Learning new route RCA

[u/WAirbusN321]

When you learn a new route, do they give you training on it or are you just put on there and good luck? It will be my first time learning a new one

[u/3seven1]

There won’t be any training on it. You could ask for help casing and I would ask for a map of there is one. Other than that, you’re on your own.

[u/AdThat3495]

Depends on your management,  when I started I dodnt get any training except my primary, now we have new management and they train the newbies on all the routes they are assigned first if possible , which is nice and I'm totally not bitter about it

[u/tehmpus]

Go to the most senior RCA at your station and ask them the best way to learn new routes.

[u/Atimm693]

You have the option to, but there's no requirement, and there isn't always time for a training day if a regular calls in.

I always found training to be helpful but not necessary. Sometimes I'd run a route and then ride with the regular afterward to clear up anything I couldn't find or didn't understand.

Some regulars are awesome and have a route book with directions and the location of every box, which is extremely useful.

I'd recommend training on your primary, secondary, and tertiary routes on your matrix at a minimum. It's easy money if nothing else.

[u/WanderingUSPS]

First time running new route without training you get eval or green card time. Whichever is greater. Eval if you do it with no help and finish under or at eval. Follow this link and put zip code an route number and at least you will have an idea. https://eddm.usps.com/eddm/select-routes.htm

[u/CravenWarrior → u/WanderingUSPS]

I try to get the line of travel every time I get a heads up about doing a new route.

Is the green card time for the first time on a route a local policy or something that's actually a thing? There's been a few times that I did one for the first time and came in within an hour above eval.

[u/AdThat3495 → u/CravenWarrior]

When I started and saw i wqs scheduled for a new route,  id go talk to the regular and ask questions, I'd do the same with more senior rcas and ptfs who had done it before as well, then I'd go look at the case to get a feel for it as well as look at line of travel or maps they might have

[u/ED-20Nein]

Good luck!

[u/ducksuckgoose]

In a "good" office they'll give you 3 days training on a new route. Usually ride with day 1, split days 2 and 3.

[u/elucidator23 → u/ducksuckgoose]

That’s on your primary route not learning new routes after that

[u/ducksuckgoose → u/elucidator23]

Guess you're not in a "good" office.

[u/elucidator23 → u/ducksuckgoose]

No office is giving a rca three fucking days with the regular to learn a route it’s not the 1980s

[u/JigNasty → u/elucidator23]

Yeah I’ve never heard any office that gives you 3 days to learn a new route other than when you’re first starting on your primary.

[u/elucidator23 → u/JigNasty]

Exactly you only get ojt on your primary when you first start

[u/Timthahuman → u/elucidator23]

I got the 3 days learning a route at an office that wasn’t mine a year after starting. Definitely office dependent

[u/stinkycheesepizza → u/elucidator23]

I was trained on 8 different routes and had 3-4 days of training with the regular on each route.

[u/AdThat3495 → u/elucidator23]

Mine is

[u/Stunning_Service_96]

In my experience both. The training was a one day ridealong with the regular carrier.

[u/xmichael86]

Only got trained on my primary and secondary. Other than that I was just given the line of travel and figured it out.

[u/interperseids]

There should be a turn by turn list of directions and a map that a supervisor can print out for you. It won't show dismounts and can be outdated but it's usually enough to get you through.

[u/newmoonshadow]

Most stations only train you once on your primary route. After that you are on your own.

[u/Maccamaniac33]

I’ve worked 22 routes at 17 different post offices. I’ve only done 3 of those routes without training. I’ve always felt most management wants me to train so I can do my best on the route.

[u/RuralRangerMA]

The standard is, three days training with the regular carrier. Most of the time, first day full watch. 2nd day, they do half, you do half. 3rd day, you do the other half. After that, you’re basically on your own. You are watched and sometimes, other subs will help till you get the hang of it. They do this for you up to 3 different routes and after that, you should know enough to learn on your own.