Handbook M-41 - City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

Transmittal Letter

City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

Handbook M-41 June 2019

Transmittal Letter 5

A. Explanation. This is a partial revision of Handbook M-41 City Delivery Carriers Duties

and Responsibilities, incorporating revisions published in the Postal Bulletin on the

following dates: March 27, 2008; August 14, 2008; February 24, 2011; July 25, 2013;

June 11, 2015; November 26, 2015; and July 7, 2016. This edition is a complete re-issue

of Handbook M-41.

B. Availability: Copies are available for Postal Service employees on the Postal Service

PolicyNet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov

: In the left-hand column under “Essential

Links,” click on PolicyNet, and then in the column on the right, click on Handbooks.

C. Questions and Comments. Send suggestions and comments about this handbook to

the following address:

DELIVERY

OPERATIONS SUPPORT

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

475 L’ENFANT PLZ SW RM 7142

WASHINGTON DC 20260-2802

D. Cancellations. All previous issues of Handbook M-41 are obsolete. Discard all previous

editions. Please recycle.

E. Effective Date. This handbook is effective June 2019.

Kevin L. McAdams

Vice President

Delivery Operation

June 2019 iii

Preface

City carriers perform an important function in the United States Postal

Service. They serve millions of families and business firms daily.

City carriers are highly respected by the American public. This respect has

been earned by many years of dedicated service, especially during national

and local emergencies, including prolonged periods of extreme weather

conditions.

You are now a member of this group of faithful and dedicated employees.

This handbook will help you give a high quality service that you will be proud

of. Study this information carefully; ask your postmaster or manager to

explain any points that are not clear to you.

We offer you our best wishes for a long and happy postal career.

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iv Handbook M-41

This page intentionally left blank

June 2019 v

Contents

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

1 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

11 Responsibilities of Carrier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

111 Scope of Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

112 General Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

112.1 Efficient Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

112.2 Diligence and Promptness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

112.3 Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

112.4 Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

112.5 Neatness and Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

112.6 Courtesy to Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

112.7 Proper Vehicle Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

12 Basic Carrier Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

121 Office Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

121.1 Time Allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

121.2 Case Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

121.3 Change of Address Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

122 Street Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

122.1 Delivery and Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

122.2 Special Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

123 Other Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

123.1 Mailing Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

123.2 Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

124 Part-Time Flexible City Carriers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

13 Delivery and Collection Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

131 Delivery on Letter Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

131.1 Security of Mails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

131.2 General Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

131.3 Actual Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

131.4 Reporting Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

132 Collection on Letter Routes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

132.1 Collection from Customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

132.2 Collection from Boxes and Racks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

132.3 Handling Collected Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

133 Safety Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

14 Equipment and Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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15 Restricted Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

151 Outside Employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

152 Service Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

153 Directories and Mailing Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

154 Political Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

16 Supervision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

2 Office Time — Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

21 Timecards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

211 Reporting for Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

211.1 Non-PSDS Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

211.2 PSDS Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

211.21 Badge Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

211.22 Transacter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

211.23 Dial Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

212 Leaving for Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

212.1 Non-PSDS Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

212.2 PSDS Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

22 Casing and Preparing Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

221 Carrier Cases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

221.1 Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

221.2 Arrangements of Separations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

221.3 Modified Carrier Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

221.4 Letter Separations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

221.5 Identifying Relays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

221.6 Number Arrangement for Flat Separations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

222 Systems for Casing and Preparing Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

223 Pre-Casing Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

223.1 Letter-Size Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

223.2 Magazines, Papers, and Other Flat Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

224 Casing Letter-Size Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

224.1 Learning Carrier Line of Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

224.2 Coordinating Eyes and Hands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

225 Casing Magazines, Papers, Flats, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

225.1 Two-Bundle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

225.2 Modified One-Bundle System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

23 Data Collection of Special Services Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

231 Preparation — In Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

232 At Delivery Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

232.1 Delivery Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

232.2 Nondelivery Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

233 Return to Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Contents

June 2019 vii

24 Undeliverable as Addressed (UAA) Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

241 Recording Address Change Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

241.1 Entries from PS Form 3575 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

241.2 Entries from PS Form 3546 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

241.3 Purpose and Duration of PS Form 3982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

241.31 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

241.32 Duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

242 Procedures by Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.1 Letter-Type Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.11 Casing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.12 Bundling CFS Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.2 Periodical Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.3 Standard Mail (A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.4 Standard Mail (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.5 Accountable and Signature Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

242.6 Other Undeliverable Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

243 Disposition of Forwardable and Undeliverable Mail, Carrier Throwback Case. . . . . . . . 28

244 PS Form 1564-B, Order to Box Section or Other Special Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

244.1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

244.2 Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

244.3 Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

245 PS Form 3546, Notice to Change Forwarding Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

245.1 Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

245.2 Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

25 Carrier’s Route Book, Instructions and Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251 Delivery Instructions

(PS Form 1564-A — Exhibit 251) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.1 Collection Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.2 Relay Points or Park and Loop Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.3 Route Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.4 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.5 Lines of Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.6 Lunch Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

251.7 Break Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

252 Route Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

252.1 Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

252.2 Filing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

253 Delivery Management Report and Edit Book

(PS Form 1621 — Exhibit 253) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

26 Accountable Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

261 Accountability Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

261.1 Acquiring Accountable Items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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261.2 Receipting for Accountable Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

261.21 Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

261.22 Postage Due (Exhibit 261.22) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

261.23 Customs Duty (Exhibit 261.23) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

261.24 Accountable Mail Matter Received for Delivery (Exhibit 261.24) . . . . . . . . . . . 37

261.25 CODs (Exhibit 261.25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

262 PS Form 3849 for Registered, Certified, Priority Mail Express, Insured, and Other

Special Services Mail (Exhibit 262) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

27 Preparation of Relays and Carry-Outs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

271 Relays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

272 Carry-Outs — Packing the Single Satchel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

273 Carry-Outs — Packing the Double Satchel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

274 Motorized Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

28 Carrier-Auxiliary Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

29 Before Leaving for Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

291 Withdrawal of Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

292 Data Collection Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

293 Timecards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

3 On Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

31 Use of Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

311 Bus and Street Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

312 Private Car and Motorized Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

32 Delivery of Ordinary Mail Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

321 Foot Routes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

322 Motorized Routes (See also Chapter 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

322.1 Letter-Size Mail Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

322.2 Flat Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

322.3 Parcels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

322.32 Redelivery of Parcels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

323 Park and Loop Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

323.1 Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

323.2 Parking Points and Route Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

323.3 Parcels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

33 Delivery of Special Services Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

331 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

332 Postage Due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

333 Customs Duty Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

334 CODs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

335 Insured, Registered, Certified, Priority Mail Express, and Other Special Services . . . . . 53

335.1 Delivering and Taking Receipt [Exhibit 335.1 (p. 1 and 2)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

335.2 Leaving Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

336 Return Receipt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Contents

June 2019 ix

337 Government Checks and Bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

338 Delivery Confirmation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

338.1 Delivering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

338.2 Leaving Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

34 Notice 11 and PS Form 3521 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

341 Notice 11 — Information for Apartment House Customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

342 PS Form 3521, House Numbers and Mail Receptacles Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

35 Answering Complaints and Inquiries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

36 Undeliverable Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

361 Undeliverable Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

362 Articles Loose in Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

37 Collection of Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

38 Receipting for Registers From Contract Stations and Branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

4 Office Time — Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

41 Use of Timecards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

411 Non-PSDS Offices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

412 PSDS Offices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

42 Disposition of Collected Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

43 Clearance for Accountable Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

431 Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

432 Registered and Certified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

433 Insured Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

434 CODs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

435 Customs Duty Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

436 Postage Due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

44 Undelivered Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

441 Processing Undelivered Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

442 Completing PS Form 1571 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

45 Expedited Preferential Mail System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

46 Answering Official Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

47 Ending Tour of Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

5 Collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

51 Timecards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

52 Care of Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

53 Collection Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

531 Importance of Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

532 Use of Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

532.1 In the Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

532.2 On the Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

x Handbook M-41

54 Collection Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

541 Basic Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

542 Collecting Mail as Scheduled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

543 Handling of Mail Matter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

544 Examining and Locking Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

55 Motorized Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

6 Parcels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

61 Time Recording. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

611 Timecards (Non-PSDS/ETC Offices). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

611.1 Reporting at Delivery Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

611.2 Reporting at Garage Other than Delivery Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

612 PS Form 1234, Utility Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

612.1 Recording Time for Each Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

612.2 Recording Type of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

613 PS Form 4570, Vehicle Time Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

62 Office Procedures Before Leaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

621 Obtaining and Inspecting Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

622 Systems Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

622.1 Hamper System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

622.2 Sack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

623 Loading Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

623.1 Parcels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

623.2 Parcels and Relay Combined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

624 Preparing Parcels for Delivery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

625 Damage Control of Parcels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

63 Route Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

631 Delivery of Parcels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

632 Relay and Collection Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

633 Delivering Relays and Collecting Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

634 Delivery of First-Class to Firms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

635 Undeliverable Parcels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

64 Office Procedures on Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

641 Clearance for Accountable Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

642 Use of Curtailment Form - PS Form 1571. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

643 Servicing of Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

7 Special Delivery Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

71 Timecards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

72 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

721 Categories of Special Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

722 Rules of Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

723 Who May Deliver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

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June 2019 xi

73 Office Work Before Leaving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

74 Street Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

741 Delivery to Apartments, Residences, and Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

742 Delivery to Out-of-Bounds Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

75 Office Work After Return. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

8 Vehicle Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

81 Vehicle Regulations and Safety Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

811 Vehicle Regulations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

811.1 Responsibility of Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

811.2 Authorized Riders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

812 Safety Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

82 Postal Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

83 Vehicle Assignment Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

831 Obtaining Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

832 Inspecting Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

833 PS Form 4570, Vehicle Time Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

84 Vehicle Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

841 Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

842 Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

842.1 Reporting Defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

842.2 Preparation of PS Form 4565 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

842.3 Disposition of PS Form 4565. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

85 Accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

851 Accident Report Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

852 Action to Be Taken at Scene of Accident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

9 Mail Count and Route Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

91 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

911 Definition and Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

912 Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

913 Advance Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

914 Absences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

915 Inspection Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

916 Cancellations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

917 Dry-Run Count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

918 Special Route Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

918.1 When Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

918.2 Manner in Which Conducted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

92 Letter Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

921 Basic Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

921.1 Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

921.2 Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

xii Handbook M-41

921.3 Casing Mail by Carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

922 PS Form 1838-C Worksheet — Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

922.1 Use of Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

922.2 Making Descriptive Entries [Exhibit 922.11 (p. 1 and 2)] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

922.3 Recording Time Clock Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

922.31 Foot and Bicycle Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

922.32 Motorized Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

922.4 Recording Count Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

922.41 Letter Size — Line 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

922.42 Mail of All Other Sizes — Line 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

922.43 Accountable and Signature Mail — Line 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

922.44 Parcels — Line 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

922.45 Marked Up Mail — Lines 1; 3; 5; and First-Class, Standard Mail (A),

and Standard Mail (B). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

922.46 Changes of Address Recorded — Line 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

922.47 Insured Receipts — Line 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

922.5 Making Time Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

922.51 Actual Time Entries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

922.52 Street Time Waiting for Relays, Transportation, Other (Comment Section). . . 101

922.6 Totaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

922.7 Disposition of PS Forms 1838-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

923 Providing Carrier With Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

924 Expedited Preferential Mail Delivery — Special Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

924.1 Description and Use of PS Form 1838-C Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

924.2 Prior P.M. Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

924.3 A.M. Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

924.31 Office Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

924.4 Return from Street Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

924.5 P.M. Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

924.51 Office Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

924.6 Markup Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

93 Parcels and Combination Services Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

931 Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

932 Forms Used. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

932.1 Regular Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

932.2 Auxiliary Assistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933 PS Form 1838-A Worksheet - Preparation [Exhibit 932.11 (pp. 1 and 2)] . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933.1 Clock Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933.2 Type of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933.3 Mileage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933.4 Elapsed Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Contents

June 2019 xiii

933.5 Number of Stops, Deliveries, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933.51 Relays, Collection, Firm, Inter- and Intra-City Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

933.52 Parcel Post Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

933.53 Totaling Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

933.6 General Comments (Blank Side of PS Form 1838-A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

934 PS Form 1838-B — Preparation

[Exhibit 932.11 (p. 3)]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

935 Disposition of PS Forms 1838-A and 1838-B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

936 Distribution of Forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

xiv Handbook M-41

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June 2019 1

1 General Information

11 Responsibilities of Carrier

111 Scope of Responsibilities

Every carrier is responsible for the items listed under 112. However, the

carrier’s responsibilities are not limited to those specific items.

112 General Responsibilities

112.1 Efficient Service

Provide reliable and efficient service. Federal statutes provide penalties for

persons who knowingly or willfully obstruct or retard the mail. The statutes

do not afford employees immunity from arrest for violations of law.

112.2 Diligence and Promptness

112.21 Obey the instructions of your manager.

112.22 Report for work promptly as scheduled.

112.23 Complete time records to accurately reflect the hours employed each day.

112.24 Display a willing attitude and put forth a conscientious effort in developing

skills to perform duties assigned.

112.25 Be prompt, courteous, and obliging in the performance of duties. Attend

quietly and diligently to work and refrain from loud talking and the use of

profane language.

112.26 Do not report at cases or racks before tour of duty is scheduled to begin or

linger about cases or racks after tour has ended.

112.27 Do not move mail from place to place on or adjacent to your case. Do not

engage in any time wasting practices before placing mail in the proper

separation.

112.28 Do not loiter or stop to converse unnecessarily on your route.

112.29 Return to the delivery unit immediately on completion of assigned street

duties and promptly clock in on arrival. A motorized carrier unloads his

vehicle and then immediately records returning time.

112.3 Security

112.31 Protect all mail, money, and equipment entrusted to your care.

112.32 Return all mail, money, and equipment to the Post Office at the end of the

workday.

112.33 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

2 Handbook M-41

112.33 Do not place mail in your pockets or clothing, lockers or desks, or in parcels,

hand grips, lunch containers, or other luggage.

112.4 Safety

Conduct your work in a safe manner so as not to endanger yourself or others

(see 133

for general safety practices and 812 for vehicle safety practices).

112.5 Neatness and Example

112.51 Maintain a neat, clean and generally creditable appearance.

112.52 Conduct affairs of personal life in a way that will reflect creditably on both

you and the Postal Service.

112.6 Courtesy to Public

112.61 Do not engage in controversies with customers or other members of the

public when on duty.

112.62 When requested, furnish customers with postal and other reasonable

information and provide change of address cards and other postal forms.

112.7 Proper Vehicle Operation

(See 81)

12 Basic Carrier Duties

121 Office Duties

121.1 Time Allowances

121.11 Route or case all classes of mail (exception, DPS mail will be cased only

when management requires) in sequence of delivery along one or more

established routes (see Exhibit 121.11

for maximum time allowances). The

accurate and speedy routing of mail is one of the most important duties of a

carrier; you must be proficient at this task.

121.12 Time standards for carrier office work (see Exhibit 121.12) represent the

minimum acceptable performance standards.

General Information 121.12

June 2019 3

Exhibit 121.11

Maximum Time Allowance For Routing Mail

Column (A): Letter-size (ordinary letters, cards, and circulars).

Column (B): Mail of all other sizes and insured.

1 and 2 Trip Routes 1 and 2 Trip Routes 1 and 2 Trip Routes Strapping All Mail

(A)

Pieces

Time

(Min.)

(B)

Pieces

(A)

Pieces

Time

(Min.)

(B)

Pieces

(A)

Pieces

Time

(Min.)

(B)

Pieces Pieces

Time

(Min.)*

18 1 8 864 48 384 1710 95 760 70 3*

36 2 16 882 49 392 1728 96 768 140 3**

54 3 24 900 50 400 1746 97 776 210 3*

72 4 32 918 51 408 1764 98 784 280 4*

90 5 40 936 52 416 1782 99 792 350 5*

108 6 48 954 53 424 1800 100 800 420 6*

126 7 56 972 54 432 1818 101 808 490 7*

144 8 64 990 55 440 1836 102 816 560 8*

162 9 72 1008 56 448 1854 103 824 630 9*

180 10 80 1026 57 456 1872 104 832 700 10*

198 11 88 1044 58 464 1890 105 840 770 11*

216 12 96 1062 59 472 1908 106 848 840 12*

234 13 104 1080 60 480 1926 107 856 910 13*

252 14 112 1098 61 488 1944 108 864 980 14*

270 15 120 1116 62 496 1962 109 872 1050 15*

288 16 128 1134 63 504 1980 110 880 1120 16*

306 17 136 1152 64 512 1998 111 888 1190 17*

324 18 144 1170 65 520 2016 112 896 1260 18*

342 19 152 1188 66 528 2034 113 904 1330 19*

360 20 160 1206 67 536 2052 114 912 1400 20*

378 21 168 1224 68 544 2070 115 920 1470 21*

396 22 176 1242 69 552 2088 116 928 1540 22*

414 23 184 1260 70 560 2106 117 936 1610 23*

432 24 192 1278 71 568 2124 118 944 1680 24*

450 25 200 1296 72 576 2142 119 952 1750 25*

468 26 208 1314 73 584 2160 120 960 1820 26*

486 27 216 1332 74 592 2178 121 968 1890 27*

504 28 224 1350 75 600 2196 122 976 1960 28*

522 29 232 1368 76 608 2214 123 984 2030 29*

540 30 240 1386 77 616 2232 124 992 2100 30*

558 31 248 1404 78 624 2250 125 1000 2170 31*

576 32 256 1422 79 632 2268 126 1008 2240 32*

594 33 264 1440 80 640 2286 127 1016 2310 33*

612 34 272 1458 81 648 2304 128 1024 2380 34*

630 35 280 1476 82 656 2322 129 1032 2450 35*

648 36 288 1494 83 664 2340 130 1040 2520 36*

666 37 296 1512 84 672 2358 131 1048 2590 37*

684 38 304 1530 85 680 2376 132 1056 2660 38*

702 39 312 1548 86 688 2394 133 1064 2730 39*

121.12 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

4 Handbook M-41

720 40 320 1566 87 696 2412 134 1072 2800 40*

738 41 328 1584 88 704 2430 135 1080 *

756 42 336 1602 89 712 2448 136 1088 *

774 43 344 1620 90 720 2466 137 1096 *

792 44 352 1638 91 728 2484 138 1104 *

810 45 360 1656 92 736 2502 139 1112 *

828 46 368 1674 93 744 *

846 47 376 1692 94 752 *

* Minimum allowance 3 Minutes

Exhibit 121.11

Maximum Time Allowance For Routing Mail

Column (A): Letter-size (ordinary letters, cards, and circulars).

Column (B): Mail of all other sizes and insured.

1 and 2 Trip Routes 1 and 2 Trip Routes 1 and 2 Trip Routes Strapping All Mail

(A)

Pieces

Time

(Min.)

(B)

Pieces

(A)

Pieces

Time

(Min.)

(B)

Pieces

(A)

Pieces

Time

(Min.)

(B)

Pieces Pieces

Time

(Min.)*

General Information 121.12

June 2019 5

Exhibit 121.12

Time Allowances for Carrier Office Work

TIME ALLOWANCES FOR CARRIER OFFICE WORK

Form 1838 Pieces Per Minute

Line No. Work Function 1-Trip 2-Trip

1 Routing letter-size mail ............................................................................................................18 ...............18

2 Routing all other size mail. (Use Notice 26, Maximum Time Allowance

for Routing Mail, to convert pieces to minutes.) ........................................................................8 .................8

Minutes

4. Strapping mail in bundles or placing in trays, preparing relays and placing mail into satchels;

for each 70 pieces regardless of character (minimum allowance 3 minutes). Strapping mail in

bundles for markup at computerized forwarding unit. Lines 1-2-3 combined mail volume

(strapping out pieces and markup pieces) is used in determining time allowance at 70

pieces per minute...........................................................................................................................................1

8. For each 10 pieces of all classes of mail separated for forwarding or return................................................1

9 Periodicals marked up (for each 2 pieces handled for forwarding or return)........ ........................................1

10 For each Form 3579, Undeliverable Periodical, Standard A & B or Controlled Circulation Matter ...............2

11 For each 4 pieces marked up (mail marked Deceased, Temporarily Away, Refused, Vacant

(Occupant mail of obvious value) or No Mail Receptacle). ...........................................................................1

12 For each change of address, including Form 3546, recorded on Forms 1564-B and 3982..........................2

13 Insured receipts turned in ..............................................................................................................................1

14 Registered, Certified, COD, Express Mail, Customs and Postage-Due; Keys, Form 3868, signing for,

returning funds or receipts, and for partial completion of Form 3849 (name or address for identification).

Base minimum allowance is 6 minutes.......................................................................................................... *

15 Withdrawing mail where applicable (from distribution cases, trays, sacks, and/or hampers).

Base minimum allowance is 5 minutes.......................................................................................................... *

16 Sequencing and collating by-pass mail. (Representative time in minutes will be allowed for work

function.)

17 Strapping out time (when mail must be placed in order of delivery) see 922.51b

. (Representative

time in minutes will be allowed for the work function.)

18 break (local option).

19 Vehicle inspection see 922.51f

. Base minimum allowance is 3 minutes. .......................................................*

20 Personal needs, etc. (Time allowances are printed on the form for each trip, and must not be changed.)

21 Office work not covered by form. (Work functions must be identified and approved as being

necessary and of a continuing nature.) (Use “Comments” section.) Base minimum allowance

is 9 minutes.................................................................................................................................................... *

22 Waiting for mail (office) and all other office activities not performed on a continuing

basis which are excluded in computing net office time. (Use “Comments” section.)

23 Counting Mail and filling out Form 1838-C worksheet.

Note: ...For piece items, grant the next higher allowance in minutes for fractional units. Use actual times for

Lines 14 through 19 and Lines 21 through 23 when those functions are performed.

* Computing Standard Office Time Under Columns (e), (f), and (g) on Form 1838:

If the actual time for

each of Lines 14, 15, 19, and 21 is less than the base minimum and the carrier performs the function

the base minimum must be entered for the Line Item in the appropriate column. If the actual time exceeds

the base minimum, an adjustment to that time cannot be shown which is less than the base minimum.

121.2 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

6 Handbook M-41

121.2 Case Duties

121.21 Relabel cases if local management so desires, as required by route

adjustments and changes in delivery.

121.22 Obtain mail and prepare it in sequence for efficient delivery by yourself or a

replacement along an established route.

121.23 Prepare and separate all classes of mail to be carried by truck to relay boxes

along route for subsequent delivery.

121.24 Check cases, vehicle, and equipment to make certain that no mail has been

left behind, or fallen into or behind cases, under shelves, etc.

121.3 Change of Address Orders

121.31 Review change of address order for completeness and accuracy of old

address information.

121.32 Enter change of address orders on appropriate forms.

121.33 Follow local procedures developed for handling Computerized Forwarding

System (CFS) mail.

122 Street Duties

122.1 Delivery and Collection

122.11 Deliver mail along a prescribed route, on a regular schedule (see Exhibit

122.11).

122.12 Collect mail from street letterboxes and accept letters for mailing from

customers.

122.13 Such service may be rendered on foot or by vehicle and in some instances

may consist exclusively of parcel delivery, collection of mail, or combination

of duties.

122.14 Deposit mail collected as instructed.

General Information 122.14

June 2019 7

Exhibit 122.11

Travel Patterns

122.2 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

8 Handbook M-41

122.2 Special Services

122.21 Deliver and collect charges on Customs, postage-due, and COD mail.

122.22 Deliver and obtain date, time of event, and signature receipts for registered,

certified, Priority Mail Express, insured, and other special services mail. Use

scanning device where appropriate.

122.221 Receipt for such matter, except insured and Delivery Confirmation™ mail, at

the Post Office before beginning route.

122.222 If applicable, account for it on return by payment of the amounts collected,

delivery of receipts received, or return of the article.

122.223 If Extra Services mail is first identified while performing street duties, the

carrier will need to have the customer sign for the items on the data

collection device at the delivery point. If the customer cannot sign on the

data collection device for any reason, complete a PS Form 3849, Delivery

Notice/Reminder/Receipt, to ensure proper recording of these items when

the carrier returns to the office.

123 Other Duties

123.1 Mailing Cards

Check, correct, and sequence (if necessary) mailing cards assigned by

managers bearing names and addresses of customers or former customers

of the route.

123.2 Reports

Report to unit manager all unusual incidents of conditions relating to mail

delivery, including mail found trapped behind wall-mounted and

wall-recessed apartment house mailbox units, condition of street letterboxes

and relay boxes (e.g., unanchored boxes and schedules).

124 Part-Time Flexible City Carriers

These carriers may be assigned to perform clerical duties and may be

required to pass examinations on schemes of city primary distribution if their

assignment anticipates use of scheme knowledge.

13 Delivery and Collection Rules

131 Delivery on Letter Routes

131.1 Security of Mails

131.11 Keep the mail in your possession or locked in a relay box or vehicle. All

equipment and undeliverable mail must be returned to the Post Office at the

end of each trip.

131.12 If the use of a satchel cart is authorized, exercise reasonable care to prevent

any attempted theft from the cart while delivering your route.

131.13 When leaving the route for lunch, lock undelivered registered and COD mail

in a designated relay box or vehicle in accordance with existing practices.

General Information 131.37

June 2019 9

Make a simple record of registered, COD, and other more-than-ordinary

value items which are left. On return from lunch, check to insure that no

pieces are missing.

131.14 Do not remove stamps from mail or throw away or improperly dispose of

mail. Line through uncanceled stamps (except on philatelic mail) to prevent

re-use. Delivery Point Sequence mail may contain uncanceled stamps that

will not be identified until the mail is being readied while performing street

duties. These stamps should also be lined through (except on philatelic mail)

to prevent re-use.

131.2 General Precautions

131.21 Do not deliver mail that has not passed through a proper delivery unit.

131.22 Do not place letters, large flats, and other mail within the pages of

magazines, catalogs, etc., at any time. Whenever letters and flats are cased

together, care must be exercised to avoid having letters fall between pages

of magazines, etc.

131.23 When you find in a mail receptacle mailable matter on which postage has not

been paid, addressed to, or intended for the person in whose receptacle it is

deposited, take the matter to the Post Office™ for treatment as provided in

146.2, Postal Operations Manual. If general distribution of the same bill,

circular, or other matter has been made on the route, return only 2 with a

statement of the number of similar pieces without postage.

131.3 Actual Delivery

131.31 Do not deviate from your route for meals or other purposes unless authorized

by your manager or if local policies concerning handling out of sequence mail

permit minor deviations.

131.32 Enter premises for official duty only — except for authorized lunch periods.

131.33 Unless otherwise instructed by a unit manager, deliver all mail distributed to

your route prior to the leaving time for that trip and complete delivery within

scheduled time. It is your responsibility to inform management when this

cannot be done.

131.34 Exhibit mail to the addressee only. Delivery may be made to a customer on

the street if it does not delay the carrier unreasonably.

131.35 Deliver mail according to the instructions or known desire of the addressee.

Otherwise, deliver as addressed if the addressee has not moved. Make

inquiry, if necessary, and return the mail to the Post Office if still in doubt.

131.36 Deliver First-Class Mail

undeliverable as addressed when you know the

customer’s correct address on your route — unless other delivery

instructions are specified on the piece of mail.

131.37 Where an unaddressed merchandise sample received for delivery with

address card is too large for a customer’s mailbox, leave it outside of the box

provided adequate protection is afforded:

a. In case of a sample too large for delivery into approved apartment

house receptacle, deposit in rack underneath the boxes or on a nearby

table or other location provided by building management.

131.38 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

10 Handbook M-41

b. If outside mailbox delivery is made, use a rubber band to hold sample

and address card together.

c. Whenever delivery is not accomplished, complete and leave

PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/Receipt, and return sample

and card to delivery unit.

131.38 Arrange with business firms to make delivery at or near the front door. Do not

accept keys to private buildings and offices, except as provided in A.1.3 of

Publication 17, Apartment House Mail Receptacles, Regulations, and

Instructions.

131.39 Make deliveries to all floors of office and business buildings if there is an

elevator and if the offices are open to receive the mail or if a door slot is

provided:

a. If there is no elevator in buildings with more than three (3) floors, make

delivery of mailpieces, including accountable mailpieces, to the first

floor; make deliveries to the second and third floors if they are

occupied primarily by business offices and if the service is requested.

For addresses above the third floor, delivery of accountable mailpieces

and/or pieces that do not fit into the mailbox or parcel locker (if

available) will be made to one (1) authorized, designated location on

the first floor, or PS Form 3849 will be completed and left in the

customer’s mailbox.

b. Do not withdraw service previously inaugurated in order to comply with

these instructions. For VIM installations, follow local instructions.

131.4 Reporting Requirements

131.41 It is your responsibility to verbally inform management when you are of the

opinion that you will be unable to case all mail distributed to the route,

perform other required duties, and leave on schedule or when you will be

unable to complete delivery of all mail.

131.42 Inform management of this well in advance of the scheduled leaving time and

not later than immediately following the final receipt of mail. Management will

instruct you what to do.

131.43 Complete applicable items on PS Form 3996, Carrier-Auxiliary Control, if

overtime or auxiliary assistance is authorized in the office or on the street.

131.44 Report on PS Form 1571 all mail undelivered - including all mail distributed

to the route but not cased and taken out for delivery. Estimate the number of

pieces of mail.

131.45 Do not curtail or eliminate any scheduled delivery or collection trip unless

authorized by a manager, in which case you must record all facts on

PS Form 1571.

131.46 Before you leave the office, enter on PS Form 1571 the mail curtailed; when

you return, add any mail which was not delivered and which was returned to

the office. Follow any special local procedures set up to identify errors and

corrective actions for mail returned because it was out of sequence.

131.47 Complete portions of the Edit Book, as required by management, or

PS Form 1621, Delivery Management Report, according to instructions on

reverse of form.

General Information 133.2

June 2019 11

132 Collection on Letter Routes

132.1 Collection from Customers

132.11 Accept letters handed to you by customers for mailing, providing that

postage is affixed. Go to the porch or door to receive this mail from the

customer.

132.12 Collect prepaid letters placed next to, in, or on private mail receptacles when

delivery is being made at that point.

132.13 Accept for mailing prepaid small articles; but you may refuse to accept

articles when to do so would seriously interfere with your scheduled

deliveries or collections.

132.14 Do not accept money for payment of postage except postage due mail, with

due stamps or statement attached.

132.15 Motorized carriers: collect from curbside boxes (on your route) letters with

postage affixed if the signal flag is raised, even though there is no mail for

delivery to that box.

132.2 Collection from Boxes and Racks

132.21 Collect mail from designated street letterboxes, cooperative mailing racks,

and mail chute receiving boxes. Avoid standing in the street when loading or

emptying these boxes.

132.22 Collect mailable matter placed on top of or adjacent to a collection box.

Report to your supervisor the name of the customer who left this mail so that

action may be taken to preclude recurrence.

132.23 Give preference to First-Class Mail when the contents of a collection box are

more than you can carry. Report the incident to your manager.

132.24 Report to manager any person who tampers with or deliberately damages

mailboxes or takes mail from them without authority.

132.3 Handling Collected Mail

132.31 Do not return collected mail to any customer. Refer the customer to the unit

where the mail is deposited.

132.32 Keep mail collected from boxes designated for different levels of service

separate at all times (e.g., starred, local delivery, etc.).

132.33 Face or separate mail as directed and to the extent practicable at the time of

collection or while returning to the office. All carriers may be required to face

or separate collections on return from their routes if this is the policy of the

local management.

133 Safety Practices

133.1 Always exercise care to avoid personal injury and report all hazardous

conditions to the unit manager (see 812

for vehicle safety).

133.2 Do not finger mail when driving, or when walking up or down steps or curbs,

when crossing streets, or at any time it would create a safety hazard to the

carriers or to the public.

133.3 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

12 Handbook M-41

133.3 Use crosswalks when crossing busy streets, and following traffic signals or

the direction of traffic control personnel.

133.4 Do not litter streets with twine or facing slips used in relay of mail. Deposit

litter in street trash receptacles or return to office for proper disposal.

133.5 Do not antagonize or attempt to pet dogs. Use animal repellent on attacking

animals. Carriers are not required to deliver mail where dogs or other animals

interfere. Report interference to manager. If service is withdrawn, use

PS Forms 3982 or 1564-B to record special instructions.

133.6 Report immediately when you are being followed. A number of important

arrests have resulted from such reports.

133.7 Handle mail containing biological specimens, blood samples, dry ice, and

other potentially hazardous material (HAZMAT) carefully. Careful attention

should be paid to mail that is addressed to and from a laboratory or chemical

company, since it suggests that the mail may contain HAZMAT. Additionally,

package markings such as “ORM-D” (Other Regulated Material Class D) also

indicate HAZMAT. Do not throw, drop, or slide packages containing

HAZMAT, or handle them in such a way that they could be crushed or

overlooked pending delivery or dispatch. Special attention should be paid to

HAZMAT that has the sound of broken glass, a stain on the package, an

unusual odor, or signs of damage or tampering. Report all such material to

your supervisor immediately.

14 Equipment and Supplies

141 All necessary equipment and supplies required will be furnished by the U.S.

Postal Service

142 Keep desk drawers neat and clean and free from extraneous matter. Keep

ink pad, straps, hand stamp, etc., in the drawer, not on the case.

143 Maintain satchel, with attached forms pouch (Item 1200-D), in good order

and place it in the hamper or suspend it from a case hook when not in use.

Check the forms pouch several times each week to be sure all necessary

forms are there when needed.

144 DPS mail presented in trays may have marker cards included in the trays to

identify relay points. All marker cards must be returned to the designated

location in the Post Office each day so they can be re-used. Marker cards

must not be left in relay boxes, vehicles, etc., overnight.

15 Restricted Activities

151 Outside Employment

Carriers when on or off duty shall not engage in any business that interferes

with their official duties or that involves soliciting or canvassing. Neither shall

they engage in business, that, by reason of their official employment, will give

them advantage over others not in the Postal Service who are engaged in a

similar business.

General Information 16

June 2019 13

152 Service Changes

Carriers must not circulate or encourage the circulation of petitions for

changes in the service. Questions relating to changes in service will be

referred to the unit manager.

153 Directories and Mailing Lists

Carriers shall not directly or indirectly cooperate with or assist publishers or

others in obtaining the names and address or patronage of persons on the

route.

154 Political Activities

For information regarding political activity, refer to 442.311, Postal

Operations Manual.

16 Supervision

Carriers may expect to be supervised at all times while in performance of

their daily duties.

16 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

14 Handbook M-41

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June 2019 15

2 Office Time — Preparation

21 Timecards

211 Reporting for Work

211.1 Non-PSDS Offices

Record starting time as scheduled at bottom space of day, and return card

to timecard rack.

211.2 PSDS Offices

211.21 Badge Reader

a. Select the proper transaction code by pressing one button in each of

two rows.

b. Insert employee badge so that slanted corner is down and to the right.

This starts transaction.

c. On-line light goes on and message is transmitted.

d. On-line light goes out.

e. If the repeat light does not go on, operator can remove his badge.

Transaction is complete.

f. If the repeat light goes on, push release button and remove badge. To

repeat transaction, repeat all steps in this procedure.

211.22 Transacter

a. Set the transaction code dial (first dial) to the specific code to be

transmitted.

b. Insert the employee badge and authorizer badge (or route badge) so

that the slanted corner of the badges are placed down and to the right.

The correct badges light will go on if the badge combination is

consistent with transaction code.

211.23 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

16 Handbook M-41

c. Enter the appropriate information using the variable dials. The correct

dials light will go on if the dials have been set properly.

d. Press the transmit bar. If the correct badge and the correct dial lights

go on, the badges will be lowered to the reading position inside the

transacter.

e. The ready light will go on when the badges are in proper reading

position.

f. The on-line light will go on when the message is being transmitted.

g. As soon as the message has been transmitted, the on-line light will go

out.

h. The badges will be automatically returned if the message is

successfully transmitted. If the teleconcentrator receives an erroneous

message, the badges will not be automatically returned and the repeat

light will go on.

i. If the message is successfully transmitted, remove the badges.

j. If the repeat light is on due to an error, the badges are not

automatically released. Press the transmit bar again. If the repeat light

remains on, the release button can be pressed to release the badges.

Report this to your manager.

211.23 Dial Setting

When reporting to work, set dials to “B.T.” Begin Tour.

212 Leaving for Route

212.1 Non-PSDS Offices

Record the time leaving the office and return card to timecard rack.

212.2 PSDS Offices

Follow instructions in 211.2 except set dials to indicate “B.S.” Begin Street.

Office Time — Preparation 221.31

June 2019 17

22 Casing and Preparing Mail

221 Carrier Cases

221.1 Description

221.11 Small separations (1” or 2” wide) are for letters.

221.12 Wide separations (approximately 10” wide) are for magazines, papers, and

large flats.

221.13 The street numbers on a carrier case are placed in the order carrier serves

his route.

221.14 The first delivery on the route is at the left side of the lowest shelf for letters

and flats.

221.15 The numbers run from left to right with the last delivery at the right side of the

uppermost shelf for letters and flats.

221.2 Arrangements of Separations

The standard city carrier case normally may utilize four, five, or six evenly

spaced shelves with 40 one-inch separations in each. The individual dividers

are removable so that the separations can be widened when necessary.

Management will determine the number of shelves and separations to be

used for each route. The basic case may be further modified by adding

wings, to provide for greater capacity.

221.3 Modified Carrier Cases

221.31 This case is arranged to provide for 240 one-inch separations for letter-size

mail and 24 separations for flat mail. Twelve separations may be used for

flats by one carrier and twelve by the adjoining carrier.

221.32 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

18 Handbook M-41

221.32 This case provides 6 shelves for letter mail and the entire flat paper wing

case (12 separations) for flats.

221.33 This case, with wing, shows how the separations may be arranged when

more than 6 rows of separations are needed for letters. When so arranged, all

are within reach and mail will not have to be rehandled.

Office Time — Preparation 221.6

June 2019 19

221.4 Letter Separations

221.41 If possible, letter separations should contain not more than two numbers of

deliveries, particularly on motorized routes, so mail can be distributed in the

order of delivery. This is done by placing mail for one number at the left side

of separation and one at the right side.

221.42 When necessary to use three numbers per separation, mail for the middle

address should protrude from the case in order to sequence without

rehandling.

221.5 Identifying Relays

Each relay is identified by a number on the label of the letter separations. The

number is placed under a diagonal line directly under the first street number

of the relay to be served.

221.6 Number Arrangement for Flat Separations

Each wide or flat separation contains a series of street numbers which

generally embraces the carry-out and relays. The first separation is the

carry-out, and subsequent separations are for relays that cover the same

territory as the letter separations and in the same order from lower left to

upper right. To the extent possible, these flat separations should embrace

the same territory as for each relay on the letter case and, therefore, should

bear the relay number of the related letter separation and the streets and

block numbers included in each relay.

221.7 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

20 Handbook M-41

221.7 Flat cases may be configured to accommodate Vertical Flat Casing (VFC).

The use of four and five shelf cases is permitted under the VFC method. VFC

guidelines issued in January 1990 provide additional information concerning

this matter.

221.8 When the Vertical Flat Case (VFC) DPS work method is used, letters may be

sorted into four, five, or six shelves. In non-DPS environments using one,

two, or modified two-bundle systems, and in DPS environments where the

composite bundle work method is used, agreement between the local parties

is necessary before four or five shelf letter cases may be used.

222 Systems for Casing and Preparing Mail

As a general rule, three basic systems are commonly used for casing and

preparing mail for delivery in a non-DPS environment. Management may

prescribe any one of these methods, but for efficiency and economy, some

degree of uniformity should be maintained. However, more than one casing

system at an installation may be used for the particular type of route served.

The three basic systems are:

a. One-Bundle System: Arrange all separations on case(s) for letter mail.

Case magazines, newspapers, and flats with letter-size mail. Withdraw

and strap out letter and flat mail together. Note: When a one-bundle

system is used, sequenced mailings shall not be cased but shall be

handled as additional bundles. When directed by management to

deliver sequenced mailings, handle mailings as follows:

(1) Carriers serving foot or park and loop deliveries will not be

required to carry more than three bundles.

(2) Carriers serving other types of deliveries are not limited to three

bundles of mail.

b. Two-Bundle System: Case letter-size and other mail separately.

Withdraw and strap out in separate bundles.

(1) Carriers serving foot or park and loop deliveries will not be

required to carry more than three bundles.

(2) Carriers serving other types of deliveries are not limited to three

bundles of mail.

c. Modified Two-Bundle System: Arrange all separations on case for

letter mail. Case newspapers, magazines, and flats first in letter

separations and withdraw and strap out before casing and tying out

letter-size mail. Do this only when First-Class Mail, including markups,

will not be delayed.

Office Time — Preparation 223.16

June 2019 21

(1) Carriers serving foot or park and loop deliveries will not be

required to carry more than three bundles.

(2) Carriers serving other types of deliveries are not limited to three

bundles of mail.

In addition to the systems described in a, b, and c, above, there are options

concerning how residual mail in a Delivery Point Sequencing environment is

to be cased and handled. Listed below are the two approved methods;

management will select one of these methods for each route.

d. Composite Bundle: Residual mail is cased and strapped out

separately. For each relay, street, block etc., the residual bundle of

letter mail is carried along with the DPS letter mail bundle. Flats are

carried separately from these letter bundles.

e. Casing Letters in the Vertical Flat Case: Residual mail is cased in

the same case with the vertically cased flats. Letters and flats are

withdrawn and strapped out together in a single bundle. The DPS letter

mail is carried separately as a second bundle.

Note: In both DPS methods (d and e), carriers serving foot or park and

loop deliveries may carry up to three bundles of mail. Carriers serving

curbline, central, or dismount deliveries are not restricted to a specific

number of bundles of mail.

223 Pre-Casing Procedures

223.1 Letter-Size Mail

223.11 Withdraw letter mail from city distribution cases unless mail has already been

placed on carrier’s case ledge by a mail handler or clerk.

223.12 Place letter mail on carrier case ledge with stamps down, facing to the right

side of ledge.

223.13 Obtain mail from tray cart or hamper when mail is so provided.

223.14 If mail is received in bundles, open the bundles and place mail on ledge.

Deposit facing slips and twine in waste receptacles.

223.15 Keep First-Class separate from Periodicals, but make no attempt to separate

them if they are mixed.

223.16 In offices under expedited preferential mail system, a city carrier normally

sorts only preferential and time-value mail before leaving to serve his route.

Casing of non-preferential mail is done in the afternoon when he returns to

the delivery unit.

223.2 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

22 Handbook M-41

223.2 Magazines, Papers, and Other Flat Mail

223.21 Withdraw magazines, papers, and other flat mail from flat cases and place

neatly in basket or on floor at case when they are not at carrier case upon

reporting. Don’t obstruct aisle space or create a tripping hazard.

223.22 If the flats for your route are received in sacks, remove the flats promptly,

and stack neatly on the floor or in hampers when provided. Examine sacks

after dumping to insure that sacks are empty. Place empty sacks in the

designated receptacle after removing sack labels.

224 Casing Letter-Size Mail

224.1 Learning Carrier Line of Travel

224.11 Study for a few minutes the streets and numbers in the order the route is served,

from left side of lowest shelf of letter separations to right side of top shelf.

224.12 Memorize the line of travel for the first two rows (three rows, if case is a

simple one). Memorize the line of travel by using blocks instead of numbers:

a. For example, the carrier serves Main Street from 1 to 399 on the odd

side of the street, then the even side from 398 to 2, next the odd side of

State Street, 1 to 299, and the even, 298 to 2.

b. This can best be remembered as follows: Up the odd side and down

the even side of Main Street 1 through the 300 block — up the odd side

and down the even side of State Street 1 through 200 block.

224.13 Determine if the street is looped or criss-crossed (see Exhibit 122.11).

224.14 After 5 or 10 minutes study, with the delivery pattern fixed in mind, sort the

mail for the rows learned and separate the balance on the case ledge by

streets or blocks — each street or block of street in a separate pile.

224.15 After all the letter mail has either been distributed in the rows, and/or sorted

on the ledge, sort the mail for the next street which appears on the

separations of the next row. Repeat this procedure, street by street and row

upon row, until all the mail has been distributed.

224.16 Continue the memorizing and learning process until the entire case is

learned.

224.17 Hold to one side — letters for streets and block numbers of streets which do

not appear on the case. These are probably intended for other routes but

have been missorted:

a. Return missorts to the distribution case before leaving on any trip and

as far in advance of leaving time as possible.

b. However, misthrows that can be handed to a nearby carrier should not

be returned for distribution.

224.18 Endorse mail not deliverable at your unit (if known) with your route number

and initials. Exception: To avoid defacement of philatelic mail, place your

initials and route number on a facing slip and attach to letter.

224.2 Coordinating Eyes and Hands

224.21 Pick up a solid handful of mail with the left hand. Since the stamps are down and

facing to the right, the mail will be in the proper reading position when picked up.

Office Time — Preparation 225.16

June 2019 23

224.22 Push the top letter slightly forward with the left thumb so that the right thumb and

index finger can grasp the outer edge of letter. The left thumb serves as a feeder.

224.23 Read the address only. Develop sight recognition of addresses as whole units.

THIS: 11958 State Street or 482 West Main

NOT THIS: 1-1-9-5-8 State Street; 4-8-2 West Main

224.24 Recall the correct separation and place the letter on shelf at right or left side

of separation to correspond with number.

224.25 As letter is pushed fully into separation, position eyes on next letter and push

next letter forward with left thumb. The right hand then returns to pick up this

letter for placing into the proper separation.

224.26 Follow the same procedure in the distribution of each letter, and coordination

of eyes, hands, fingers, and memory will improve until the process becomes

automatic.

225 Casing Magazines, Papers, Flats, etc.

225.1 Two-Bundle System

225.11 Review line of travel for as many flat separations as correspond with two or

three rows of letter separations.

225.12 Sort the flats into the proper separations — the memorized streets and

numbers — and sort the balance by streets, on the ledge.

225.13 Next sort the mail separated by streets, starting with the street not yet learned.

Repeat this procedure street by street, until all mail has been distributed.

225.14 Continue the memorizing and learning process until all separations are learned.

225.15 Starting with the first separation, withdraw mail from case and place it in

sequence of delivery — the same order of delivery as the letter mail. Route

mail for remaining separations in order of delivery.

225.16 Sort stiff cardboard articles (X-ray pictures, etc.) and large newspapers and

magazines on ledge, usually by relays; then route them in sequence of

delivery. A letter may be reversed in the letter separation for a customer

receiving a parcel or odd-sized article that cannot be routed in the flat

225.17 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

24 Handbook M-41

separations. This will serve as a reminder when on the route that there is a

large or odd-sized piece for the customer.

225.17 Route and strap separately quantity mailings of addressed merchandise

samples and similar items, if these cannot fit in the case separations. Motorized

carriers may place this type of mail in trays or cartons instead of using straps.

225.18 Observe following procedures in handling address cards received for

delivery of merchandise samples:

a. Foot Carriers

(1) Separate address cards to normal number of relay points,

removing undeliverable cards, and notify unit manager of the

total number of deliverable address cards.

(2) After unit manager determines the total number of cards to be

delivered on individual routes each day, remove from relay stacks

the quantity of cards for delivery so that each relay will have

approximately the same number of samples.

(3) Route the selected address cards in the proper letter case

separations.

(4) Withdraw the cards with other cased letter-size mail, making no

attempt to keep address cards separate.

(5) Repeat steps (2), (3), and (4) until all cards and samples are delivered.

b. Motorized Carriers

(1) After unit manager determines the number of cards to be

delivered on individual routes each day, route the same number

of cards in the letter case separations, removing undeliverable

cards. Notify manager of the number of deliverable cards.

(2) Withdraw cards with other cased letter-size mail, making no

attempt to keep address cards separate.

(3) Continue this procedure until all cards and samples are delivered.

225.2 Modified One-Bundle System

225.21 Fold all mail (except stiff cardboard articles, X-ray pictures, large greeting

cards, and large newspapers and magazines) and sort it in letter separations.

225.22 Sort stiff cardboard articles, X-ray pictures, etc., and large newspapers and

magazines on ledge, usually by relays on foot routes, and then route them in

sequence of delivery. A letter may be reversed in the letter separation for a

customer receiving a parcel or odd-sized article which cannot be routed in

the letter separations. This will serve as a reminder when on the route that

there is a large or odd-sized piece for customer.

225.23 Route and strap separately quantity mailings of addressed merchandise

samples and similar items, if these cannot fit in the case separations.

Motorized carriers may place this type of mail in trays or cartons instead of

using straps.

225.24 Observe the same procedures in handling address cards received for delivery

of merchandise samples as outlined in two bundle system (see 225.1

Office Time — Preparation 241.11

June 2019 25

23 Data Collection of Special Services Mail

231 Preparation — In Office

Obtain and prepare the data collection device assigned to your route as

established by local policy.

232 At Delivery Point

232.1 Delivery Events

At delivery point, scan/enter mailpiece or firm sheet barcode, and enter other

appropriate information into the data collection device, as required and

instructed. If required, collect customer signature and address on the data

collection device. If customers cannot sign on the device, collect his or her

signature and printed names on PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/

Receipt. The delivery address should be recorded on the barcoded side of

PS Form 3849. Scan the barcode on PS Form 3849 after obtaining recipient

signature and printed name.

232.2 Nondelivery Events

If the item cannot be delivered for any reason, scan the mailpiece barcode

and enter other appropriate information into the data collection device as

required and instructed. Leave completed PS Form 3849 for customer

notification.

233 Return to Office

Return the data collection device assigned to your route as established by

local office policy.

24 Undeliverable as Addressed (UAA) Mail

241 Recording Address Change Information

241.1 Entries from PS Form 3575

241.11 When PS Form 3575, Change of Address Order, is received, enter following

data on PS Form 3982, Changes of Address:

a. Effective date of change.

b. Expiration date of change, if temporary.

c. Customer’s name.

d. Customer’s old address.

e. Check whether family or individual.

f. Customer’s new mailing address. Carriers who receive Change of

Address cards that have the request for Court Ordered Protected

Individual (COPI) attached to them will log that the customer has

moved, with the notation “COPI Status” in the new address block.

Under no circumstances is the new address to be written or maintained

at the carrier case.

241.12 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

26 Handbook M-41

241.12 Endorse PS Form 3575 with initials and route number.

241.13 Deposit all PS Forms 3575 in designated location for daily transmission to

the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS) Unit. Do not hold

PS Forms 3575 at the carrier’s case or delivery unit until the effective date.

241.14 For any PS Form 3575 that may be effective on date received, place it in the

COA’s entry mail slot on the case along with any mail for that customer.

241.15 When a customer moves and does not leave a forwarding order, the carrier

must hold the customer’s mail for up to 10 days, pending receipt of a change

of address. (Exception: Any mail containing specific instructions from the

sender printed on the envelope must be handled in accordance with those

instructions.) If a change of address is not received after 10 days, the carrier

must complete a PS Form 3575-Z to indicate that the customer has moved

and left no forwarding address. The held mail is bundled with the

PS Form 3575-Z and placed in the COA’s mail entry slot.

241.2 Entries from PS Form 3546

On receipt of PS Form 3546, Forwarding Order Change Notice, enter

appropriate data from PS Form 3546 on PS Form 3982, Changes of Address.

Place PS Forms 3546 in designated location for delivery to CFS.

241.3 Purpose and Duration of PS Form 3982

241.31 Purpose

241.311 PS Form 3982 provides a quick reference for carriers unfamiliar with

customer removals from the route so the mail for these customers can be

withdrawn from the case and bundled for forwarding by the CFS.

(Exception: In a Delivery Point Sequence environment where customer

removals may first be identified while performing street duties, they must be

withdrawn and returned to the office for processing). Use of a PS Form 3982

or a locally developed policy to identify removals while performing street

duties will be used.

241.312 PS Form 3982 may be used for entering special instructions such as building

vacant, temporary absence-hold, etc. Enter temporary changes of address in

the same way, but include inclusive dates. Hold mail held at carrier case

should be verified once each week to insure that no mail designated by

mailer is kept beyond its retention period. Such mail shall be endorsed,

Temporarily Away.

241.313 After all appropriate mail has been cased, withdraw from the separation(s)

the mail that has the same name and address of all the pertinent entries

which have not been lined out. This mail should be put in the designated

location for forwarding, and return all mail for other customers into the

separation(s).

241.32 Duration

241.321 Address changes entered on PS Form 3982 are good for 18 months and

should be lined out 6 months from the end of the month in which the change

becomes effective. The exception is temporary changes, which are canceled

when a customer returns or at the expiration of 1 year. After the deadline, line

out the expired order so that the change is still legible.

Office Time — Preparation 242.51

June 2019 27

241.322 Use only one PS Form 3982 for each row of letter separations unless a large

number of removals warrant additional cards such as for military, rooming

house, or apartment house areas. When all spaces on PS Form 3982 have

been used, turn the form over to the markup clerk who will retain it for

reference after adjustments.

242 Procedures by Category

242.1 Letter-Type Mail

242.11 Casing

242.111 Case removals to appropriate separation by size and type. Separations are

COA’s entry mail, machinable, and non-machinable.

242.112 Case removals to proper separation for mail pieces which are:

a. Undeliverable As Addressed (forwarding order expired)

b. Attempted, Not Known

c. No Such Number/No Such Street

d. Other Carrier Endorsed

242.12 Bundling CFS Mail

242.121 Withdraw mail in the separations.

242.122 Deposit in designated location by exit for transport to CFS.

242.2 Periodical Mail

242.21 Process in similar manner to letter-type mail which is undeliverable as

addressed. Place in non-machinable separation.

242.22 Place in designated location by exit for transport to CFS.

242.3 Standard Mail (A)

242.31 Place Undeliverable Bulk Business Mail in the designated location for review

prior to disposal as waste.

242.4 Standard Mail (B)

242.41 Endorse all mail pieces with route number.

242.42 Deposit in designated location for delivery to Markup Unit.

242.5 Accountable and Signature Mail

242.51 Return to the accountable clerk and explain why it is undeliverable. Under no

circumstances should this type of mail be obtained from or returned to the

accountable clerk without establishing proper accountability.

242.52 Exception: At the largest installations receiving a large volume of

accountable and signature mail for delivery, local managers may allow

carriers to mark up this mail if accountable clerks are unable to expedite

rehandling of the pieces in clearing carriers of proper responsibility.

242.6 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

28 Handbook M-41

242.6 Other Undeliverable Mail

242.61 When customer has moved and left no forwarding instructions, hold mail for

10 days, except Treasury checks, which are handled in accordance with the

instructions on the piece. Do not endorse. If change order is not received by

expiration date, complete a PS Form 3575-Z and place the PS Form 3575-Z

and mail in appropriate separation of the CFS mail. Do not endorse.

242.62 Other types of undeliverable mail include (a) occupant mail (address

correction requested, return postage guaranteed, or forwarding and return

postage guaranteed) only addressed to Vacant buildings; (b) mail addressed

to customers who are Temporarily Away and retention period for hold mail

has expired; (c) mail addressed to customers who are Deceased, and mail is

not properly deliverable to another person; (d) mail which is Refused; and

(e) mail for which there is No Mail Receptacle. Manually endorse this

category of mail as provided by current regulations.

242.63 Additional types of undeliverable mail are: (a) Attempted Not Known, addressee

is not known at the place of address; (b) No Such Number, non-existent number,

correct number is not known; (c) Insufficient Address, mail received without

complete identifying address and the correct address is not known; (d) Return to

Sender, order issued against addressee for violation of False Representation

law, mail is returned to sender under a false representation order; (e) Unclaimed,

addressee abandons or fails to call for mail; (f) Lottery Mail, Mail to This Address

Returned by Order of the Postmaster General, mail is returned to sender under a

lottery order; (g) In Dispute, mail is returned to sender by the order of the General

Counsel when it cannot be determined which of disputing parties has better

right to the mail; (h) not deliverable as addressed Unable to Forward; (i) Returned

for Postage; (j) Box Closed — No Order; (k) Outside Delivery Limits. These types

of undeliverable mail will be bundled by category with the carrier endorsing the

top piece of each bundle with the appropriate endorsement and initial.

243 Disposition of Forwardable and Undeliverable Mail,

Carrier Throwback Case

Undeliverable as addressed mail is disposed of according to separations of

Carrier Throwback Case (see Exhibit 243

). The delivery address should never

be lined out or obscured on any mailpiece. Following are descriptions of

separations in the throwback case:

a. Missorts — First-Class Mail misthrown to the route and deliverable at

the same unit.

b. Loop Mail — Incorrectly barcoded and/or ZIP

coded mail discovered

at a destination for which it is not addressed.

c. Box Mail — Mail received at the carrier’s case that belongs in the Post

Office box section.

d. Endorsed Bundles — Attempted Not Known, Insufficient Address,

Undeliverable As Addressed (UAA), No Such Number.

e. Endorsed Individual (each piece must be individually endorsed) —

Deceased, Temporarily Away, Refused, No Mail Receptacle, Vacant.

f. Missorts — Non-Pref. Flats, Standard Mail (A), other-size mail

misthrown to the route and deliverable at the same unit.

Office Time — Preparation 243

June 2019 29

Exhibit 243

Typical Labeling Pattern Carrier Throwback Case Item 129

244 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

30 Handbook M-41

244 PS Form 1564-B, Order to Box Section or Other

Special Orders

244.1 Purpose

This form is used to record customer’s request to deliver his or her mail to a

lockbox or to record special orders concerning the handling of his or her

mail, e.g., customer will call for his or her mail on the first trip.

244.2 Preparation

244.21 Enter on PS Form 1564-B orders received on PS Forms 3575 or on letters,

as follows:

a. Enter the name and old address in the columns provided.

b. Enter the new address or special instructions in last column.

244.22 These entries are alive — valid until canceled. (The 1-year time limit does not

apply.)

244.3 Use

244.31 Review PS Form 1564-B for names and addresses of callers, box holders, or

customers for whom there are special instructions. If not familiar with box

section or other special orders on file, place a colored dot or other symbol on

case label at address separation involved so that PS Form 1564-B can be

checked.

244.32 Withdraw mail from case at address given for each caller, box holder, or

other customer listed, in the same manner described for use of

PS Form 3982.

245 PS Form 3546, Notice to Change Forwarding Order

245.1 Use

This form is used to notify another postmaster or local carrier that a customer

has changed address again or that customers refuse to pay postage due.

PS Form 3546 is valid for 1 year from the original date of submission of

PS Form 3575.

245.2 Preparation

245.21 At Office of Second Address. When customer has moved and left no

address, withhold sending PS Form 3546 for 10 days. Enter on

PS Form 1564 the date PS Form 3546 is sent to office of original address. If

subsequent change of address order is received from customer, notify

original office by sending an amended PS Form 3546.

245.22 At Office of Original. Enter on PS Form 1564 the date PS Form 3546 was

recorded. Forward or return mail as instructed on PS Form 3546.

Office Time — Preparation 251.7

June 2019 31

25 Carrier’s Route Book, Instructions and Report

251 Delivery Instructions

(PS Form 1564-A — Exhibit 251)

251.1 Collection Points

The locations of street letter boxes and mail chutes are listed in the order the

carrier collects them on the route.

251.2 Relay Points or Park and Loop Locations

The relay points are listed in the order they appear on the carrier case labels.

If park and loop route, park and loop points are also entered here.

251.3 Route Schedule

This shows the scheduled reporting, leaving, returning, and ending time on

the route.

251.4 Transportation

The time the street car/or bus leaves and returns and the location where

boarded is listed for each trip.

251.5 Lines of Travel

This shows lines of travel to reach the beginning of the route, reach the lunch

place, return to next delivery location, and return to unit.

251.6 Lunch Information

This shows time of authorized lunch, location of authorized lunch stop(s), and

location where carrier is authorized to leave route for lunch. (See instructions

on PS Form 1564-A where this applies.) Similar information for any deviation

for lunch by carrier technician is entered on the PS Form 1564-A.

251.7 Break Information

This shows location of authorized break stop(s). (See instructions on

PS Form 1564-A where this applies.) Similar information for any deviation for

break by carrier technician T-6 carrier is entered on the PS Form 1564-A.

251.7 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

32 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 251

Office Time — Preparation 253.3

June 2019 33

252 Route Book

252.1 Contents

Route book in which record of removals is maintained consists of:

a. Item 391-M, binder.

b. PS Form 1564-A, Delivery Instructions.

c. PS Form 1564-B, Special Orders.

d. Edit Book and/or PS Form 1621, Delivery Management Report.

e. Handbook M-41, City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities.

252.2 Filing

Place PS Form 1564-A in front of book, followed by PS Form 1564-B,

PS Form 1621, PS Forms 1564, and Handbook M-41.

253 Delivery Management Report and Edit Book

(PS Form 1621 — Exhibit 253)

253.1 Since the Edit Book and PS Form 1621 are two of the most important

documents used by Delivery Service, it is absolutely essential that the carrier

keep them accurate and up to date. Entries for new construction must be

completed as soon as known by the carrier. If in doubt as to whether this

particular section was entered in a previous period, ask your unit manager to

examine the last three accounting period entries to be sure.

253.2 If entries you have made under section IV concerning the conditions of

collection and relay mailboxes continue through more than one accounting

period, call this to the attention of the delivery unit manager at the time the

Edit Book and/or PS Form 1621 is collected.

253.3 Report any new buildings, conversions from single to multiple delivery or

vice-versa, subdivisions, developments, or demolitions as soon as known to

you. This keeps your manager informed of areas which may require his/her

personal attention.

253.3 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

34 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 253

Office Time — Preparation 261.22

June 2019 35

26 Accountable Items

261 Accountability Procedures

261.1 Acquiring Accountable Items

261.11 Accountable items are keys, postage due, customs duty, and special

services mail.

261.12 Generally, carriers are required to call at the finance cage for accountable

items. They may be called in groups by call of route numbers or by passing

a paddle (see “Paddle System

” in the Glossary). At some offices, the items

are delivered to the carrier at his/her case.

261.2 Receipting for Accountable Items

261.21 Keys

A numbered check is issued to each employee. When you surrender the

check, you will be given a set of Arrow and/or padlock, and/or truck keys.

(In some instances, a signature is used in place of a numbered check.) The

keys are on a chain which must be securely fastened to a belt or clothing.

Keys must be returned at the end of the tour of duty. The two most common

type of keys are pictured below:

261.22 Postage Due (Exhibit 261.22)

All postal employees are expected to protect postal revenue. All

postage-due items found in the mail should be brought to the finance

window for postage accounting. Count the amount of postage due

represented by the postage-due stamps or meter strips on the envelope

or on PS Form 3582-A. Give the finance clerk cash or sign PS Form 3584 for

the amount due.

261.23 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

36 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 261.22 (p. 1)

Exhibit 261.22 (p. 2)

261.23 Customs Duty (Exhibit 261.23)

261.231 Check name and address as for registers (see 261.24).

261.232 Check mail entry number and verify number of articles received with entry on

PS Form 2944 and, if correct, sign in lower left corner.

Office Time — Preparation 261.252

June 2019 37

Exhibit 261.23

261.24

Accountable Mail Matter Received for Delivery (Exhibit 261.24)

261.241 Check name and address on each article to determine if it is for an

addressee who has moved or who lives on another route. If addressee has

moved, supply the new address. If for another route, return article to clerk.

261.242 Verify registered number appearing on article with entry on PS Form 3867.

261.243 Sign (surname and initial) PS Form 3867 opposite entries if correct. Multiple

entries may be bracketed and a single signature entered. Individual

responsibility is assumed by the carrier upon receipt.

Exhibit 261.24

261.25 CODs (Exhibit 261.25)

261.251 Check name and address as for registers (see 261.24).

261.252 Compare name and address, amount due sender, and money order fee

appearing on each tag with that appearing on each parcel. If there is any

variance, return the parcel to clerk.

261.253 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

38 Handbook M-41

261.253 Verify total number of COD parcels received with the entry on PS Form 3821

and, if in agreement, sign PS Form 3821. Return both copies of the form and

the delivery employee’s coupons from the tags to the clerk.

Exhibit 261.25

262

PS Form 3849 for Registered, Certified,

Priority Mail Express, Insured, and Other

Special Services Mail (Exhibit 262)

262.1 Use PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/Receipt, for each accountable

piece and numbered insured parcel or other special services item. (Minimum

fee unnumbered insured parcels and Delivery Confirmation items are

delivered the same as ordinary mail — no receipt is needed.) Usually prepare

PS Form 3849 as you make delivery. However, enter the address in the

Delivery section on the barcoded side of the form, for identification, in the

office at the time articles are issued.

262.2 Place PS Form 3849 in proper separation case as a marker. Put registered

articles in the pocket of satchel. DO NOT PLACE REGISTERS IN CARRIER

CASE WITH OTHER MAIL OR IN RELAYS. Place insured parcels loose in

satchel or in relay sack. Do not tape PS Form 3849 to mail items.

Office Time — Preparation 271.7

June 2019 39

Exhibit 262

27 Preparation of Relays and Carry-Outs

271 Relays

271.1 Assemble necessary equipment for preparing relays, such as straps, sacks,

and labels.

271.2 Insert label for first relay in label holder of sack. Relays are identified by

number on label of letter and flat case and by location listed on

PS Form 1564-A.

271.3 Strap bundles of flats and letter mail for first relay.

271.4 Number each bundle in the order of delivery, placing an “X” after the number

on the last bundle for each relay.

271.5 Place all loose packages and rolls along with bundles of letters and flats in

the same sack and verify the label before closing the sack.

271.6 Strap all bundles and prepare all additional relays in the same way.

271.7 Place all sacks in designated location for relays.

272 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

40 Handbook M-41

272 Carry-Outs — Packing the Single Satchel

272.1 Strap out the carry-out mail (letters and flats) as described for relayed mail,

and number each bundle.

272.2 Place registered and other special articles in pocket of satchel.

272.3 Pack the bundles bearing highest numbers at bottom of satchel and work up

so that number one bundle will be on top. The mail will then be packed in the

order of delivery.

272.4 Pack the bottom of satchel solid and stand first bundles of flats on end, on

top of bottom row, with addresses on top so they can be easily read when

carrying the satchel.

273 Carry-Outs — Packing the Double Satchel

When using the Double Satchel in a configuration with the waist belt, the

satchel must be put on first and then loaded with mail. Carriers are required

to carry the appropriate amount of mail, up to the 35 pound limit, to complete

each assigned relay without additional trips to the vehicle or relay box.

Carriers should use their discretion in arranging mail in the Double Satchel to

ensure the most efficient methods and comfortable weight distribution.

274 Motorized Routes

All mail on a motorized route is carry-out mail (see 322).

28 Carrier-Auxiliary Control

Prepare PS Form 3996, Carrier-Auxiliary Control (see Exhibit 28) as follows:

a. Items C, D, and E. Enter the date (C); route number and name (D); lunch

place and time, if applicable (E).

b. Item F. Place an X in the space below the number indicating the case

shelf containing the mail for which assistance is being requested. The

bottom shelf of the letter separations is designated No. 1. When

assistance is required for less than a full shelf of mail, enter the portion

Office Time — Preparation 28

June 2019 41

of shelf in fractions. The portion should be identified as follows: L 1/2,

R 1/4; M 1/2; (L-Left, R-Right, M-Middle of the shelf).

c. Items G, H, and I. Indicate if keys and/or carfare are required and if

there is accountable mail for delivery on the route.

d. Item J. Show the reason in detail for requesting assistance. The phrase

“Heavy Mail” is not suitable explanation. (Omit reason for requesting

assistance during the Christmas period.)

e. Item K. Under Estimated Work, the carrier must enter the estimated

hours and minutes of the amount of assistance being requested.

f. Present form to manager.

g. Item L — Auxiliary Assistance. If assistance is approved the manager

shall initial PS Form 3996 and return it to the carrier for completion of

route information.

h. Overtime. If overtime is approved, the manager shall initial the form and

enter near his initials the amount of overtime in minutes. After advising

the carrier, the form is then deposited in a designated place for use

later when the timecard or printout is verified.

i. Street Assistance. When street assistance is approved, the regular

carrier shall complete the additional sections of the form as follows.

j. Item M. Show transportation information as indicated.

k. Item N. Indicate the delivery starting point and the blocks on each

street to be delivered.

l. Item O. List the points where relays will be found.

m. Item P — Carrier Assistant. Before leaving, enter name and time

beginning and ending office work if auxiliary assistance is given in

office. Enter begin and end travel to time for street assistance. Enter

the begin and end delivery time used to actually deliver all of the

assistance. After completing actual assistance, enter the begin and end

travel from time in the appropriate spaces. Deposit the form in

designated place or give it to the manager.

28 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

42 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 28

Office Time — Preparation 293

June 2019 43

29 Before Leaving for Route

291 Withdrawal of Mail

Withdraw preferential mail from final case when leaving office on each trip.

This mail is to be routed in delivery sequence as deliveries are made.

Delivery Point Sequence mail will be withdrawn in accordance with local

procedures.

292 Data Collection Devices

292.1 Under most circumstances, these pieces of equipment will have a unique

serial number affixed to or engraved in their casing. In the event that a piece

of equipment does not have such a number, local managers may assign/affix

a unique number as long as it is permanently assigned to a specific piece of

equipment and not duplicated on other pieces of similar equipment.

292.2 Verify the serial number appearing on the piece of equipment is the device

scheduled for your route.

293 Timecards

Record the time leaving the office as explained in 212.

293 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

44 Handbook M-41

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June 2019 45

3 On Route

31 Use of Transportation

311 Bus and Street Car

Proceed to location designated on PS Form 1564-A to board bus or street

car. Do not loiter en route. If you miss the scheduled transportation, it may

be several minutes before the next one arrives, causing a delay in the

delivery of mail.

312 Private Car and Motorized Routes

If you are authorized to use your own car or are provided a vehicle, drive to

the first delivery point without delay.

32 Delivery of Ordinary Mail Matter

321 Foot Routes

321.1 Unstrap the first bundle of mail.

321.2 Verify the street, block, and number with street sign and number on first house.

321.3 Peel off the letters and circulars for the first house from bundle carried in the

hand, and the flat mail from bundle standing on end in satchel.

321.4 Place mail well into receptacle. If a rack is available for magazines, place

them in the rack. Do not place fingers into door slots. Do not place mail on

steps, porches, etc.

Note: Customers must provide receptacles or door slots for mail

delivery unless a business place is open when carrier arrives.

If a parcel does not fit completely within the mail receptacle or parcel locker

(when available), determine if someone is available at the address by ringing

the doorbell or knocking on the door. If no one is available to receive the

parcel, follow the procedures in 322.311

and 322.312.

321.5 Finger mail between delivery stops placing it in order of delivery (see 133.2).

When withdrawing flats from satchel, observe and remember address of next

piece to avoid back-tracking.

321.6 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

46 Handbook M-41

321.6 Deliver all mail carried; then pick up mail for the next part of route from the

relay box. If more than one relay is in relay box, take next numbered bundles

up to and including the one containing an X. Follow the same delivery

procedure.

322 Motorized Routes (See also Chapter 8)

322.1 Letter-Size Mail Delivery

322.11 Letter-size mail for the entire route may be placed in suitable trays or boxes

rather than being strapped out. These may be used for working the mail

rather than a strap. Place the container of mail in the vehicle’s tray so the

letter mail faces the driver. When serving house boxes, withdraw sufficient

letter mail before dismounting to allow fingering to determine the next

delivery stop (see 133.2

322.12 Any sequenced mailing received by a motorized curb delivery route shall be

handled as separate bundles, unless the Delivery unit manager authorizes

the casing and/or collating of the mailings.

322.2 Flat Mail

322.21 For other than one bundle system, flat mail should be strapped out, limiting

the thickness of bundles to conform to the vehicle tray size and to allow

good visibility through the windshield.

322.22 Flats may be worked from a loosened strap placed to the right of the letter

tray or box.

322.23 Any sequenced mailing received by a motorized curb delivery route shall be

handled as separate bundles, unless the Delivery unit manager authorizes

the casing and/or collating of the mailings.

322.3 Parcels

322.31 Load parcels directly into the vehicle from hampers or sacks. Normally

separate the parcels in delivery sequence. Make a mental note of the first

parcel delivery point. When this parcel has been delivered, make mental note

of the next, and so on, until all parcels have been delivered. For any parcel

that does not fit into the customer’s mailbox or parcel locker (when

available), an attempt to deliver must be made at the customer’s door. If no

one is available to receive the parcel, follow the procedures in 322.311

and

322.312

322.311 When the Carrier Is Authorized to Leave Parcels

a. Uninsured parcels or parcels that do not require a signature may be left

in an unprotected location such as a stairway or uncovered porch

when the mailer participates in the Carrier Release Program by

endorsing the parcel “Carrier — Leave If No Response” or the

addressee has given written directions for an alternate delivery

location. PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/Receipt, with the “It

Is Located:________” block completed, must be left in the mail

receptacle notifying the addressee of the mail left in the authorized

alternate location.

On Route 322.312

June 2019 47

b. By following the mailer’s or addressee’s instructions, the Postal

Service provides customers with a more convenient way to receive

parcels. Carriers are not liable for loss or theft where these instructions

and postal regulations are followed.

c. Mailers who participate in the Carrier Release Program understand that

there are unsecured areas where the Postal Service will leave parcels

and also that carriers will leave packages without protection from

inclement weather.

322.312 When the Carrier Is Not Authorized to Leave Parcels

a. When someone is usually available to receive parcels. When an

uninsured parcel, a parcel not requiring a signature, or a parcel that is

not part of the Carrier Release Program is not delivered on the first

attempt and the carrier knows that someone at the address is usually

available to receive parcels, do not leave PS Form 3849, Delivery

Notice/Reminder/Receipt. Write the date and the carrier’s initials and

route number near the address and return the parcel to the office.

Place the parcel in the gurney at the carrier’s case. Attempt a second

delivery on the next delivery day. If the parcel is not delivered after the

second attempt, complete and leave PS Form 3849. Legibly endorse

the form with the following information:

(1) Article number (if applicable).

(2) Date.

(3) Sender’s name.

(4) Type of mail.

(5) Article requiring signature at time of delivery (if applicable).

(6) Addressee’s name and address.

(7) Amount due (if applicable).

(8) Date and time customer can pick up article at Post Office.

b. When someone is not usually available to receive parcels. If no one is

available to receive the parcel, the carrier knows that someone at the

address is not usually available to receive parcels, or the parcel is

insured, requires a signature, or is not part of the Carrier Release

Program, complete and leave PS Form 3849 (see Exhibit 322.312) after

the first attempt. When the carrier does not know if someone is usually

available to receive parcels, PS Form 3849 should be left after the first

attempt if the parcel is insured, requires a signature, or is not part of

the Carrier Release Program. Endorse the parcel near the address,

showing the reason for nondelivery (e.g., “No Response”), date delivery

was attempted, and the carrier’s initials and route number. Upon

returning to the office, deposit the parcel in the designated place for

undelivered parcels.

322.32 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

48 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 322.312

PS Form 3849

322.32 Redelivery of Parcels

Except as provided in 322.312a

, make a second attempt only if requested by

the addressee. If the redelivery request is made using PS Form 3849, take

the form back to the office and give it to the accountable mail clerk. The

carrier will receive the parcel from the accountable mail clerk on the day the

addressee requested redelivery. If delivery is not made on the second

attempt and the addressee did not authorize the parcel to be left, leave

PS Form 3849, with the Final Notice block checked. Endorse the parcel to

show a final notice was left and return the parcel to the designated place for

holding undelivered parcels.

323 Park and Loop Routes

323.1 Description

Delivery of mail on park and loop routes is basically the same as for foot

routes with relays. The vehicle is used as a movable relay box from which the

carrier withdraws a substantial amount of mail, placing the mail into his

satchel before beginning the route. Delivery is then made to one side of the

street up to a certain location, and then on the other side of the street

(looping) back to the vehicle for additional relays, parcels and/or moves to

the other park points.

323.2 Parking Points and Route Patterns

323.21 Route patterns are set up to provide for as few vehicle moves as possible.

The ideal location for parking points is at an intersection of two streets where

four relays may be carried without the need for a vehicle move. Many

variations are possible depending on mail volumes, terrain, curb line boxes,

traffic, safety, average lot frontage, and eliminating deadheading.

323.22 Due to many variables, many route patterns or combination of patterns are

possible. The most efficient method should be authorized by the unit

manager with involvement of the carrier serving the route.

On Route 332.2

June 2019 49

323.3 Parcels

Many parcels may be carried with the relays. If no one is available to receive

a parcel that is too large for the mail receptacle or parcel locker (when

available), follow the procedures in 322.311

and 322.312.

For heavy parcels, the following systems may be used:

a. Begin the loop at the point of the parcel delivery.

b. Bypass the stop until the loop is complete, then drive to the delivery

point with both the mail and the parcel.

c. If a parcel is heavy, will not fit into your satchel, or requires a signed

receipt, determine if someone is available at the address by ringing the

doorbell or knocking on the door at the time of delivery of the rest of

the mail. If no answer, follow the procedures in 322.311

and 322.312.

If someone is available to receive the parcel, return with it after

completing the loop.

33 Delivery of Special Services Mail

331 General

When delivering special services mail, make every reasonable effort to

deliver; ring the bell or knock on the door in order to make hand-to-hand

delivery to addressee, except for Waiver of Signature articles. You may tell or

show the addressee the name and address of sender and the amount of the

charges to be collected if COD, Customs, or postage due. You may not,

however, surrender the mail for examination or for any other purpose until all

charges have been paid and/or a receipt has been signed if required. For

Waiver of Signature articles, carriers will sign the PS Form 3849 to document

delivery of the article to the addressee mail receptacle or other secure

location. When the article cannot be delivered, you must leave a notice that

bears the location of the delivery unit where the article may be called for.

332 Postage Due

332.1 Deliver the article after the specified amount due has been paid.

332.2 When delivery cannot be made for any reason, complete and leave

PS Form 3849. Endorse the article with the reason for non-delivery, such as,

No Response, enter the date and your initials, and return it to the delivery

unit (see Exhibit 332.2

332.3 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

50 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 332.2

PS Form 3849

332.3 Ordinary postage due mail mixed in with DPS mail and identified while

performing street duties will have a PS Form 3849 completed at the delivery

point, to ensure proper recording of these items when the carrier returns to

the office. The carrier should attempt delivery and have these items listed

upon return to the office. Funds are to be turned in to the accountable clerk

along with funds for any other postage due mail.

332.4 Business Reply Mail (BRM) mixed in with DPS mail and identified while

performing street duties is to be returned to the office for proper handling by

the accountable clerk. This mail must be rated for the exact postage due

before it can be delivered.

333 Customs Duty Mail

333.1 Collect duty (amount shown on U.S. Customs Form 3419) plus any postage

due indicated on parcel.

333.2 Have addressee sign on bottom line of original U.S. Customs Form 3419, sign

his or her name, and provide an address on the data collection device. If the

customer cannot sign on the device, have him or her sign and print his or her

name on PS Form 3849. See 23

for appropriate scanning procedures.

333.3 When delivery cannot be made for any reason, complete and leave

PS Form 3849 (see Exhibit 333.3

(p. 1)). See 23 for appropriate scanning

procedures. Endorse the articles with the reason for nondelivery such as “No

Funds,” enter the date and your initials on the article, and return it with both

copies of U.S. Customs Form 3419 (see Exhibit 333.3

) (p. 2) to delivery unit.

On Route 334.3

June 2019 51

Exhibit 333.3 (p. 1)

PS Form 3849

Exhibit 333.3 (p. 2)

Customs Form 3419

334 CODs

334.1 Detach COD tag, PS Form 3816, COD Mailing and Delivery Receipt, if

addressee has indicated he or she will pay for and accept the COD parcel,

and have addressee sign on the data collection device. If the customer

cannot sign on the device, use PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/

Receipt. See 23

for appropriate scanning procedures.

334.2 Deliver parcel after money has been received and PS Form 3816 has been

signed. If there is a difference between the amount of charges shown on the

tag, and that shown on the package, collect the higher amount. If the money

order fee is incorrectly stated on the tag, correct the fee and report the error

to your unit manager.

334.3 Complete PS Form 3816 showing the date of delivery and your initials, and

return with funds to delivery unit (see Exhibit 334.3

334.4 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

52 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 334.3

334.4 When delivery cannot be made for any reason, complete and leave

PS Form 3849. See 23

for appropriate scanning procedures. Endorse the

article with the reason for nondelivery, enter the date and your initials on the

article, and return the parcel with tag intact to the delivery unit (see Exhibit

334.4).

Exhibit 334.4

On Route 335.16

June 2019 53

335 Insured, Registered, Certified, Priority Mail

Express, and Other Special Services

335.1 Delivering and Taking Receipt [Exhibit 335.1 (p. 1 and 2)]

335.11 Deliver numbered insured parcels, registered articles, certified letters, and

other special services items to addressee or anyone authorized to receive

mail for addressee:

a. Require the person to show identification, if not known, and sign his or

her name and print address on the data collection device. If the

customer cannot sign on the data collection device, have him or her

sign and print his or her name on PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/

Reminder/Receipt, before delivery, when applicable.

b. Deliver articles entered on PS Form 3883, Firm Delivery Receipt for

Accountable Mail and Bulk Delivery Mail, after obtaining a signature of

addressee or agent on the data collection device. PS Form 3849 can

be used if the customer cannot sign on the device. (Deliver the

duplicate PS Form 3883 with the articles.)

c. Prepare PS Form 3883 for numbered insured and other special

services items only when there are six or more articles for the same

addressee. Include Delivery Confirmation on PS Form 3883 if the

six-article requirement has already been met.

d. Deliver minimum fee unnumbered insured and Delivery Confirmation

articles the same as any ordinary mail. No receipt is needed.

e. See

23 for appropriate scanning procedures.

335.12 Deliver articles endorsed, Restricted Delivery to addressee appearing on the

article. No other person may receive and sign for these articles unless the

addressee authorizes in writing an agent to receive his restricted delivery

mail. PS Form 3849 can be used for this authorization.

335.13 Articles not endorsed Restricted Delivery may be delivered to an adult

member of the family or agent or hotel clerk whose name appears on

PS Form 3801-A, Agreement by Hotel, Apartment House, or the Like.

335.14 When other than addressee signs for article, he/she should enter the name

of addressee on line Received and his/her own name on line By.

335.15 Complete PS Forms 3883 and 3849 (when unable to obtain a signature on

the data collection device) showing the date of delivery and your signature

(surname and initials).

335.16 Certified mail mixed in with Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) mail and identified

while performing street duties is to be handled in the same manner as

certified mail that is issued in the office by the accountable clerk. Customers

must sign for this mail on the data collection device at the delivery point. If for

any reason the customer cannot sign on the collection device, PS Form 3849

must be completed at the delivery point and delivery should be attempted.

Receipts are to be turned in and the collection device presented to the

accountable clerk along with receipts for any other certified mail.

335.16 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

54 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 335.1 (p. 1)

On Route 336.3

June 2019 55

Exhibit 335.1 (p. 2)

335.2

Leaving Notice

When delivery of numbered insured, registered, certified, or other special

services articles cannot be made for any reason, complete and leave

PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/Receipt. Endorse the article with

the reason for nondelivery, such as “No Response”; enter route number and

the date; initial on article; and return it to the delivery unit.

336 Return Receipt

336.1 Obtain on PS Form 3811 the signature of person receiving the registered,

certified, or numbered insured mail when the form is attached and/or the

article is endorsed, Return Receipt Requested. Enter date of delivery in the

space provided. See that the address side of PS Form 3811 is completed

(see Exhibit 336.1

336.2 If the article is endorsed, Return Receipt Requested — Showing Address

Where Delivered, enter the address where the article was delivered in space

provided.

336.3 If the article is endorsed to indicate delivery is restricted, it should be treated

in accordance with 335.12

337 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

56 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 336.1

337 Government Checks and Bonds

337.1 Government checks and bonds include those issued by states, counties, and

cities; and those issued for welfare assistance.

337.2 Make sure checks are placed in the correct receptacles and, if practicable,

behind other mail matter.

337.3 Do not leave checks outside of receptacles at any time.

337.4 Do not attempt Trial Deliveries under any circumstances.

337.5 Dispose of undeliverable checks according to instructions.

337.6 If mail cannot be left in a reasonably safe place, return checks or bonds to

delivery unit leaving PS Form 3849 in the mailbox. This mail is held at your

unit awaiting pickup by the customer, or notification by the customer as to

the date he wishes to meet you to effect delivery.

338 Delivery Confirmation

338.1 Delivering

Scan Delivery Confirmation items, and deliver them the same as ordinary

mail items. See 23

for appropriate scanning procedures.

338.2 Leaving Notice

When delivery of a Delivery Confirmation item cannot be made for any

reason, complete and leave PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/

Receipt, and endorse the mail item. If a data collection device is available,

see 23

for appropriate scanning procedures. If a data collection device is not

available, write the event, date, and time on the mailpiece, and return it to the

appropriate location when you return to the office.

On Route 342

June 2019 57

34 Notice 11 and PS Form 3521

341 Notice 11 — Information for Apartment House

Customers

This notice shall be placed in apartment house letter boxes for customers

who have moved into the building.

Exhibit 341

342

PS Form 3521, House Numbers and Mail

Receptacles Report

Use PS Form 3521 to report irregularities — mailboxes, house numbers and

other items, which affect the prompt and proper delivery of mail to private

residences and apartment house, giving the name of customer or owner and/

or manager (see Exhibit 342

Exhibit 342

35 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

58 Handbook M-41

35 Answering Complaints and Inquiries

Answer all inquiries courteously. If the inquiry or complaint cannot be

answered or settled to the customer’s satisfaction, or if it is contrary to

instructions to give the information, courteously direct the person to the

office of the official in charge for further attention.

36 Undeliverable Items

361 Undeliverable Mail

Accept all mail handed back by customers and pickup undeliverable mail. If

undeliverable, return it to the delivery unit for proper handling. If the mail was

misdelivered on the route, see that proper delivery is effected.

362 Articles Loose in Mail

Return to the delivery unit all articles found loose in mail or in collection and

relay boxes. Return also any envelope or wrapper which may pertain to the

loose article.

37 Collection of Mail

371 Collect prepaid mail from house receptacles when making deliveries.

Collect prepaid mail from curb boxes when flag is raised even if there is no

mail for delivery to these boxes.

372 Accept prepaid First-Class Mail (except mail for registration) from customers.

373 Collect mail from all collection boxes designated on PS Form 1564-A.

When a plastic collection test card has been deposited at any collection

point, withdraw the plastic card from the mail during collection and hand to

your designated manager on arrival at the office.

374 Face or separate mail as directed and place a strap around all collected mail,

holding out special delivery and priority mail separately if local policy applies.

38 Receipting for Registers From Contract Stations and

Branches

381 When obtaining registers, verify the numbers appearing on the registered

articles with the numbers listed on PS Form 3854 (see Exhibit 381

382 Count the number of registers, and if this agrees with the number entered on

PS Form 3854, enter the number and sign. Take the original of PS Form 3854

along with the registered articles.

383 Place the registered articles and one copy of PS Form 3854 in the pocket of

the satchel. Deliver both to finance clerk at delivery unit.

On Route 383

June 2019 59

Exhibit 381

383 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

60 Handbook M-41

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June 2019 61

4 Office Time — Return

41 Use of Timecards

411 Non-PSDS Offices

Promptly record the time you return to the office and return card to timecard

rack. If you are a motorized carrier, promptly unload your vehicle upon return

to the office and then immediately record your returning time. At end of tour,

record ending time, and return card to timecard rack.

412 PSDS Offices

Follow instructions in 211.2 - except (1) set dials to indicate “R.S.” for Return

Street and (2) set dials to indicate “E.T.” for End Tour.

42 Disposition of Collected Mail

Place the mail collected on designated table or in receptacles.

43 Clearance for Accountable Items

431 Keys

Turn in mail keys in exchange for assigned key check or signature clearance.

432 Registered and Certified

432.1 Give finance clerk all undeliverable articles, present the data collection

device showing each item delivered, all PS Forms 3849 for items unable to

be signed for on the device, and/or PS Form 3811 for each registered and

certified delivery. The supervisor may print an electronically generated report

showing all items signed for on the data collection device.

432.2 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

62 Handbook M-41

432.2 Complete PS Form 3821 showing the number of receipts and undeliverable

articles returned to the clerk. Ensure that any accountable items found in the

DPS mail are added to the total accountable pieces included on the form. If

form is properly completed, clerk will sign and return it to you. This is your

receipt, keep it for a 2-year period (see Exhibit 432.2

Exhibit 432.2

432.3

Enter the date of delivery and your signature in the spaces provided on

PS Form 3849 — if you didn’t do this when you delivered the article

(see 335.1

). Deposit PS Form 3849 in the designated receptacle or give it to

the finance clerk for clearance.

433 Insured Mail

Put all PS Forms 3811 which were requested by senders of insured mail in

designated places. Complete PS Form 3849 as specified for registered and

certified mail. If the customer signed for an article on the data collection

device, present the device to the finance clerk showing the articles delivered.

The supervisor may also print an electronically generated report showing all

items signed for on the data collection device.

434 CODs

434.1 Surrender to clearance clerk COD tags and the money for all delivered COD

parcels. Return all undelivered CODs for clearance.

434.2 If PS Form 3821 is used at your office, verify the entries after clerk has

entered the amount of funds and the number of parcels accounted for

(see Exhibit 434.2

). Carrier must place original of PS Form 3821 in locked

receptacle provided and keep the duplicate for 3 months from last day of

month issued. (Clerk may not do this.) The supervisor may also print an

electronically generated report showing all items signed for on the data

collection device.

Office Time — Return 435.2

June 2019 63

Exhibit 434.2

434.3

If PS Form 3821 is not used at your office, clerk will initial and return delivery

employee coupon to you. Keep this coupon for 2 years.

435 Customs Duty Mail

435.1 Turn in to cage clerk Customs PS Forms 3419 and money collected for all

custom duty mail.

435.2 After the clerk has entered the amount of funds and the number of parcels on

PS Form 2944, verify the entries. Sign on line opposite the clerk’s name

(see Exhibit 435.2

Exhibit 435.2

435.3 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

64 Handbook M-41

435.3 Place first copy of PS Form 2944 in locked receptacle provided and keep

second copy for 3 months from last day of issuance.

436 Postage Due

436.1 Return all undeliverable postage due mail and funds collected on postage

due mail delivered.

436.2 The clearance clerk will sign PS Form 3584 if postage-due collected and

returned articles agree with amount shown on PS Form 3584. You will be

reimbursed for the amount due on the returned articles if you paid for the

postage due articles in cash (see Exhibit 261.22

44 Undelivered Mail

441 Processing Undelivered Mail

Follow procedures listed in 24 to process forwardable and undeliverable mail

(1) that you didn’t process before leaving the office and/or (2) that you picked

up on route. After processing, place this mail in throwback case, as

explained in 24

442 Completing PS Form 1571

442.1 After return from trip, obtain PS Form 1571, Undelivered Mail Report,

(see Exhibit 442.1

) from unit manager.

442.2 Add any mail which was not delivered but was returned to the office.

442.3 Sign the form and give it to a unit manager.

Office Time — Return 442.3

June 2019 65

Exhibit 442.1

45 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

66 Handbook M-41

45 Expedited Preferential Mail System

451 Complete PS Form 1571 in the morning for undelivered preferential and

time-value mail.

452 Record non-preferential mail which you don’t case in the afternoon before

the end of your tour on PS Form 1571.

Note: If time permits during the following morning to distribute and

deliver this uncased mail, advise your supervisor so that he/she can

make a notation on the PS Form 1571 for the prior afternoon.

453 Normally, place flats in delivery sequence in the afternoon; then during the

following morning, insert preferential flats in proper sequence.

46 Answering Official Communications

Whenever an inquiry requires a written or oral reply, furnish the information

concisely and inclusively.

47 Ending Tour of Duty

Perform such other work as the manager may direct or as is required to

maintain the case and route book in good condition. Record ending time on

timecard as explained in 41

June 2019 67

5 Collections

51 Timecards

See 21, 41, and 61.

52 Care of Keys and Locks

521 Obtain keys (Arrow and/or padlock) at unit or garage when so designated.

522 Attach key chain to belt or clothing. Do not detach keys from chain. Keep in

pocket when not in use. Dangling or swinging key chains are dangerous.

523 Insert keys straight into locks. If lock is frozen or stuck, do not force key to

turn as it may break. Report all frozen or stuck locks to a manager on return

on PS Form 1571.

53 Collection Schedules

531 Importance of Schedules

531.1 Collection of mail is an important function. It is the first step in getting letters

in the mail stream for processing and dispatch to their destination.

531.2 Collections are scheduled so there is adequate time to process the mail to

connect with a dispatch of value or delivery trip.

531.3 Carriers must not skip collection boxes. If an emergency occurs and boxes

must be skipped, report it to a manager on PS Form 1571 as soon as

possible.

531.4 Deposit mail in unit at the place shown on collection schedule.

532 Use of Schedules

532.1 In the Office

532.11 Carriers unfamiliar with the route should obtain and review collection

schedule to determine the starting time and point.

532.12 Carriers unfamiliar with the route should check collection schedules for

additional special instructions, such as pickup of registers at contract

stations and branches.

532.2 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

68 Handbook M-41

532.2 On the Route

532.21 Leave office on scheduled time, and collect boxes in the order listed.

532.22 Observe the time each box is scheduled to be collected, and do not collect

before that time. Many customers schedule the deposit of their mail with the

time stated on the collection schedule. If mail is picked up ahead of

schedule, some mail may miss connection and this may result in justified

complaints.

532.23 Observe the returning time of the collection. The returning time is fixed to

allow time to process the mail and connect with a dispatch of value or

delivery trip.

532.24 Avoid standing in the street when emptying or loading collection or relay

boxes.

54 Collection Rules

541 Basic Rules

The basic rules for the collection of mail are the same whether performed by

a foot or motorized carrier or whether collections are made from street or

building boxes. Therefore, the general rules that apply to all are given;

exceptions are stated separately.

542 Collecting Mail as Scheduled

542.1 Collect boxes in order and not earlier than the time shown on the schedule.

542.2 Do not skip any collection boxes, except in emergency. In this case, a report

listing each box skipped should be made to the manager on PS Form 1571.

543 Handling of Mail Matter

543.1 Use hoop sack, pouch, or satchel when removing mail from collection boxes.

Remove old labels from all pouches and sacks.

543.2 Keep mail collected from boxes in clusters segregated. Be sure that the mail

is placed in the proper sack and that the sack or pouch is properly labeled.

543.3 Keep mail that is in a faced condition faced. Do not break open bundles of

mail as this causes additional work.

543.4 Collect mailable matter placed on top or near collection boxes. Accept letters

and other prepaid small articles tendered by customers for mailing.

543.5 Do not return any mail to a customer. Refer the customer to the unit where

the collection mail is deposited.

543.6 Protect the mail at all times. Do not leave mail unguarded.

544 Examining and Locking Boxes

544.1 After emptying box, examine inside of box for possible trapped mail,

especially in motorist deposit boxes (snorkels).

544.2 Make note of and, on return to unit, report missing or illegible time

schedules, faulty doors or boxes, or defective locks. When a plastic

Collections 55

June 2019 69

collection test card has been deposited at any collection point, withdraw the

plastic card from the mail during collection and hand to your designated

manager on arrival at the office.

544.3 Check doors and locks after closing boxes to assure both work properly and

give adequate protection to mail.

55 Motorized Routes

For motorized delivery and/or collection routes, see 831 for obtaining a

vehicle; 832

for inspecting vehicle; 833 for completing time record; and 842

for reporting defects.

55 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

70 Handbook M-41

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June 2019 71

6 Parcels

61 Time Recording

611 Timecards (Non-PSDS/ETC Offices)

611.1 Reporting at Delivery Unit

611.2 Reporting at Garage Other than Delivery Unit

612 PS Form 1234, Utility Card

612.1 Recording Time for Each Trip

612.2 Recording Type of Service

Enter the type of service performed, such as C for collection, R for relays, RC

for relay and collection, and PP for parcel post. (When more than one

613 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

72 Handbook M-41

collection run is made or the tour consists of a series of collection runs and

there is little or no office time before or after each run, only two recordings -

leaving and returning — are necessary for each run.)

613 PS Form 4570, Vehicle Time Record

(See 833.)

62 Office Procedures Before Leaving

621 Obtaining and Inspecting Truck

621.1 The manager in charge or the dispatcher will indicate the vehicle to be used

when he/she assigns the route to be served (see 831

621.2 Check trucks for defects. See 832 for inspection procedures and 842 for

reporting defects.

622 Systems Used

622.1 Hamper System

Parcels are distributed into hampers. Each hamper covers a prescribed area.

The delivery employee sets up the parcels in order of delivery as he/she

loads the truck.

622.2 Sack System

622.21 Sacks are numbered consecutively in order of delivery, and each sack

contains all sackable parcels for a prescribed area.

622.22 Parcels too large or too heavy to be placed in sacks are termed outsides and

are numbered to correspond with sacks containing parcels for the same area.

623 Loading Truck

623.1 Parcels

Sacks of parcels, outside pieces, and extra services items should be loaded

in the vehicle so as to facilitate delivery in the following way:

a. Place outsides, CODs, Customs and postage due, registers on inside

floor of truck, directly behind driver’s partition (see Exhibit 623.1

Parcels 623.2

June 2019 73

Exhibit 623.1

b. Place egg crates flat and heavy outsides on the floor.

c. Put fragile and lighter outsides on top of pile.

d. Load sacks flat, behind outsides.

e. Keep butt ends of sacks toward the tail gate.

f. Place sacks on top of each other in delivery order, first sacks to be

delivered on top.

g. Keep a free work space directly behind the sliding door.

h. Check and remove sack label, empty first sack to be delivered, and

combine contents with its corresponding outside pieces.

i. Check to be certain that sack is empty. Fold it with cord and fastener in

the fold and stack it neatly.

j. When sack routing system is not used, place parcels on floor and stack

them in order of delivery with first parcels to be delivered on top.

623.2 Parcels and Relay Combined

Load sacks of parcels, outside pieces, and extra services items as follows:

a. Load outsides, CODs, etc., as in 623.1

b. Load parcel sacks, or loose parcels when sack routing system is not

used on left half of truck with butt end against side.

c. Load relay sacks on right-hand side of the truck, in delivery order.

When relays are delivered, there will be room for dumping parcels

(see Exhibit 623.2

624 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

74 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 623.2

624

Preparing Parcels for Delivery

624.1 Dump Sack No. 1 only at the dock and arrange the parcels in order of

delivery, including outside parcels and special services articles for the same

area.

624.2 Route parcels to insure shortest distance between stops and to prevent

deadheading or excessive travel distance.

624.3 Dump Sack No. 2, when last parcel has been delivered from Sack No. 1, and

align as for Sack No. 1.

624.4 Remove sack label before dumping sack. Fold sacks placing cord and

fastener in the fold, and pile sacks neatly.

624.5 When the sack routing system is not used, arrange parcels in order of

delivery as they are removed from the hampers and placed in the vehicle.

625 Damage Control of Parcels

625.1 All employees engaged in the handling of parcels are responsible for insuring

that parcels are distributed and delivered in good condition. Take care to

avoid throwing, stepping on, or otherwise mistreating parcels. Give particular

attention to fragile and perishable items.

625.2 If you discover a damaged parcel in the office, bring it to the attention of your

manager. If you discover one on the street, make a notation on the damaged

parcel; indicate - received in bad condition and cause of damage (if known).

If contents are obviously damaged, return the parcel to your delivery unit for

appropriate disposition.

Parcels 635

June 2019 75

63 Route Procedures

631 Delivery of Parcels

631.1 Determine if someone is available at the address by ringing the doorbell or

knocking on the door.

631.2 While waiting for customer to respond, scan the parcel to verify whether:

a. A receipt is required.

b. Postage due or other charges are to be collected.

c. A return receipt is requested.

d. Delivery is restricted.

e. The carrier release endorsement is used.

631.3 Prepare receipts as explained in chapters 2 and 3.

631.4 Obtain receipts and collect funds and data as explained in chapter 3 for

special services mail. If a data collection device has been assigned to your

route, see 23

for appropriate scanning procedures.

631.5 If the parcel cannot be delivered for any reason, follow the procedures in

chapter 3

631.6 Endorse the article appropriately and return it to the office.

631.7 See 23 for appropriate scanning procedures.

632 Relay and Collection Schedule

The relay and collection schedule lists the order in which relays are delivered

to relay boxes and mail is collected from street boxes, mail chutes, and other

collection points. Observe schedule and report any deviations and/or

curtailments on PS Form 1571.

633 Delivering Relays and Collecting Mail

633.1 Proceed to first relay point on schedule for which there is a relay.

633.2 Remove empty sacks from relay boxes and deposit relay. Make certain that

each box is securely locked. Fold sack with cord and fastener in the fold and

stack neatly in truck.

633.3 Proceed with your assignment according to your instructions or schedule.

633.4 When a plastic collection test card has been deposited at any collection

point, withdraw the plastic card from the mail during collection and hand to

your designated manager on arrival at the office.

634 Delivery of First-Class to Firms

Deliver First-Class firm mail as prescribed by local instructions.

635 Undeliverable Parcels

Endorse all undeliverable parcels as explained in 335.2.

64 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

76 Handbook M-41

64 Office Procedures on Return

641 Clearance for Accountable Items

Obtain clearance of parcels with extra services items — special request

parcels, CODs, postage due, registers, customs duty, and keys — as

explained in 43

642 Use of Curtailment Form - PS Form 1571

When delivery of parcels is curtailed for any reason, prepare PS Form 1571

as explained in 442

643 Servicing of Truck

See 841.

June 2019 77

7 Special Delivery Service

71 Timecards

Special delivery messengers use PS Form 1230, Time Card, and

PS Form 1234, Utility Card. Other employees use PS Form 1234, Utility Card.

See 21

, 41, and 61.

72 General

721 Categories of Special Delivery

All classes of mail may be sent special delivery. Special delivery service may

be combined with other services, such as airmail, registered, COD, etc.

722 Rules of Delivery

The basic rules of delivery are the same as for other mail. The primary

difference is in the leaving of notices.

723 Who May Deliver

Delivery may be made by special delivery messenger or by any other

employee.

73 Office Work Before Leaving

731 Obtain all special delivery mail for your assigned district from the special

delivery section or other designated place.

732 Obtain necessary mail keys and attach securely to your belt or clothing.

733 If necessary, obtain a carrier satchel for letters, flats, and small articles.

734 Arrange letters, flats and small articles in the most efficient order of delivery

and deliver within the prescribed schedule.

735 Arrange parcels in delivery sequence as you place them in your vehicle.

736 Record leaving time.

737 For vehicles, see chapter 8.

74 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

78 Handbook M-41

74 Street Work

741 Delivery to Apartments, Residences, and

Businesses

741.1 Ring bell or knock several times. If there is a response, make personal

delivery to the addressee or his representative if delivery is not restricted

(see 335.13

741.2 If there is no response and it is indicated that the occupants are only

temporarily absent, place the article in the mail receptacle and leave a

completed PS Form 3849 in the receptacle (see Exhibit 741.2

Exhibit 741.2

741.3 Do not pass the article through a door slot of an obviously vacant address.

741.4 Leave only ordinary special delivery articles. If articles are accountable mail

such as registered, insured, COD, etc., (see 33

) or if the article is too large to

be placed in the mail receptacle, return it to the Post Office and leave a

completed PS Form 3849. Place the notice in the receptacle.

742 Delivery to Out-of-Bounds Boxes

742.1 Make delivery to residence of customers served through a box erected on

the boundary line (i.e., out-of-bounds box) if the customer does not reside

more than three blocks beyond and if there is a passable walk or street.

742.2 If there is no response, place a completed PS Form 3849 in the mailbox and

leave the article in the box (except accountable mail) if the box will

accommodate it. Otherwise, leave a completed notice and return the article

to the Post Office.

Special Delivery Service 755

June 2019 79

75 Office Work After Return

751 Record returning time.

752 Return all undelivered articles, endorsed to show reason for non-delivery, all

receipts taken, money collected for accountable mail, and keys.

753 Obtain proper clearance for all accountable items (see 43).

754 Return all equipment to its proper place.

755 Record ending time at unit. Return truck to garage, inspect it, and prepare

required reports (see 84

755 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

80 Handbook M-41

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June 2019 81

8 Vehicle Operations

81 Vehicle Regulations and Safety Practices

811 Vehicle Regulations

811.1 Responsibility of Carrier

811.11 Be sure you are qualified to drive the vehicle assigned to you; maintain

a valid state driver’s license.

811.12 Advise your immediate manager of suspension or revocation of your state

license.

811.2 Authorized Riders

811.21 Postal employees with proper identification may ride in motor vehicle when

necessary to perform their official duties. Unauthorized riders in postal

vehicles are prohibited.

811.22 Employees may not ride in postal vehicles when off duty, nor when on duty

unless riding is essential to the duty being performed.

811.23 All employees, including route examiners and officials, are forbidden to ride

on powered industrial mobile equipment as passengers.

811.24 Route examiners may use a separate motor vehicle for which they have been

qualified and authorized when making light delivery vehicle route

inspections.

812 Safety Practices

812.1 Practice safety in the office and on the route.

812.2 Observe all traffic regulations prescribed by law. Rules applying to the public

also apply to operators of postal vehicles.

812.3 Seatbelts must be worn at all times the vehicle is in motion. Exception for

Long Life Vehicles: In instances when the shoulder belt prevents the driver

from reaching to provide delivery or collection from curbside mailboxes, only

the shoulder belt may be unfastened. The lap belt must remain fastened at all

times the vehicle is in motion.

812.31 When traveling to and from the route, when moving between park and relay

points, and when entering or crossing intersecting roadways, all external

vehicle doors must be closed. When operating a vehicle with sliding driver’s

cab doors on delivery routes and traveling in intervals of 500 feet (1/10 mile)

or less at speeds not exceeding 15 MPH between delivery stops, the

right-hand sliding cab door may be left open.

812.32 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

82 Handbook M-41

812.32 For vehicles with separate driver and cargo compartments, only working mail

should be kept in the driver’s compartment while performing delivery and

collection duties. Interior cargo doors (if any) may be kept in the “open”

position to accommodate authorized passengers being transported in

auxiliary seating, operator use of cargo area windows (if any), or to aid

airflow. Consider the nature of mail or equipment being transported and use

good judgment in deciding when an open internal door is suitable and will

not interfere with the safety of vehicle operations. Internal cargo doors must

be closed and locked when the vehicle is parked (see 822e

812.4 Do not finger mail while driving or hold mail in your hands while the vehicle is

in motion. You must use mirror to check for pedestrians ahead, in back, and

on both sides before placing the vehicle in motion.

812.5 Arrange letter mail, flat mail, and small parcels in the work tray provided on

the ledge behind the windshield so as not to obstruct vision or use of the

vehicle controls. Trays must not be piled on top of other trays on the ledge

behind the windshield.

812.6 Any authorized sticker placed on the windshield or on other glass of the

vehicle must not hinder your vision.

812.7 Only authorized passengers are permitted to ride in postal-owned,

GSA-owned, rental, or contract vehicles (including employees’ privately

owned vehicles when used in postal operations). All passengers must use

seatbelts. Where conventional passenger seats have not been provided in

the vehicle, an approved auxiliary seat, facing forward, and equipped with a

backrest and seatbelts must be used. Sitting in other than an approved seat

or standing in a postal vehicle while such vehicle is in motion is prohibited.

82 Postal Security

821 Always keep the rear door and/or tailgate of the vehicle locked, except when

loading or unloading the vehicle.

822 Whenever the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle must be parked. To park

the vehicle:

a. Apply the foot brake and place automatic transmissions in the park

position. Place manual transmissions in gear.

b. Turn the vehicle’s front wheels toward the curb if you are on a flat

surface or when the vehicle is facing downhill. If the vehicle is parked

facing uphill, turn the front wheels away from the curb.

c. Set the hand-parking/emergency brake.

d. Turn off the engine and remove the key.

e. Lock any sliding door(s) between the truck body and cab.

f. Lock the doors if you will be out of direct sight of the vehicle.

823 Inspect the inside of the vehicle for mail matter after completing street duties.

Vehicle Operations 832.3

June 2019 83

83 Vehicle Assignment Procedures

831 Obtaining Vehicle

Use locally prescribed procedures for obtaining assigned vehicle and keys.

The manager in charge or the dispatcher will indicate the vehicle to be used

when he/she assigns the route to be served; and may assign a different

vehicle whenever the need arises.

832 Inspecting Vehicle

832.1 Inspect vehicle as described on Notice 76, Expanded Vehicle Safety Check

(see Exhibit 832.1

) for deficiencies, body damage, or inoperable items.

See 842

for reporting defects.

832.2 Check for mail or equipment which may have been left by previous driver.

832.3 Make sure truck is equipped with necessary collection equipment, hoop

sack, if available, and satchels, trays, and sacks as needed.

833 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

84 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 832.1

833

PS Form 4570, Vehicle Time Record

833.1 Dispatcher will hand out PS Form 4570 (see Exhibit 833.1) with the

necessary keys at the time of assigning vehicles to drivers.

833.2 Document each vehicle use on PS Form 4570.

833.3 Make necessary clock rings and enter your name, run or route number, total

daily miles, and odometer reading.

833.4 PSDS offices may use an alternate system.

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE

EXPANDED VEHICLE SAFETY CHECK

1. Look under body for oil and water leaks.

2. Inspect two front tires for inflation and wear.

3. Check hood latches.

4. Check front for body damage.

5. Check left side for body damage.

6. Check left door lock.

7. Check for rear end leaks.

8. Check all rear tires for inflation and wear.

9. Check rear for body damage.

10. Check rear door lock.

11. Check right side for body damage.

12. Check right door lock.

13. Open door and move into driving position.

14. Start engine. (If in enclosed area, wait until after step 21.)

15. With assistance — adjust pot-lid and left front mirror.

16. With assistance — check headlights, tail lights, brake lights, 4-way flashers, and directional

signals, front and rear.

17. Adjust right side rear view mirror.

18. Adjust center rear view mirror.

19. Check steering wheel play.

20. Check accident report kit.

21. Check window locks.

22. Check windshield wipers and washers.

23. Check horn.

24. Check gages (gas gage requires 30 seconds for “warm-up”).

25. Check foot brake (no more than 2 inches free play).

26. Check hand brake.

27. Check seat belt and fasten.

Note: This check list has been programmed to take the driver in a logical sequence around the

RHD vehicle with a minimum of lost motion. For LHD vehicles - work from right side to rear to left

side beginning at Item 5. Items 15 and 16 - if no assistance readily available, handle personally.

SEE ADDITIONAL INSTRCTIONS ON REVERSE

Notice 76

Feb. 1975

Vehicle Operations 833.4

June 2019 85

Exhibit 833.1

84 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

86 Handbook M-41

84 Vehicle Maintenance

841 Servicing

841.1 Return truck to garage or delivery unit on completion of route, or when so

directed.

841.2 Inspect truck to determine if any damage has occurred while truck was in

your custody. If damage has occurred, complete forms as outlined in 842

841.3 Have fuel, oil, and water replenished by garage or station attendant as

scheduled. However, you may be required to fuel vehicles at postal facilities

having bulk fuel tanks (and no vehicle maintenance personnel on site), or at

commercial self service stations and islands.

841.4 In addition, delivery personnel will be required to fuel vehicles at all postal

facilities where automated fueling systems are installed and appropriate

identification cards or operator’s badges have been issued.

841.5 Complete PS Form 4570, Vehicle Time Record, and put in designated place.

842 Repairs

842.1 Reporting Defects

Driver must (a) report all mechanical defects or failures and major body

damage on PS Form 4565, Vehicle Repair Tag (see Exhibit 842.1

) as soon as

noted, and (b) immediately turn in the completed form to a dispatcher or

manager. Minor body damage can sometimes await repair until the next

regular inspection and need not be reported more than once.

842.2 Preparation of PS Form 4565

Whenever a motor vehicle requires repairs, complete PS Form 4565 in

triplicate as follows:

a. Enter vehicle number and the hour and date vehicle was checked in.

b. Put check mark opposite item requiring repair, or, if not listed, enter

opposite Other Repairs.

c. Describe details of repair under Remarks. For example, if brake block is

checked, state: pulls to the right, brakes fading, etc.

842.3 Disposition of PS Form 4565

842.31 Deliver to the garage dispatcher or manager for initialing. Driver copy will be

returned to you and should be kept as proof that damage was reported.

842.32 Attach dispatcher copy to PS Form 4570.

842.33 Mechanic copy is sent to the garage with vehicle.

Vehicle Operations 842.33

June 2019 87

Exhibit 842.1

85 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

88 Handbook M-41

85 Accidents

851 Accident Report Kit

Each vehicle used on official business is furnished with an Accident Report

Kit (Supply Item 87H). Check to be sure the envelope is sealed. If not, obtain

a sealed replacement from the manager.

852 Action to Be Taken at Scene of Accident

852.1 Operators involved in accidents, regardless of the cause or the amount of

damage, injury or death, shall remain at the scene until they have:

a. Obtained aid and assistance for any injured person.

b. Safeguarded the scene against further accident.

c. Secured and protected the mail.

d. Notified postmaster or his designee.

e. Notified local or State police as required.

f. Provided other drivers or principal parties to the accident the

information required by law, using PS Form 4585, Postal Driver

Accident Information.

g. Obtained so far as practicable the names and addresses of all

principals and witnesses, using PS Form 4586, Accident Information.

Operators shall not make any statements admitting personal or postal

liability or criminal negligence or attempt to negotiate an agreement or

settlement with anyone.

h. Recorded the other driver’s license or other valid identification and

obtained the name and address of the other driver(s) involved.

i. Complied with local postal instructions.

j. Used the chalk or crayon (in Accident Report Kit) to mark on the

pavement the paths and final locations of each of the vehicles involved.

k. Completed SF 91, Operator’s Report of Motor Vehicle Accident. This

report may be prepared at the scene of the accident or immediately

thereafter and must be submitted, before going off duty on the day of

the accident, to the employee’s superior. Accidents, regardless of the

amount of damage, injury or deaths caused, must be reported on

SF 91, even though the other principals involved state that no claim will

be filed for or against the Postal Service or its employees or even if only

postal personnel, equipment, vehicles, or property are involved.

852.2 If an operator is physically unable to comply with the preceding instruction,

the postal official in charge shall see that the required investigations and

reports are made.

June 2019 89

9 Mail Count and Route Inspection

91 Introduction

911 Definition and Purpose

911.1 Count of mail is the physical counting and recording of the number of pieces

of mail delivered or collected on a city delivery route.

911.2 The count of mail is used to gather and evaluate data to adjust routes fairly

and equitably to insure that the workload for each route will be as near as

possible to an 8-hour workday for the carrier.

911.3 The data obtained during the count and inspection period, along with current

management records, and the manager’s knowledge of the route, are the

basis for making route adjustments.

912 Frequency

Counts of mail shall be conducted on one or more routes when it is

determined to be operationally necessary. These inspections will be

conducted between the first week of September and May 31, excluding

December. A physical inspection of the route shall be made on one or more

days during the count week by a route examiner who accompanies the

carrier during his or her full tour.

913 Advance Notice

A notice giving schedule of a count week and proposed day of inspection for

each route shall be posted at the delivery unit not later than 5 working days

preceding start of count. One day’s advance notice will be given if a decision

is made to inspect on days other than the scheduled date.

914 Absences

Absences, for other than emergency, will not be granted during the week of

count and inspection.

915 Inspection Day

In order that a fair and reasonable evaluation may be made by management,

carriers must perform their duties and travel their routes in precisely the

same manner on inspection day as they do throughout the year.

916 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

90 Handbook M-41

916 Cancellations

916.1 When continuation of any inspection would serve no useful purpose, the

inspection may be canceled, at management’s discretion. A cancellation

may apply to an entire delivery unit or to one or more routes of a group of

routes being inspected.

916.2 Some items which could bring about consideration for cancellation are:

a. Natural disasters or extreme weather conditions.

b. Unscheduled extended absence of the full-time carrier coupled with

the absence of a qualified replacement. To the extent reasonable and

practicable, the regular carrier assigned to the route shall undergo the

inspection.

c. Unrealistic mail volume, either abnormal or subnormal, which could

prohibit a fair evaluation of the route(s).

d. Unavailability of transportation for carriers.

916.3 Any cancellation made will be discussed with carrier(s) concerned, giving the

reasons for the cancellation. When the cancellation is for the entire unit, the

discussion will be with the unit steward(s).

917 Dry-Run Count

917.1 A review of count procedures shall be made within 21 days prior to the start

of the count and route inspection.

917.2 The sample dry-run count items, forms, and completion instructions are

furnished to each carrier concerned early enough to assure that the dry-run

can be completed and reviewed before scheduled count and inspection

period.

917.3 An instruction period is held following issuance of the dry-run materials but

before completion of the dry-run exercise.

917.4 A manager will review each completed dry-run form for accuracy. Errors and/

or omissions are discussed and explained to the carrier. When necessary,

the manager may require a second completion of the form to assure that the

carrier is thoroughly familiar with its completion.

918 Special Route Inspections

918.1 When Required

Special route inspections may be required when any of the following

conditions or circumstances is present:

a. Consistent use of overtime or auxiliary assistance

. (When X-Route

concept is utilized and routes may be “built up” to no more than 8

hours and 20 minutes during interim period, see Memorandum of

Understanding dated September 17, 1992.)

b. Excessive undertime.

c. New construction or demolition which has resulted in an appreciable

change in the route.

d. A simple adjustment to a route cannot be made.

Mail Count and Route Inspection 921.22

June 2019 91

e. A carrier requests a special inspection and it is warranted.

f. Carrier consistently leaves and/or returns late.

g. If over any 6 consecutive week period (where work performance is

otherwise satisfactory) a route shows over 30 minutes of overtime or

auxiliary assistance on each of 3 days or more in each week during this

period, the regular carrier assigned to such route shall upon request,

receive a special mail count and inspection to be completed within

4 weeks of the request. The month of December must be excluded

from consideration when determining a 6 consecutive week period.

However, if a period of overtime and/or auxiliary assistance begins

in November and continues into January, then January is considered

as a consecutive period even though December is omitted. A new

6 consecutive week period is not begun.

h. Mail shall not be curtailed for the sole purpose of avoiding the need for

special mail counts and inspections.

918.2 Manner in Which Conducted

When special inspections are made because of conditions mentioned in

918.1

, they shall be conducted in the same manner as the annual count and

inspection.

92 Letter Routes

921 Basic Requirements

921.1 Coverage

921.11 For the purpose of mail counts, all classes of mail available to the carrier

(see 921.13

) must be routed and delivered every day of the count period.

921.12 Each replacement carrier assigned to regular, full, and part-time routes shall

count the mail and enter the data on the prescribed forms in the same way as

the full-time carrier.

921.13 The mail of all classes available to the carrier is (a) that mail distributed and

placed on carrier case ledges, in hampers, trays, or on the floor beneath the

carrier case, and (b) that mail which is in distribution cases up to the cut-off

or final withdrawal time prior to departure to serve the last delivery trip of the

week of count. This does not include the mail distributed following the

scheduled cut-off or final withdrawal time

921.2 Schedule

921.21 The count of mail period on all letter delivery routes, both regular and

auxiliary, shall be (a) for 6 consecutive delivery days on one-trip routes and

(b) for 5 consecutive delivery days, exclusive of Saturday, on multi-trip routes

or one-trip routes with abbreviated or no delivery on Saturday.

921.22 It is not mandatory that mail counts begin on Monday and continue through

Saturday but they must be made on consecutive delivery days.

921.23 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

92 Handbook M-41

921.23 Not later than the Wednesday preceding the count week, carrier schedules shall

be posted for those routes requiring an earlier starting time to count the mail.

921.3 Casing Mail by Carrier

Do not case any mail on return to the office on the day before the first day of

the count period. However, if you are regularly scheduled throughout the

year to case mail on return from the street, continue to do so during the

count period; but do not case any mail for delivery after returning from the

street on the last day of the count period

until you have rung off the

PS Form 1838-C worksheet for the day. (For exceptions, see instructions for

expedited preferential mail delivery, 924

922 PS Form 1838-C Worksheet — Preparation

922.1 Use of Form

922.11 The count of mail is recorded on PS Form 1838-C (see Exhibit 922.11

(p. 1, 2, 3, and 4)).

Mail Count and Route Inspection 922.11

June 2019 93

Exhibit 922.11 (p. 1)

PS Form 1838-C, Carrier’s Count Mail — Letter Carrier Routes Worksheet

922.11 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

94 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 922.11 (p. 2)

PS Form 1838-C, Carrier’s Count Mail — Letter Carrier Routes Worksheet

Mail Count and Route Inspection 922.11

June 2019 95

Exhibit 922.11 (p. 3)

PS Form 1838-C, Carrier’s Count Mail — Letter Carrier Routes Worksheet

922.11 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

96 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 922.11 (p. 4)

PS Form 1838-C, Carrier’s Count Mail — Letter Carrier Routes Worksheet

Mail Count and Route Inspection 922.32

June 2019 97

922.12 Use a separate form to record each day’s count. Make and record the count

on the worksheet in duplicate (using carbon paper) - except on the day of

inspection when the count is made and recorded, in duplicate, by the route

examiner or manager making the route inspection. In cases where it is not

practicable for you to report early enough to make the count, it may be made

by the manager or other competent employee.

922.13 The worksheet is used to record preliminary data for totaling and later

transfer to PS Form 1838 by management. Lines on the worksheet

correspond with lines on PS Form 1838. Space is provided for entering

starting and ending time of all actual time items which are included or

excluded from net and/or standard office time allowances. In addition,

notations and comments pertaining to the mail count or route conditions

should be made on the worksheet which will be helpful in later preparing the

summary and making proper and realistic route adjustments. Report unusual

conditions under Carrier’s Comments. If this space is inadequate, enter

additional comments on blank side of PS Form 1838-C.

922.14 The worksheet PS Form 1838-C (not a separate sheet of paper) must be

used to record the mail count each time a withdrawal of mail is made from

the distribution cases, sacks, hampers, trays, etc., and must be used to

show actual time entries on the side of the form in the columns headed,

Actual Time Entries, for each type of work performed.

922.2 Making Descriptive Entries [Exhibit 922.11 (p. 1 and 2)]

At top of the form, enter the name of the Post Office, branch or station, and

the route number. At bottom of form, record the day of the week, date,

signature, regular or replacement, and lunch time. On the day of inspection,

when the form is completed by the manager, the name of the carrier is

entered in the space provided and the examiner signs the form below the

carrier’s name. When a manager or other competent employee counts the

mail because it is not practicable for the carrier to report early enough to do

the counting, the manager will enter and circle his/her initials by the figures

recorded on the worksheet.

922.3 Recording Time Clock Rings

922.31 Foot and Bicycle Routes

Clock in, or enter beginning time, on the line marked “B.” Enter leaving,

returning, and ending times (“L,” “R,” “E”) upwards in the order listed. Make

these time recordings in the same manner as the entries on the current

timecards, i.e., from bottom to top.

922.32 Motorized Routes

Motorized carriers who report at the garage to pick up their vehicle; use the

first group of time recording blocks to record travel time from the garage to

the office.

922.4 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

98 Handbook M-41

The end of travel time and beginning of office time recorded in block “B” of

the next group should be the same unless the carrier is required to swing.

When returning the vehicle to the garage, after completion of entries for

delivery trips, use the next unused group of blocks in the same manner.

922.4 Recording Count Data

922.41 Letter Size — Line 1

922.411 Letter size (ordinary letters, cards, and circulars) includes all mail that can be

cased into the normal evenly spaced 6-shelf letter separation without

bending or folding as well as misthrows of all classes and types of mail as

outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding dated September 17, 1992,

related to Case Configuration. It does not include newspapers, rolls, small

parcels, flats, magazines, or catalogs even though they are intended for

casing with letters mail:

a. For motorized curb-delivery routes, do not include mailings designated

for third-bundle delivery.

b. In offices using a one-bundle system, do not include sequenced

mailings designated for second-bundle delivery.

c. Letter routes receiving Delivery Point Sequence mail should not record

the pieces of DPS mail in this section. The DPS volume is recorded on

Line 7(a) PS Form 1838-C.

922.412 Count letter-size mail standing a letter on end as a marker after each

100 pieces.

922.413 Carriers on motorized curb-delivery routes and those using a one-bundle

system must enter in line 6, Sequenced and Collated Mail, the number of

pieces of mail made up in carrier delivery sequence by the mailer. Do not

case these pieces; and handle them as second or third bundle on the route.

Do not include these pieces in the upper portion of column 1 with the mail

that must be cased.

a. Carriers on motorized curb-delivery routes will take credit in Parcel

column for each separate bundle.

b. Routes using a one-bundle system and motorized curb-delivery routes

will collate additional sequenced mailings into second or third bundles.

(See 222a

and b) Record actual time for collating.

922.414 Total the column after each trip (on multi-trip routes).

Mail Count and Route Inspection 922.47

June 2019 99

922.42 Mail of All Other Sizes — Line 2

922.421 This includes all mail not covered in line 1; e.g., newspapers, flats,

magazines, small parcels, catalogs and rolls.

922.422 Count other than letter-size mail, and enter in line 2 so that pieces

subsequently handled may be added.

922.423 Bundled mailings of other than letter size, made up in sequence of delivery,

are handled for second or third bundle delivery. Make count the same as

explained in 922.41

and record count in column 2 (under 6, Sequenced and

Collated Mail).

922.424 Total the column after each trip (on multi-trip routes).

922.43 Accountable and Signature Mail — Line 3

Enter the total number of registered, certified, COD, customs, postage due,

and Priority Mail Express under appropriate headings of column. Any

accountable mail identified and delivered by the carrier while performing

street duties should be listed upon return to the office.

922.44 Parcels — Line 5

Enter number of parcels over 2 pounds (including insured) handled for

delivery in line 5. Total this column.

922.45 Marked Up Mail — Lines 1; 3; 5; and First-Class, Standard Mail

(A), and Standard Mail (B)

922.451 Carrier Mark-Ups — Individually Endorsed

Enter the number of pieces manually endorsed (1) Deceased, (2) Temporarily

Away (retention period for hold mail has expired), (3) Refused, (4) No Mail

Receptacle or (5) Vacant (Occupant Mail Only endorsed address correction

requested, return postage guaranteed, or forwarding and return postage

guaranteed).

922.452 Carrier Mark-Ups — Bundle Endorsed

Also enter one piece for each bundle of carrier-endorsed undeliverable

pieces identified as (1) Undeliverable As Addressed, (2) Attempted Not

Known, (3) No Such Number, (4) Insufficient Address, and (5) Undeliverable

Bulk Business Mail (UBBM), which is Standard Mail (A) not deliverable as

addressed and is not endorsed address correction requested, return postage

guaranteed, or forwarding and return postage guaranteed.

922.453 Computerized Forwarding System Mark-Ups

Enter the number of pieces of mail sent to the Computerized Forwarding

System unit and those pieces not personally marked up in the carrier

endorsed bundles of undeliverable pieces.

922.46 Changes of Address Recorded — Line 12

Each change of address order should be counted as only one item even

though the change is recorded on PS Form 1564 as well as on

PS Form 3982.

922.47 Insured Receipts — Line 13

Enter the total number of insured receipts turned in.

922.5 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

100 Handbook M-41

922.5 Making Time Entries

922.51 Actual Time Entries

Lines 14 through 23 correspond with those on PS Form 1838. Enter the line

number for the function in the Explanation column, and in the Write-In Time

column, show starting and ending time for office functions for lines 14

through 23 (except line 20). Compute elapsed time for each office function

performed and record actual time in minutes. If the time items recorded for

lines 14 through 23 appear unrealistic - inflated or deflated - the items will

be discussed with you. Be guided by the following in making entries:

a. Line 14, Registered, Certified, COD, Customs, Priority Mail Express,

and Postage-Due; Keys; PS Form 3868; Signing For, Returning Funds

and Receipts. Record the combined time (1) to travel from the carrier

case to the place within the work unit where registered, certified,

postage-due, COD, and customs mail is obtained - unless these

articles are brought to you; (2) to sign for these items and make

returns of receipts or funds; and (3) to return to the carrier case or

(where local conditions warrant) to return to the vehicle from this

location. If the locations where these various kinds of mail are

processed are widely separated, total the time required at each

location and record on line 14. Also include in the total on this line

the time for obtaining and returning keys. If accountable mail is

delivered at the carrier case, record the time used to accept and sign

for the articles. If accountable mail is identified while performing street

duties, whether it is delivered or returned, the carrier will receive the

actual time for clearance of the piece.

b. Line 15, Withdrawing Mail. As much as possible, clerks or mail

handlers withdraw mail (especially that mail received early in the

morning) from distribution cases and place it on your desk. If it is

necessary for you to withdraw mail from distribution cases or to

remove mail from sacks, trays, or hampers, record the time. Two

withdrawals of letter mail and one of papers for each trip, with a final

pull just prior to leaving time, are generally sufficient. In units where

local policy requires the carrier to withdraw Delivery Point Sequence

mail while on office time, the time to actually withdraw this mail will be

recorded. On the day of inspection, the actual time used by the

examiner in withdrawing mail (1) is recorded - if the carrier normally

pulls his/her own mail and (2) is added to the net office time.

c. Line 16, Sequencing and Collating By-Pass Mail. When any portion of

by-pass mail prepared in delivery sequence is rehandled and placed in

delivery order, or collated with additional bundles, record actual time

for performing this function.

d. Line 17, Actual Strapping-Out Time. Item 17 is to be used on those

motorized curb delivery routes where the majority of the case

separations contain more than two numbers per separation. In these

cases, record the time used to place the mail in the exact sequence of

delivery. Consistent with the efficiency of the operation, mail shall be

placed in delivery sequence in a bundle(s) during strapping out.

Mail Count and Route Inspection 922.52

June 2019 101

e. Line 18, Break (Local Option). Enter the scheduled office break period,

if applicable.

Note: At the option of the local union, the carriers at the delivery

unit will receive one 10-minute break period in the office (rather

than two such 10-minute breaks on the street). Such break will be

scheduled by the employer.

f. Line 19, Vehicle Inspection. (1) Only those routes assigned a postal

vehicle or a commercial contract vehicle will record this time.

Generally, vehicle inspection is made promptly after recording your

reporting time. If you inspect the vehicle during the morning office

timeclock rings, record the time on line 19. (2) However, if you pick up

the vehicle at the garage and inspect it at that point, the time required

is part of the garage time and is not recorded on line 19. (3) Vehicle

inspection time is not allowed for a carrier who has a drive-out

agreement or uses his/her own vehicle under contract.

g. Line 20, Personal Needs, etc. An allowance of 5 minutes is permitted

on the first trip for personal needs, obtaining hat and coat from wall

racks before leaving office, visiting swing room to obtain rain gear from

locker, etc. An additional 2 minutes is allowed on the second trip, and

an additional 2 minutes is allowed on the third trip. Do not record this

item on PS Form 1838-C; it is recorded on PS Form 1838.

h. Line 21, Recurring Office Work Not Covered by Form (Use Comment

section to identify each activity. Describe activity performed and time

spent.) Record time necessary for miscellaneous office activities that

cannot be included on lines 1 through 20 (such as window caller, safety

talks, etc.).

i. Line 22, Waiting for Mail (Office) and All Other Activities Not Performed

on a Continuing Basis. (Use Comment section to identify each activity.)

Time shown on this line is deducted from the total office time. Be

aware of its purpose and impressed with the fact that a slowdown in

office work to avoid waiting for mail will adversely affect the results of

the count and/or inspection and may result in a showing of a poor

office time record. The proper recording of time waiting for mail,

including time waiting for redistributed mail, could pinpoint faulty

schedules or the need for attention to distribution during your

scheduled office time. Activities that are not a part of the normal routine

cannot become a part of the route office time. These items are included

on this line for deduction purposes.

j. Line 23, Counting Mail and Filling Out PS Form 1838-C Worksheet.

Record only the time required to count the mail and complete the

worksheet.

922.52 Street Time Waiting for Relays, Transportation, Other

(Comment Section)

Enter the time used on the sheet waiting for relays in the Relay block.

Enter the time used waiting for transportation in the Transportation block. If

breakdown occurred on a motorized route, also report the time lost involved

in the breakdown in the Other block.

922.6 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

102 Handbook M-41

922.6 Totaling

On return to the office — except on day of inspection when the form is

completed by a manager or route examiner — total volume entries on

worksheet.

922.7 Disposition of PS Forms 1838-C

PS Forms 1838-C, including duplicates, must be kept in the delivery unit

during street time. If necessary, a separate piece of paper may be used to

record street comments for transfer to PS Form 1838-C. A designated place

will be provided to receive PS Forms 1838-C (original and duplicate copies)

on completion of tour.

923 Providing Carrier With Summary

923.1 A completed copy of the front of PS Form 1840, Carrier Delivery Route —

Summary of Count and Inspection, reflecting totals and averages from

PS Forms 1838, day of inspection data, examiner’s comments, and analysis

of office work functions and time recordings, will be furnished carrier at least

1 day in advance of consultation. Completed copies of PS Form 1838 will be

given the carrier at least 5 calendar days prior to consultation.

923.2 Promptly after consultation, if the carrier requests that the reverse of his copy

of PS Form 1840 be completed, he will immediately give the copy to the

manager for completion and return to him no later than 7 calendar days.

924 Expedited Preferential Mail Delivery — Special

Instructions

924.1 Description and Use of PS Form 1838-C Worksheet

See 922.1 and 922.4 and Exhibit 922.11 (p. 3 and 4).

924.2 Prior P.M. Duties

On the first day of the count week, count the letters and mail of other sizes

cased and routed during prior PM duties and enter in the Carrier’s Comments

section of the worksheet so that these figures can be transferred to

PS Form 1838 by the manager. When the inspection is scheduled on the first

day, this count is made by the manager assigned to inspect the route. These

entries are for developing the strapping out time and daily volume analysis.

924.3 A.M. Duties

924.31 Office Functions

924.311 Clock in and record time on PS Form 1838-C.

924.312 Withdraw (if required), count, and record all preferential mails available.

924.313 Case letter-size mail. All box mail and intrastation forwards that can receive

same day deliveries should be kept separate from other markups.

924.314 Record markups that can be delivered same day within the unit.

924.315 Route the preferential flats into the flats that were routed during previous

P.M. duties.

924.316 Follow procedures in 922.452 for recording mail marked up.

Mail Count and Route Inspection 932.11

June 2019 103

924.317 Follow above instructions for any additional preferential mails received.

924.318 After clearing accountable mail cage, make final withdrawal; pull down mail

for delivery. Inspect vehicle, if used, clock out, load, and leave for street

delivery.

924.319 Enter all articles cased, routed, and marked up during A.M., in the A.M.

portion of the worksheet.

924.4 Return from Street Delivery

Turn in accountable and signature items and keys. Markups left from A.M.

duties must be forwarded. The totals of these markups must be entered in

the P.M. portion of the worksheet.

924.5 P.M. Duties

924.51 Office Functions

924.511 Withdraw (if required), count, case, and route all available mail for next day

delivery.

924.512 Complete all markups of mail received for P.M. duties.

924.513 Enter all functions on P.M. duties in the P.M. portion of the worksheet.

924.514 On the last day of the count period, record P.M. volume and all time

allowances for functions performed.

924.6 Markup Mail

Follow instructions in 242.

93 Parcels and Combination Services Routes

931 Schedule

931.1 The count of mail for parcel post or combination services routes shall be

conducted for 5 scheduled delivery days during a basic workweek.

(Exception — in offices with 6-day delivery, a 6-day count is made.) The

count data shall be recorded daily on PS Forms 1838-A and 1838-B and

summarized on PS Form 1840-A.

931.2 A physical inspection of the route shall be made on one or more days during

the count week by a route examiner who accompanies the carrier during his/

her full tour. No separate form is used in making a physical inspection of a

parcel post route.

931.3 On days other than inspection day, a manager makes a selected check of

mail count time entries made by the carrier on PS Form 1838-A.

932 Forms Used

932.1 Regular Routes

932.11 Except on the day of inspection, the carrier makes the count and records

it in duplicate (using carbon paper) both on the worksheet side of

PS Form 1838-A and on PS Form 1838-B [see Exhibit 932.11

(p. 1, 2, and 3)].

932.11 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

104 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 932.11 (p. 1)

PS Form 1838-A

Mail Count and Route Inspection 932.11

June 2019 105

Exhibit 932.11 (p. 2)

PS Form 1838-A

932.11 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

106 Handbook M-41

Exhibit 932.11 (p. 3)

PS Form 1838-B

Mail Count and Route Inspection 933.512

June 2019 107

932.12 On the day of inspection, the manager making the inspections makes and

records the count. The examiner enters the carrier’s name in the space

provided and signs the form below the name of the carrier.

932.2 Auxiliary Assistance

When necessary, the auxiliary carrier completes a separate PS Form 1838-A

and/or PS Form 1838-B in duplicate (using carbon paper). The Auxiliary

Assistance box must be checked and a separate form must be used for

each route given assistance.

933 PS Form 1838-A Worksheet - Preparation

[Exhibit 932.11 (pp. 1 and 2)]

933.1 Clock Rings

Begin at bottom of Clock Rings column and ring up recording time for

each trip.

933.2 Type of Service

Use following symbols to identify type of service for which time is recorded:

933.3 Mileage

933.31 Record odometer readings and type of service from bottom up for each trip

in spaces provided. The trips should coincide with trips made in Clock Rings

column.

933.32 The route examiner computes Elapsed Miles for parcel deliveries, relays, etc.

daily, and enters and circles his/her initials by each entry.

933.4 Elapsed Time

The route examiner computes Elapsed Time and Total Time for day entries,

garage, office, relay, firms, parcel deliveries, etc. and enters and circles his/

her initials by each entry.

933.5 Number of Stops, Deliveries, Etc.

933.51 Relays, Collection, Firm, Inter- and Intra-City Service

933.511 Trip Number

Indicate trip number and draw a line under each trip to separate recordings.

933.512 Truck Stops

Tally actual number of stops made for relays, collections, firm deliveries and

inter- and intra-city service. When a stop is made for more than one service,

count as one stop only.

T Transit or travel time

P Parcel delivery

R Relay only

C Collection only

R–C–F Combination relay, collection, and firms

I Inter- and Intra- city

933.513 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

108 Handbook M-41

933.513 Relays

Tally actual number of carrier relay deliveries. Count one or more relays

delivered to one point as one delivery.

933.514 Collections

Tally the actual number of pickups made from collection boxes. (One or more

boxes at one point is considered one pickup.) When more than one service is

performed, tally each separately in the appropriate column.

933.515 Firms

Tally each delivery of firm mail. Count each firm as one delivery.

933.516 Inter- and Intra-City

Tally actual deliveries at each delivery unit, station, branch, M.P.O. or

depot, etc.

933.52 Parcel Post Delivery

933.521 Sack or Hamper Number

In upper triangle, record the sack separation or hamper number. Where sack

routing separation system is not used, record the hamper number or area

such as N.W., S.E., etc. In lower triangle, record the number of working

sacks per sack separation or hampers for area covered.

933.522 Number of Pieces

Record in appropriate column actual number of ordinary and unnumbered

insured parcels, accountable and signature pieces, COD, Customs,

direct sacks or hampers, outside pieces, and returned parcels for the

corresponding sack or hamper separations. Include outside pieces in

each category.

933.523 Number of Truck Stops

Tally the truck stops made for the delivery of mail for each sack or

hamper separation.

933.524 Number of Deliveries

Tally the deliveries made for the pieces of mail recorded for each sack or

hamper separation.

933.53 Totaling Columns

933.531 Truck Stops, Relay, Firms, Inter- Intra-City Deliveries, and

Collection Pickups

Record sub-totals in spaces provided. Record total stops in upper triangle

and total relay, firm deliveries and collection pickups in lower triangle.

Record inter- and intra-city total in space provided.

933.532 Parcel Post

Record total number of sack separations in upper triangle and total working

sacks in lower triangle. Record total number of pieces and total number of

truck stops and deliveries in spaces provided.

933.533 Carrier Time for Completing Worksheet

Record in minutes the actual time used for completing worksheet.

Mail Count and Route Inspection 936

June 2019 109

933.6 General Comments (Blank Side of PS Form 1838-A)

Comment on any pertinent factors or unusual conditions on the day involved

that will assist in evaluating the route.

934 PS Form 1838-B — Preparation

[Exhibit 932.11 (p. 3)]

934.1 Enter Post Office, delivery unit, route number (check whether regular route or

auxiliary assistance), signature, badge number and date.

934.2 List the firms that receive 5 or more pieces by sack or hamper number, firm

name, address, and the number of pieces. Enter the number of pieces for

each day.

934.3 One PS Form 1838-B may be used for the entire week; however, if more

space is needed, use additional PS Forms 1838-B.

934.4 On the day of inspection, the examiner initials the entries he/she makes and

encircles the initials.

935 Disposition of PS Forms 1838-A and 1838-B

A designated place will be provided to receive these forms (both original and

duplicate copies) on completion of tour.

936 Distribution of Forms

Carriers will be given a copy of PS Form 1840-A, as well as copies of

PS Forms 1838-A and 1838-B, no less than 1 day prior to consultative date.

The completed copy of PS Form 1840-A will show (a) all entries on the front

side and (b) Average and Allowable Time, Average Mail Volume - Normal

Days, Relay-Collection-Firms, Inter- Intra-City, Verification, and Comments

sections on the reverse side.

936 City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

110 Handbook M-41

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June 2019 111

Glossary

Auxiliary Route — A carrier route which augments and supplements delivery

service and normally evaluates at less than 8 hours per day.

Backtracking — Returning to a delivery point passed in error and for which

carrier has some mail.

Batching Mail — Gathering or stacking collection mail on edges for machine

feeding.

Bundle — An assembly of individual mail pieces (either letter size or flats)

having a common destination point and tied together to maintain the facing

of the individual pieces and the integrity of the common destinations.

Business Route — A letter carrier route on which 70 percent or more of the

possible deliveries are business places.

By-Pass Mail — Mail made up directly to routes by mailers and by-passing

the distribution cases.

Caddy Cart (Satchel Cart) — Small handcart used by some city carriers in

the delivery of mail.

Cage — The finance area where registered, postage due, certified, customs

duty, and COD articles are processed and charged out to carriers.

Callers — Customers who regularly call at the Post Office for their mail.

Carrier Technician — A full-time city delivery letter carrier used to replace

scheduled absences within a group of routes.

Carry Out — Mail for the first part of the foot carrier route which the carrier

takes out of the office in a satchel.

Casing or Routing — The act of placing letter and flat mail in the

separations of carrier cases. Also refers to the process of placing flat mail in

delivery sequence.

Centralized Markup — Processing of markups at a central point.

Circulars (Circs) — Third-class mail consisting of printed or reproduced

material sent to several persons; nonpreferential mail.

City Delivery — Delivery by carriers of mail addressed to residences and

business places within the city delivery limits of the Post Office.

Collating Mail — Combining or merging two or more sets of sequenced mail

together into one bundle while maintaining the sequence of delivery.

Collection Route — A route on which all, or practically all, of the stops are

for collection of mail.

Combination Services Route — A route on which, in addition to the delivery

of parcels, other delivery duties are performed.

Courtesy Box — Collection box equipped with mail chute for motorists.

City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

112 Handbook M-41

Cut-Off Time — A time set by the unit manager when carriers make a final

withdrawal of mail from distribution cases.

Deadheading — Traveling over portion of a route’s line of travel at which no

deliveries are made.

Deviation — A departure from the normal line of travel or schedule.

Drive-Out Agreement — An agreement between a carrier and the

postmaster or designee in which the carrier furnishes his/her own vehicle for

transportation and is reimbursed for this service.

Expedited Preferential Mail (EPM) — A system where normally only

preferential mail is cased in the morning and other mail is cased in the

afternoon.

Faced Mail — Mail arranged with addresses and stamps all the same way.

Final Case — Case designated for final withdrawal of preferential mail as

carriers leave office (also called hot case, end case, re-dis case).

Fingering — The final separation of mail for the next several stops and

verification of the address before delivery. (A foot carrier performs this

operation enroute between deliveries. A motorized carrier fingers mail as he

walks from the vehicle to a house box, or if delivery is at a curb box, he

fingers the mail in the vehicle before placing in the box).

Firm Directs — Mail tied in bundles and delivered intact to individual firms.

This practice is used when quantity of mail received by a firm is sufficient to

warrant special treatment.

Foot Route — A city delivery route served by a carrier on foot. A bicycle or

automotive vehicle used solely as transportation to and from the route does

not affect its status as a foot route.

Letter Size Mail — Mail that may be routed into carrier case without bending

or folding, excluding newspaper, magazines, and small parcels and rolls.

Local Mail — Mail addressed for delivery within the postal area of the Post

Office at which mailed.

Looping — The process of delivering mail on one side of the street for a

given distance, and then delivering on the other side of the street, returning

to the original point.

Loose Pack — Letters packed into No. 3 sacks without tying. Some letters

are placed flat on each tier to prevent the next layer from sifting into the lower

layer.

Mail Chutes — Glass-front tubes in high buildings, with slots for the receipt

of letters which are dropped through the chute into a receiving box from

which collections are made.

Marked-Up Mail — supplied with the new address of addressee who has

moved, and mail endorsed with the reason for being undeliverable.

Missorted Mail — Mail distributed to a route in error.

Mixed Route — A letter route or trip where 30 to 69 percent of possible

deliveries are business places. May include a route where business and

residential deliveries are made on the first trip and only the business area is

served on the second trip.

Glossary

June 2019 113

Motorized Route — Any city delivery route on which a motor vehicle is used

in delivering and collecting all classes of mail (e.g., curbline, dismount-door

delivery routes or combination thereof).

Nixie — Mail not deliverable because of incorrect, illegible, or insufficient

address.

Obvious Value — Obvious value includes: Merchandise, sheet music,

pictures, photographs, books, catalogs, or any other matter likely to have

value to sender or addressee. Books must have at least 24 bound pages, 22

of which must be printed.

Ordinary Mail — Mail other than registered, insured, certified COD, and

special delivery or special handling.

Outsides — Mail that cannot be carried inside a mail sack due to size or

contents.

Paddle System — A paddle (small piece of wood, heavy cardboard, etc.) is

provided for about every 10 carriers. When the manager or accountable clerk

notifies the carriers to go to the cage for registered, postage due, keys, etc.,

the carriers with paddles go to the cage. When serviced, they pass paddles

to next carriers. This procedure continues until all are served.

Parcel — A first or fourth-class package over 2 pounds in weight and/or

larger than a shoe box.

Park and Loop Route — A route which utilizes a motor vehicle for

transporting all classes of mail to the route, using the vehicle as a moveable

relay container as the carrier loops segments of the route on foot.

Preferential Mail — All mail receiving preferential handling, including

newspaper, magazines, and special services mail.

Receptacle — A container or door slot provided to accept delivery of mail at

or near a residence or business place.

Registered Mail — Accountable mail that has been duly registered by

number at the dispatching office.

Relay — Bundles or strapped mail which the carrier prepares in sacks for

delivery to relay boxes on the carrier’s line of travel. When the carrier

completes delivery of carry-out mail, he picks up additional mail from relay

boxes and continues this process until entire route is served.

Residential Route — A foot or motorized route on which 70 percent or more

of the possible deliveries are residential. It may serve scattered businesses or

stores comprising a small minority of total possible deliveries.

Removal — An order, signed by an authorized customer, directing that mail

addressed to a former location be forwarded to a new address.

Rewrap Area — The area in which damaged or broken parcels are endorsed

and repaired.

Route — A scheduled course within a prescribed area where a carrier

performs his duties of delivery and/or collection of mail.

Sack Routing System — The sorting of parcels into numbered sacks

corresponding to routes or geographical areas.

Saratoga — A large satchel used for collections.

City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities

114 Handbook M-41

Sequenced Mai — Mail made up by mailers in sequence of delivery.

Sleeper — A letter overlooked in the case after strapping out.

Speedy Bag — A reusable clear plastic bag used for containing special

delivery mail within a pouch or sack.

Strapping Out — The process of placing straps or rubber bands around

letters and flats, keeping them in delivery sequence.

Swing — The off-duty time of an employee, such as a lunch period.

Tap — To collect mail from deposit box.

Test Card — A plastic card deposited by the Post Office to determine if the

service is being performed properly.

Throwback Case — A case in which carriers place forwardable and

undeliverable mail.

Vehicle Hire Contract — Use of privately owned vehicles for city delivery.

Wing Case — An extension of the carrier case protruding on an angle to

either side.

Zigzag or Criss-Crossing — To cross and recross a street or road

diagonally — forward or perpendicular to the line of travel.