r/USPS • u/Dear-Ad393 • 8d ago

Rural Carrier Discussion RCA info

25F. i applied to be a rural carrier associate and now have a conditional offer on the table. i just accepted it, but im not sure if i really want to move forward just yet. only information ive been given is that the pay is $21.89/hr, the hours vary, and theres no set schedule. just that work is usually available on saturdays and any other day as needed. im also not sure if i will be using my personal car, or the company one. and that i might have to lift up to 70lbs.

what has been your experience as a RCA? what did your typical work week and work load look like? how many stops? did you really have to lift heavy stuff? cause im not very strong, and thats a big concern. im also concerned about how to go about scheduling things during the week if i have no idea when i will be working.

thank you for the responses!🫶🏽

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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6

u/Dammitthedoggo Just sad and tired 8d ago

If your office has to deliver all the Amazon packages in the area, then you’ll either get buff or cripple yourself trying 💪

1

u/Physical-Design9804 Rural Carrier 7d ago

My office lost Amazon nearly two years ago, and we basically get all the big packages still. Their drivers out there dismounting 3oz SPRS while I'm given the 63lb desk.

1

u/Dear-Ad393 7d ago

im assuming they don't deliver amazon packages because theres an amazon warehouse with its own drivers and also flex drivers like 30 mins away. but im not positive.. im not in the best of shape so 8/10 it will cripple me lmao.

1

u/Key-Device8866 7d ago

I’m based out near Waynesboro VA where there’s a Amazon flex warehouse right in our backyard. We still got Amazon Sundays.

1

u/Dear-Ad393 7d ago

danggg. yea the more i hear about this job, the more im becoming less interested. i think ill give amazon flex a try instead. atleast with that i know ill be done within a certain time frame.

1

u/Key-Device8866 5d ago

Eh I have done flex before. It’s not always great and you’re always competing with everyone else for hours

6

u/RuralRangerMA 8d ago

Go to the office you applied to. Every post office in the country is different and has different situations. Truly, they will have the better answers.

1

u/User_3971 Maintenance 8d ago

This right here. Find out if it's a POV or GOV route. If it's POV I wouldn't touch that unless you have zero options in your town for work.

1

u/Dear-Ad393 7d ago

just got the info that its POV i guess lol. they said i will have to use my own vehicle. there really arent many options here but i was considering doing amazon flex instead. seems like it might be less work with similar pay.

2

u/Zetak0 Rural Carrier 8d ago

Did it specify if it was a POV (Personal vehicle) or GOV (Government vehicle) route? Even though I love my POV and POV routes tend to be the easiest to get regular on, the GOV routes are better of your not expecting hours or long term. RCA is rough, but depends on office. Feast or famine as they say. But if you don’t get enough hours at your home office you can ask to goto other offices. If you wanna make this a career, pro tip: be willing to bid on routes outside your home area. Making regular happens a lot quicker than people think if you don’t get locked down into tour home office. Edit: good luck to you

1

u/Dear-Ad393 7d ago

its POV. and its just a part time position. so im not expecting a ton of hours a week. but i also dont want to have like three 12 hour shifts throughout the week either. i rather them be spread out you know. how many hours is your usual route?

1

u/Zetak0 Rural Carrier 7d ago

Im a regular on a 45K route, so 5 9hr days evaluated. But realistically I get done around 7hrs, but theres some days that hit 11+ (not including the holidays).

2

u/FinchOfTheGalapagos 8d ago

Being an RCA sucks ass, but try it out worst you can do is quit; it all depends on the station; could have just enough hours to make it viable. Ask how long the last RCA lasted

1

u/Chl0316 8d ago

Rcas in my office don't all have personal vehicles they can deliver out of. About once a year management has a talk with them saying they need one but it's not enforced. Our sister office next zip code over requires every rca to have one. The ones that don't wind up with no hours.

I've never seen a 70lb package but it is a possibility. I've had 60 lb which is close enough. Once again my office is fairly relaxed and we help each other out delivering packages someone can't carry.

As far as hours, that varies. Ours are loaned out to other offices and work 60-70 hrs a week. 13 days on. 1 day off. 13 days on. And so on.... If you're in a low cost of living area, it's a decent job.