The U.S. Postal Service delivery workforce consists of city and rural letter carriers, who perform similar duties, but have differences in compensation and work rules. City letter carriers typically work routes that are high density and low mileage. These routes are classified as either “mounted” routes (for those that require a vehicle) or “walking” routes (for those that are done on foot). City letter carriers are also given a $371 per year uniform allowance.
Rural letter carriers typically work routes that have a lower density of delivery points and higher mileage than those of city letter carriers. They work mounted routes, leaving their vehicles only to deliver to grouped mailboxes or to deliver an item that must be taken to a customer’s door. However, rural routes have expanded to suburbs and exurbs, which are more densely populated and urbanized. These routes are similar to mounted “city” routes.
Because suburban areas in the country continue to flourish, the rural carrier craft is the only craft in the Postal Service still growing. Postal Service policy states that rural carriers must present a neat, clean, and professional appearance reflecting a positive postal image, but does not require rural carriers to wear uniforms like their city counterparts.
The 114,000 rural carriers and non-career rural carrier associates serve as a post office on wheels. They perform many of the services that a customer could receive at a retail counter. They sell stamps and money orders; provide Priority Mail flat rate boxes; accept Express and Priority mail; offer signature and delivery confirmation; and collect mail and parcels. Rural carriers provide their own vehicles to deliver mail on nearly half of the more than 73,000 rural routes. Now that the rural carrier craft is becoming more “urbanized,” they are more visible to the public. Also, the past few years has seen an increase in the number of rural carriers delivering mail in Postal Service vehicles with the logo on the side.
Loading ...Do you think a uniformed shirt for rural carriers would be an overall positive change for the Postal Service as far as image, branding, marketing, and security? Would a uniformed shirt for rural carriers give employees a larger sense of unity and ownership to the mission of the Postal Service? Or is the idea of a uniform old-fashioned?
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Well, if city or rural carriers start to work on tour one or adjusted schedule, like the rest of the post office craft, then I would recommend some type of fluorescent color like construction workers wear. Or, a material similar that which creates luminescence to protect workers. It should be standard anyway instead of the blue type because even the day workers could use it on cloudy/rainy snowy days to protect them. It’s pretty much become a standard for the construction trades, and highway workers.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The comments that are “hidden” due to the “dislikes” need to be shown. Most all are simply “no’s” to the yes or no question, and bloggers disagreeing with their “no” answer. Rural delivery has followed the population further and further and the USPS has failed to see the tank tops, sandals, and broken down vehicles that present the daily image of the rural carrier.
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A little confused as to why the USPS has to even ask this question. If they are blue collar employees of the Federal Government then it is the responsibilty of the Agency to ensure it’s workforce meet certain grooming standards which would include uniforms. But then again being a Federal Employee I realy do not associate USPS employees as Federal Employees but more under the guidlines of contrators with minimal obligations to federal guidlines.
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This really shouldn’t even be debatable. All postal carriers, as employees representing the United States government, should be required to wear uniforms as a way to reflect a positive image of our government and our Postal Service.
I believe to see a government employer dressed in casuals on the job (which could include inappropriate things like a beer reference or profanity) is an utter disgrace and could reduce the faith of citizens towards our government.
While I like the “casual wear” idea, if employees are not properly evaluated, it could end up creating a negative image.
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Great post.
I am speechless. working as a dentist i am used to read such a blogs and posts which gives me re freshness.
Thanks for this post and a round of applause to the commenter as well.
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