Thanks for watching! Congrats on the new job!

You are welcome! Thank you for watching!

Yep, that's the hard part - finding an office where you get enough hours- but not too many. I was in your situation, but I had another part time job. Then I started grabbing hours at a large, understaffed office. Those hours eventually dried up. Bottom line is you have to do what's best for you.

A lot of people have had similar experiences. With all the hoops that they make you jump through, it's a shame that some offices aren't better at supporting new hires. In my office, I was given a ride-along and got to deliver just half the route on the first 2 routes I learned. After that I was on my own, but it gave me the time to struggle without being overwhelming. I would encourage you to resign instead of quitting. Write a letter, give notice, try to finish your schedule (if it's possible). If you ever found a good post-office to work for, you would still be able to apply- it wouldn't be possible if you simply quit. This job can be a good one, but not when you are in a poorly run or short-handed office. I honestly enjoy the work, but I only do it on the side- I have another full-time job. In all honesty, it would be hard to have this job be the only means of support for a family.

It usually does. You can't become career until you are the senior RCA and a position becomes available in your office. In some areas the carrier shortage has forced USPS to hire people immediately into career positions, but that is very rare to find.

@@davidkelln9225 my new position i got hired for is a rural carr assoc/srv reg rte ... they need people bad , im hoping hours will be there.

@@mattcoffee1269 congratulations on the new job! Most offices will keep you busy- especially now. Generally, volume stays pretty high until the end of January.

Honestly, I am an RCA who only works one day a week most of the time. I suggest you check out ruralmailtalk.com They have several threads which discuss the new system.

You get ema every paycheck. You don't get extra for maintenance or fuel. You get paid $.97 per mile. I believe that there is a minimum amount around $40. You have to cover all of your costs from that.

Nice. My full-time job is teaching. They are both supposed to be part-time jobs, but some people work 60+ hours a week. It really depends on how well the office is staffed. Usually the fastest way to a career position is CCA. RCA can take a long time to become career and the insurance is more expensive. As a CCA you will sub for city carriers. So you do a lot of walking and you have to wear a uniform. As an RCA you sub on rural routes, so no uniform and you mostly stay in the vehicle as you deliver. Best thing to do is apply for multiple positions. Then when you get the interview, take the opportunity to ask about the hours you will work and how long it will likely take to get the career position. Then you can make an informed decision. It really varies from post office to post office.

Nope.

I believe so, but I have never worked outside my state. Sometimes you can even be offered a hotel room and a stipend if an office is desperate.

I have been an RCA for almost 6 years. Honestly it really depends on your office and how many RCA's were hired before you. For a career position to open up, either a regular carrier needs to leave IE he quit or is fired, or they need to create a new route. In general, it will take a lot less time if you are in a large office with very few subs. My office only has three routes, so it could be a while unless one of the carriers decides to leave the profession. I did have the chance to transfer to a couple different large offices either of which would have made me a regular carrier a few years ago. I chose to take a teaching position and just deliver mail in the Summers and on saturdays.

Thanks Ben! I guess I wasn't up to date on my number.

Yep. That's become true in a lot of offices. The package volume can be brutal. On the other hand, some offices get almost nothing -Amazon delivers it themselves.

@@davidkelln9225 it's weird in my office Amazon delivers to the 44904 area in my office but all the other zip codes in my city amazon isn't there so they get hit the hardest and the route I've been running for the last 2 months is one of those routes

@@davidkash1969 yep. We are at their mercy it seems. By mid January it should lighten up (after people burn up their gift cards and make their returns).

They should tell you if the route is assigned a postal vehicle during your interview.

Will you be using your own car or a postal vehicle?

@@davidkelln9225 it will be postal vehicle

@@shellymitchell9660 so after 40 hours, you get paid time and a half and you get paid actual time (not route time). So if you work 60 hours, you would have 20 hours of overtime, so you would be paid 70x your hourly rate.

@@davidkelln9225 so let's say at the beginning of the week your route is evaluated for 8 hours and it takes you 10. You only get paid for the 8, but those extra 2 hours go in to making 40 hours, correct? Then are you saying after 40 hours all of those hours turn into time and a half? Even the hours at the beginning that you didn't get paid for?

@@shellymitchell9660 yep. Once you go over 40 hours you are paid for every minute you worked that week.

Once you make it through your 90 days, you can also pick up hours in other post offices.

@@davidkelln9225 what if I applied to another one before then ?

@@dakid_josh15 well, you've already accepted this position, so I believe you either have to resign and reapply or transfer (although things may have changed). You can contact the other office and ask them about transferring. That said, I would suggest you stay put for the training and transfer if you aren't getting the hours. It's much easier to learn this job in a smaller office. Again, just a suggestion. Just make sure you look before you leap

@@dakid_josh15 but you have been hired, correct? Unless the rules have recently changed, what you want is a transfer. You aren't allowed to apply if you are already an employee. You may be able to transfer and complete your training at the new facility. I worked in an office with a CCA who transferred immediately after his training was complete.

@@davidkelln9225 oh yes I want to go to a different location is all

I made this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jqt5erRi0N2xdHk.html Let me know if it helps.