I used all 9 hours and then some. It worked against the rural craft for carriers to run the route fast. All the undertime has been used against the rural carriers for decades whenever a new contract was being negotiated.

[@nelly8389]

How many stops would a rural carrier get ?

[@rcatony3956]

Depending on the route your assigned to cover, can be 200-600 stops

[@KaitlinMillerOct2nd22]

Is that a day?

[@tammydavenport24]

I have a question, I am a rural carrier assistant whois servicing an aux route. the new rrecs. have come out and the route went down from 25 hours a week to 19 hours week. as a new carrier just 30 days in and using my own vehicle not right hand drive. I am doing the route in just over 4 hours daily in a safe manner, I am being told I am doing route to slow and need to get under the allotted time, what am I doing wrong to be so slow? Will this constitute my failure of my 90 days if I don't improve?

[@rcatony3956]

Several factors can come into play mostly being it’s an aux route so it will take time for you to learn since your new. You’re also using your own vehicle that isn’t right hand drive and that significantly adds more time to your route. You can explain these factors to your post master as it’s things you can’t control. They can also provide you with a postal vehicle from other nearby POs before ultimately resulting you to using your own car. You’re protected by the union regardless if it’s still under your 90 days. If you feel unsure you can always contact the union rep for more better info on if you feel your job is at risk.

[@A_Jel]

Such clarity, you're a natural teacher RCA Tony! thanks for the insights. I have a question and a hypothetical. (1) How much did that recent "mail count" situation actually affect RCAs and their pay? The media makes it sound bad, not sure if it changes your experience. (2) Let's say someone is a CCA, one month in, a good employee, enjoys working for USPS but clearly isn't cut out for the park-and-loop-life. A nearby town has an RCA position open, could they switch? Have you seen it done before 90-day probation is over?

[@rcatony3956]

(1) it hasn’t changed anything for my route. I believe it was more for evaluation time spent. Even if they deemed your route is to be shorter but your spending longer times doing it, they can’t force you to work quicker due to the union. (2). Yes you can switch only if the opening position in the other town accepts you to come over. It’s not an instant process, and doing so would make your PO aware you’re trying to leave and switch positions. They can confront mostly go figuring out why you’re trying to switch and leave but won’t retaliate in any way against you. I’ve done it before my 90 probation period perfectly fine.

[@A_Jel]

@@rcatony3956 Thank you for the response this is encouraging info.

[@R512_]

where is district three texas part town or the city?. If it is town what part town

[@rcatony3956]

postalpro.usps.com/storages/2024-02/AREA_DIST_ZIP_0.TXT will show you areas covered in district 3

[@R512_]

@@rcatony3956 ty have good weekend

[@besteverstop-motionshow6907]

Hey i been watching your videos for a while now thanks for all the info! I just got offered “ARC”, ”RCA”, & “RCA SRV/REG RTE” all in one day and i dont know which one to choose. Can you explain which one would be the better option and what the differences are. The job offers do not explain the position or pay very well!! Thanks

[@rcatony3956]

ARCs is a part time weekend only (most of the time) gig where you only do packages, you don’t deliver mail. RCA you’re the fill in for multiple carriers in which you will deliver the mail and packages. You’ll be rotated amongst all the rural routes in your office. RCA REG, your designated a relief carrier in which you only do his or hers off days or vacation times. Most of the time you’ll be utilized for other carriers as well. Pay is different, ARC gets less then RCA.

[@besteverstop-motionshow6907]

@@rcatony3956 thanks!! I also have a CCA application thats in “ Pre Screening Phase” would you suggest me wait for the cca position?

[@NoSnowflakesHere]

I just happened to come across your channel. I want to give you a big pat on the back for explaining things on a level a new employee can understand. Part of being a great instructor is never forgetting where you started. Keep up the great work!

[@jonathanpadilla1401]

I’ve applied to usps to be a rural carrier but I never hear back from them. Any suggestions?

[@rcatony3956]

If you haven’t been contacted within 2 weeks, apply again. Chances are they didn’t select you but you’re still allowed to apply again.

[@RS-ge4dz]

I was previously a cca. Do RCA's starve for hours? I need them hours and I've been offered rca since I left post office while back

[@rcatony3956]

All depends on the PO you’re at. I was getting 65-70 hours per week not even into the holidays yet. You can always pick up hours at nearby post offices too if yours doesn’t have any for you

[@KARW37]

@@rcatony3956 I am just offered a RCA role. That is my concern. I'm worried it would be one day per week and not enough to live on. Should I ask them this question? I am offered the job, but it is still contingent on a background check. Thank you for your helpful video.

[@rcatony3956]

@@KARW37 make sure your site supervisors know you’re available everyday or whatever days you are to work. They can schedule you to be relief on other carriers as well not just one. And if they can’t find work at your station, they can send you to another station within 50 miles to work, and you’ll be paid the same.

[@thatsthewayitis1]

DUDE thank you! HOW HARD was this? the academy is useless to learn anything WITHOUT folk like you explaining it "in a nutshell" on youtube! thank you.. Im at a small small PO. and they have contractors doing mail. More than hired workers do. So we will NEVER help those routes. I DONT WANT to drive my own car if all these routs have LLVs tied to them. Will they say 'we want you to help this guy on his route... SO TAKE YOUR CAR and help him while HE drives the LLV. IS THAT what they will do?

[@sleepy310714]

When you are a new RCa do u get paid hourly till u get a route

[@rcatony3956]

Correct new RCAs are paid hourly only for up to 10 weeks since you’ve been hired. After that, you’re in evaluations for every route you do regardless if your assigned one or not. Since RCAs technically are a relief for one carrier, your office can have you doing multiple carriers.

[@kiingkay]

@@rcatony3956 how are you evaluated even if you haven’t done a route? smh jobs are weird

[@tayta25]

Thanks

[@truthtarot8097]

How much is the pay an hour I keep seeing different things I am in the hiring process and thank you for your videos!

[@rcatony3956]

It should be stable across the states, but currently my P.O. is paying $20/hr for an RCA

[@as.5346]

How much is the max ?

[@54soberanes]

Hi Tony do you use your personal car to work; if yes is it worthy?

[@rcatony3956]

I do not use my own car for work as I have a brand new car and it’s not worth putting the miles on it. Also the post office won’t allow you to use your own car if there’s postal truck available for you to use.

[@54soberanes]

@@rcatony3956 thanks Men God Bless

[@jasmine4846]

As an RCA are you guaranteed a certain set of hours a week or no?

[@rcatony3956]

Not until you’re being paid evaluation time for the route you’re doing. For like the first 90 days, you’ll be hourly doing whatever fill-in the office needs.

[@jasmine4846]

@@rcatony3956 so after 90 days I’ll have a set schedule with set hours a week?

[@johndoeee888]

So is it worth it being a RCA?

[@Derseffect]

I am looking at changing careers from teaching to mail carrier. If I understand you correctly, it is best to be a city carrier than rural? Also, do you know if there is negotiation on starting pay? Like if I have a degree and have worked for another delivery company before? I just need to get out of teaching and I need to make more money. Teachers get treated so poorly for what they pay, especially in the south. Thank you for this video. It was very informative. God bless.

[@mith2946]

Government and union jobs don't have negotiatable pay lol. Maybe if you are veteran I think you could start out making more, that's about it. And yeah I would say rural is better but it could depend on area. As a CCA you will be walking routes especially at first, you will also most likely work insane hours. If you purely want money then go City but know what you are getting into. Rural is easier but you need your own vehicle and you will have to wait much longer to become a Career employee and have your own route.

[@jkkic426]

Try another federal agency. Post ofc will treat you poorly too.

[@jj7834]

CCA....no life! 60hrs plus. 6 days a week guarantee....Saturday Sundays 1 day off ... $5000 OR MORE MONTHLY REMEMBER WHAT I SAID...NO LIFE! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED. I SWITCHED TO RCA

[@brandonpayne7]

You will have one believe me if you really want one

[@aswang78]

w/c one better to apply for a Job. CCA or RCA ? TIA

[@TonyAndDieu]

CCA, longer hours more less pay per hour . RCA typically regular hours more pay per hour .

[@phuongd5601]

have you ever been sent to other office?

[@rcatony3956]

Yes as long as its within 50 miles of where your main office is. If they dont send you, you can request to be sent.

[@bobstreet7718]

Can I ask how you got your first check? I was supposed to get paid Thursday but there was no direct deposit or paper check. I am very frustrated because I can't get answers from my supervisor and the union rep has not responded to my request. Thanks!

[@rcatony3956]

@@bobstreet7718 my first check I ever got was direct deposited into my account. It depends on how soon you update your bank info on liteblue. Check with your supervisor or the clerk responsible for handling accountables (certified/register mail) to see if your check is in a cage locked up somewhere. If it isn’t, then it could have been mailed to your house. If that’s not the case either then your postmaster is allowed is issue you a 70% advancement of what you earned via money order and the rest will be on your next check.

[@anthonyhudson431]

Do you have to use your own vehicle?

[@rcatony3956]

At very rural offices yes, in bigger cities- 99% of the time no.

[@dannymcclinton3761]

Do you have to drive your own car for RCA? So for those 5 hours they are at regular pay not time and a half?

[@rcatony3956]

I did not drive my own car. The PO I was at had spares and also minivans for me to use if a mail truck was not available. The overtime is dependent on the route that you do. If the route is evaluated for 43 hours, you do not get overtime until you completed 43 hours in the route first, then everything after 43 is overtime.

[@dannymcclinton3761]

@@rcatony3956 oh okay thank you very much for the quick response! Is there much difference between CCA and RCA? Would you ever switch to CCA or another craft?

[@rcatony3956]

@@dannymcclinton3761 If you want to make a lot of money then the CCA craft is for you since their overtime isn’t based on route evaluations but rather anything over 8 hours worked in a day is overtime. But at the same time CCAs walk in the snow, rain, and heat so it’s more of a heavy duty job. If you want to make decent money at a semi relaxed paced, then bring a rural carrier is better in my opinion. Rural carriers 90% of the time deliver out of a vehicle with exceptions of stopping by some businesses and delivering packages

[@dannymcclinton3761]

@@rcatony3956 oh okay thank you very much!

[@moniqueinherfifties]

How about an Assistant carrier

[@rcatony3956]

ARCs mostly work weekends and holidays. They mainly assist on Amazon sundays. It’s more of like a part time weekends job not like the other carrier positions.

[@raquelhughes4966]

Do you drive your own vehicle

[@rcatony3956]

I did not. Our post office was huge so we had vehicles for everyone. If your located in deep rural areas they might make you use your own vehicle. Which is apart of the job description, with mileage reimbursement of .70 cents a mile I believe.

[@JohnnyBC626]

Hi Tony, For using your own vehicle, do you get paid for gas and mileages?

[@rcatony3956]

@@JohnnyBC626 you get paid your hourly wage rate and mileage. Gas is only paid if you use a postal vehicle.

[@Drew1347]

How about like benefits for RCA?

[@rcatony3956]

Standard benefits as your non career. You have more choices once you become career.

[@AirplayneEar]

How much do u make an hr?

[@rcatony3956]

20.22/hr. You only get raises when the union renegotiate your contract or it’s a cost of living adjustment. There are no raises for performance. You also get paid more once you become career.

[@LindberghTroy-i2g]

Edwina Street

[@East_Coast_Customs]

Over 40 in a week is OT by law.

[@ZachSean-t9e]

Marianna Lodge

[@SalomeFabian-k8c]

Moore Valley

[@Chancel388]

So basically not worth it?

[@TonyAndDieu]

Worth it during the sprint and summer, not worth during the winter

[@PatriciaMurray-p2n]

Heaney Lodge

[@CroninUlysses-n7n]

Delta Knolls

[@ThurmanDusik-n2d]

Roberts Point

[@GaryEllis-l2u]

Thompson Islands

[@ChungCanard-j3i]

Allison Turnpike

[@DanielleCrum-e1m]

Chloe Wall

[@LakeshaLangon-h4t]

McCullough Track

[@AndreJones-l6w]

Breitenberg Locks

[@IrwinBenish-k1m]

Terry Canyon

[@GretchenTemple-z4y]

Hayley Causeway

[@ScottDavis-z8t]

Adams Dale

[@ToddPitts-i6d]

Rippin Cove

[@LindaDouglas-q7w]

Miller Ville

[@ZephaniahClement-b4o]

Leonora Road

[@ConradGwendolyn-k2m]

Timmothy Circles

[@BettyBarry-u2m]

Robel Springs

[@ElizabethBrown-i5r]

Wintheiser Mountain

[@KristenHebert-p5k]

Cara Alley

[@donaldyellott1982]

You don't get evaluation pay if you hit 40 actual hrs as an RCA, bro. Evaluation is thrown out the window, so watch your green card time.

[@NancyHutson-c6o]

Marcelle Trail

[@DuttArlen-o6o]

Macey Street

[@eduardoneves76]

hi, i live in Bangor, im thinking about applying for rca.

[@rcatony3956]

Go for it. Bangor is huge I’m sure you’ll be kept busy

[@ToddEberhart-b9e]

Hudson Mission

[@AntoinetteSweet-g7p]

McCullough Shore

[@TylerBernard-l5i]

DuBuque Ridges

[@EvaGranados-e7m]

Darien Shores

[@FrancisBennett-g2t]

Kris Hollow

[@i.sharted8122]

How do I apply for usps

[@rcatony3956]

wp1-ext.usps.gov/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_unreg_job_search?_gl=1*fsahfl*_ga*NDQ1ODYzOTQ4LjE2Njg4OTU1Mzk.*_ga_3NXP3C8S9V*MTY2ODg5NTUzOS4xLjAuMTY2ODg5NTU0Mi4wLjAuMA..#

[@EnochJeanphilippe-c6t]

Louie Mall

[@jingquanhuang3190]

Hello thanks for your video I have a question I applied CCA and it's been 3weeks I did fingerprints and background checks but haven't heard anything yet but I found out my application status was changed from pre hire list to offer phase and now turned to hiring list does that mean I will be hired ?

[@rcatony3956]

Yes assuming your background is good you will be hired. After that, you will wait for a phone call from the post office telling you you’re orientation date and location. Right now just wait for them to call you or email you about your orientation date.

[@jingquanhuang3190]

@@rcatony3956 thanks for your reply really appreciate it !

[@LynnMoore-c6f]

Bosco Street

[@BarbaraGonzalez-d9e]

Littel Track

[@MortonKay-u6s]

Murphy Squares

[@TynishaNine-h8k]

King Estate

[@BrianGarcia-v5e]

Xzavier Park

[@BlakeWalbert-q1n]

Fernando Canyon

[@ПантелеймонКичеев]

Lou Prairie

[@RoderickGaley-m7e]

Quigley Forest

[@GrahamMichaelia-c9e]

Teresa Greens

[@EvelineMarico-j5g]

Cali Track

[@MaggieWillis-o6q]

Jakubowski Ridges

[@ParkerKaren-i8t]

Darby Mission

[@CharlesHawk-q4u]

Sporer Isle

[@FunkTed-i8j]

Fahey Glens

[@DelanaLeuasseur-m6y]

Dibbert Dam

[@LoisStasser-o2k]

Pacocha Groves

[@TashaLondon-e7r]

Jaclyn Circles

[@TaunyaEscarcega-s9q]

Hyatt Burgs

[@DoloresHong-y7d]

Jamil Locks

[@BrandenBault-m4q]

Mueller Mews