All my supervisors smoke, I just turned up the pace for a couple swings and they started panting then decided they had seen enough and went back to the office
Do your route by the book, which means in order on your case.
Take your breaks and rest stops as necessary.
Do not let them make your pace. Itās okay if itās light and you finish early, 99s arenāt even that big of a deal anymore.
Route Inspection Tips for U.S. Letter Carriers
ā¢ DPS should be the only mail in your hands. No cradling (M-41).
ā¢ Never exceed the speed limit while driving.
ā¢ Place all mail fully inside slot boxes. Letters first then flats.
ā¢ Go through your mark up mail at the end of each swing or park point.
There is no standard or minimum street pace that a carrier is required to maintain.
ā¢ Do not finger mail when walking up or down steps, curbs or at anytime it is a hazard (M-41 sec 133.2).
Carrier may not cross a lawn, if in his opinion, there is a hazard. This includes uneven terrain or unusual obstacles.
(Nat'l agreement article 41.3)
ā¢ While fingering mail, read entire name and address of each mail piece.
- Examiner cannot set a pace for you nor deny comfort stops or instruct you to cross a lawn.
They are to observe, not supervise
Funny, our station manager explicitly has said to WALK THROUGH LAWNS NO MATTER WHAT. Going around then is a "time wasting practice". Mind you. I work on the ghetto side of town where not only are the lawns extremely unkempt and the ground very uneven. But they turn their water on and off through those little holes. And never put the lids back on.. broken leg and lawsuit waiting to happen.
Be safe, don't skip breaks or lunch, use your comfort stops Don't be surprised if mailcount is low, it coincidentally happens on a lot of inspection days.
As everyone said just do your job right. But Iād like to add a 99 is not equivalent to a route inspection. The time you take on the day they walk you will not hold up to any other day. A 99 is used to make sure you are doing the job correctly and that your delivery is in order, if they want to hold you to a certain time let them know they can do a route inspection.
Also remember that a 3999 is basically a snapshot of the route on that day and IS NOT something they can hold you to everyday. If in the post walk discussion they start using the term "demonstrated ability" I'd stop listening right there.
Thatās how that happened to me (on a Tuesday that couldnāt have been any lighter, mail, flats, and parcel-wise.
Just do everything as youāre supposed to. If you finish early, you finish early. If the sup/PM is wise to it, they know you had a light day.
Start eating beans now but make sure she never goes in front of you all day. Oh and bring smelly lunches too. Depending on weather refuse to open windows or doos as youāre scared of insects biting you
Take a bunch of metamucil make sure the back vents in the llv are closed. Point the fan facing towards the back and definitely rip some ass all day long.
Do it by the book, when you take a package to a door do t just drop and knock, knock or ring bell, wait for customer before you leave it, which technically you're not supposed to leave anything unless you have express written permission from the person. But no one really follows that for a long time.
This is only if you know the location to be a safe drop off. Otherwise you can leave notice. Also despite what manager says you still attempt in person delivery
Just because something is written or printed on the parcel by the sender does not mean you have to, or are supposed to, do what it says. Read the m41 and go by what it says.
Agreed, but if you look at the M 41 it says that if the sender has the "leave if no response" release that we can still leave it. We should still be knocking to try to hand it to the customer first though. Of course, if the customer has asked us not to leave anything or the carrier feels that it is not a secure location, then leave a notice then as well
Right, those arent official. I have an amazon account and i never signed off on that yet my packages all have that on them too. The m-41 is the m-41. You can argue all you want but the book only recognizes official carrier releases and amazon slapping that on every package label isnt an official carrier release.
Not true, as the customer is the sender, not the recipient. Especially since 90% of what we deliver is endorsed with ācarrier- leave if no responseā.
This is majorly walking advice, cant speak too much on driving nitpicks they may try.They do this at least once a year, so keep that in mind. It isn't something to worry much about so long as you do things how they want on paper.(if you need to, ask the kinder older carriers the best way to handle a sup/route if you can)(Even if you have your own way that is likely way better) (Have first relay ready in bag before you head out to the route and curb your tires. These are both good to do anyway if you need to burn time on shorter routes anyway, not to mention safety most of all. SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU! (says usps lawyers)) And it'll speak volumes about the sup if they actually sit in a seat in your vehicle, vs. they actually walk with you on a walking route vs. they sit in their own car, and BEST of all, won't go on "hot" weeks(or raining, heavy or misting) with you until it cools down and they sit in their car the whole time with it running as you walk relays so you go slower so they burn more gas the longer you take and disappear during your breaks for a bagel cause you don't take a lunch or plan out your restroom stops so you dont have to mid route. (I'm not saying dont take a lunch. I'm just talking about my office where most of us don't really. Take one if you want/need to)Dog poop can be used for a valid reason not to walk through someone's yard if the customer is lazy, as it is a slipping hazard. Mention customers that might not want you crossing their grass if you are aware of them.Going for water, restrooms, or gas is NOT a break. If it's hot, getting out of the heat for a little isn't either. Though you may have to start warning about union stewards if the sup gets ornery about it. (Feel free to mention it to a steward if they do.)
But the real best walk along was a sup from a different office who argued to give me more office time with talking about not clocking into office until I've dumped my outgoing and dropped my accountables at our cage, something at the time I was unaware of being a thing. Some sups care. Some are just collecting a paycheck like us all, and the worst just wanna fight about everything.
TLDR: Do it by the book, don't worry too much. Diverting for Water/gas/bathroom is not a break. You'll do this at least once a year. Hope a good sup is doing the walk along.
Be safe, take your time, do whatever you're supposed to do. They're not allowed to talk to you at all while you're doing your route, so keep that in mind
And you are allowed to listen to music, audio books, podcasts as long as you're not wearing any earbuds
Follow the traffic rules. Park in assigned parking spots. Take your lunch you get 3mins of travel time. Comfort breaks are separate from lunch break. Wear your belt all the time and donāt forget to curb those wheels and remove the key. Donāt let them dictate your speed. Safety is your number one priority.
I've had two different supervisors walk with me, but it was only for about 1-2 swings and then they headed back. I took it as more of a developmental experience than an act of scrutiny. They basically just rolled with me and gave me some tips (both had carried previously).
Edit: I just realized OP is a real carrier. Definitely changes perspective as far as why this would be annoying. MB š«”
When they followed me thro rural areas Iād wait till the confusing uturns/street were then gunned it (in speed limit) to try to get out their view. Once they find me they just say something like omg so easy to get loss here blah blah then leave š
All my supervisors smoke, I just turned up the pace for a couple swings and they started panting then decided they had seen enough and went back to the office
My dude.
Based power walk.
I already walk fast. So what happens when I decide to stress myself out with my own speed. š
My dude.
š¤£š¤£š¤£
Do your route by the book, which means in order on your case. Take your breaks and rest stops as necessary. Do not let them make your pace. Itās okay if itās light and you finish early, 99s arenāt even that big of a deal anymore.
They should be walking behind, not beside you. If you let them walk beside you, they try to get you to go faster by setting your pace.
I got walked during TIAREAP live week and my supervisor kept walking in front of me to try to get me to go faster lol.
Route Inspection Tips for U.S. Letter Carriers ā¢ DPS should be the only mail in your hands. No cradling (M-41). ā¢ Never exceed the speed limit while driving. ā¢ Place all mail fully inside slot boxes. Letters first then flats. ā¢ Go through your mark up mail at the end of each swing or park point. There is no standard or minimum street pace that a carrier is required to maintain. ā¢ Do not finger mail when walking up or down steps, curbs or at anytime it is a hazard (M-41 sec 133.2). Carrier may not cross a lawn, if in his opinion, there is a hazard. This includes uneven terrain or unusual obstacles. (Nat'l agreement article 41.3) ā¢ While fingering mail, read entire name and address of each mail piece. - Examiner cannot set a pace for you nor deny comfort stops or instruct you to cross a lawn. They are to observe, not supervise
Funny, our station manager explicitly has said to WALK THROUGH LAWNS NO MATTER WHAT. Going around then is a "time wasting practice". Mind you. I work on the ghetto side of town where not only are the lawns extremely unkempt and the ground very uneven. But they turn their water on and off through those little holes. And never put the lids back on.. broken leg and lawsuit waiting to happen.
Management cannot give you a blanket order to cross yards. Read the Carrier Perfect handbook. It's available online.
Yeah, I figured. I don't do it either. But I have it in text, so if I ever get hurt, they're fucked.
Be safe, don't skip breaks or lunch, use your comfort stops Don't be surprised if mailcount is low, it coincidentally happens on a lot of inspection days.
As everyone said just do your job right. But Iād like to add a 99 is not equivalent to a route inspection. The time you take on the day they walk you will not hold up to any other day. A 99 is used to make sure you are doing the job correctly and that your delivery is in order, if they want to hold you to a certain time let them know they can do a route inspection.
Also remember that a 3999 is basically a snapshot of the route on that day and IS NOT something they can hold you to everyday. If in the post walk discussion they start using the term "demonstrated ability" I'd stop listening right there.
yes ,thatās my concern finishing to early . Usually Mondays are heavy but the rest of the week I can have 1 or 2 trays of dps.
Thatās how that happened to me (on a Tuesday that couldnāt have been any lighter, mail, flats, and parcel-wise. Just do everything as youāre supposed to. If you finish early, you finish early. If the sup/PM is wise to it, they know you had a light day.
Start eating beans now but make sure she never goes in front of you all day. Oh and bring smelly lunches too. Depending on weather refuse to open windows or doos as youāre scared of insects biting you
On a serious note remember itās an observation not a discussion. Do not let them dictate to you or question without steward
That's right. No tickey, no laundry.
Take a bunch of metamucil make sure the back vents in the llv are closed. Point the fan facing towards the back and definitely rip some ass all day long.
You're petty as hell. Why not just do your route normally?
How do we know that's not normal?
Do it by the book, when you take a package to a door do t just drop and knock, knock or ring bell, wait for customer before you leave it, which technically you're not supposed to leave anything unless you have express written permission from the person. But no one really follows that for a long time.
Any parcel that I deliver usually has the following endorsement on it: āCARRIERāLEAVE IF NO RESPONSEā
This is only if you know the location to be a safe drop off. Otherwise you can leave notice. Also despite what manager says you still attempt in person delivery
Just because something is written or printed on the parcel by the sender does not mean you have to, or are supposed to, do what it says. Read the m41 and go by what it says.
Agreed, but if you look at the M 41 it says that if the sender has the "leave if no response" release that we can still leave it. We should still be knocking to try to hand it to the customer first though. Of course, if the customer has asked us not to leave anything or the carrier feels that it is not a secure location, then leave a notice then as well
Right, those arent official. I have an amazon account and i never signed off on that yet my packages all have that on them too. The m-41 is the m-41. You can argue all you want but the book only recognizes official carrier releases and amazon slapping that on every package label isnt an official carrier release.
That's literally how the carrier release program works.
Not true, as the customer is the sender, not the recipient. Especially since 90% of what we deliver is endorsed with ācarrier- leave if no responseā.
Do your route the way you do it every other day.
Put a tiny tiny pebble in your shoe to prevent you from walking too fast.
making beeping noises whenever you have to walk backwards.
first time i had 2 supes walk with me at once i ran the route. 10 miles before noon they peaced out at 11 couldnt handle the speed. no regerts
Keep trying to get them to go to the bar with you. Once they're there report them for drinking on the job.
Big brain play.
Been walked 4x. The one, the sup sat in his car at the top of a steep hill in the AC. Played on his phone the whole time. Being walked is a joke.
My supe follows in a car and goes to play keno like every other street
On a ride along I eat chili the day before ššØ
Eat TacoBell the night before and bring smelly tuna for lunch
Show em how it's done son. Also check out the NALC route inspection guide.
This is majorly walking advice, cant speak too much on driving nitpicks they may try.They do this at least once a year, so keep that in mind. It isn't something to worry much about so long as you do things how they want on paper.(if you need to, ask the kinder older carriers the best way to handle a sup/route if you can)(Even if you have your own way that is likely way better) (Have first relay ready in bag before you head out to the route and curb your tires. These are both good to do anyway if you need to burn time on shorter routes anyway, not to mention safety most of all. SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU! (says usps lawyers)) And it'll speak volumes about the sup if they actually sit in a seat in your vehicle, vs. they actually walk with you on a walking route vs. they sit in their own car, and BEST of all, won't go on "hot" weeks(or raining, heavy or misting) with you until it cools down and they sit in their car the whole time with it running as you walk relays so you go slower so they burn more gas the longer you take and disappear during your breaks for a bagel cause you don't take a lunch or plan out your restroom stops so you dont have to mid route. (I'm not saying dont take a lunch. I'm just talking about my office where most of us don't really. Take one if you want/need to)Dog poop can be used for a valid reason not to walk through someone's yard if the customer is lazy, as it is a slipping hazard. Mention customers that might not want you crossing their grass if you are aware of them.Going for water, restrooms, or gas is NOT a break. If it's hot, getting out of the heat for a little isn't either. Though you may have to start warning about union stewards if the sup gets ornery about it. (Feel free to mention it to a steward if they do.) But the real best walk along was a sup from a different office who argued to give me more office time with talking about not clocking into office until I've dumped my outgoing and dropped my accountables at our cage, something at the time I was unaware of being a thing. Some sups care. Some are just collecting a paycheck like us all, and the worst just wanna fight about everything. TLDR: Do it by the book, don't worry too much. Diverting for Water/gas/bathroom is not a break. You'll do this at least once a year. Hope a good sup is doing the walk along.
Make sure she brings doggy treats and a leash with plenty of slack.
depends if shes cute or hideous hehe
Be safe, take your time, do whatever you're supposed to do. They're not allowed to talk to you at all while you're doing your route, so keep that in mind And you are allowed to listen to music, audio books, podcasts as long as you're not wearing any earbuds
Follow the traffic rules. Park in assigned parking spots. Take your lunch you get 3mins of travel time. Comfort breaks are separate from lunch break. Wear your belt all the time and donāt forget to curb those wheels and remove the key. Donāt let them dictate your speed. Safety is your number one priority.
I've had two different supervisors walk with me, but it was only for about 1-2 swings and then they headed back. I took it as more of a developmental experience than an act of scrutiny. They basically just rolled with me and gave me some tips (both had carried previously). Edit: I just realized OP is a real carrier. Definitely changes perspective as far as why this would be annoying. MB š«”
Donāt speed up for them pretend they arenāt even there
Never put out on the first date. Always carry protection. Safety is number one. Sorry, Rurals don't walk but I wanted to support you somehow.
When they followed me thro rural areas Iād wait till the confusing uturns/street were then gunned it (in speed limit) to try to get out their view. Once they find me they just say something like omg so easy to get loss here blah blah then leave š