..............forcing you to do so. Many of these issues may seem trivial you. But rules are rules, and even though management has been slack in the past they have every right to begin enforcing what is written in the handbooks and manuals.  In light of this, here is a list of new habits you need to develop if you are not currently doing these things.

1)  DO I HAVE TO CURB MY WHEELS EVERY TIME I PARK?

YES. (That is, if you arc parked parallel and there is a curb.) Anytime you dismount and are parked next to a curb, the wheels should be turned towards the curb on flat ground or on a downward slope and away from the curb on an upward slope.

2)  DO I HAVE TO SIGNAL WHEN DRIVING AROUND A TREE BRANCH?

YES. You must signal to oncoming traffic anytime your vehicle will even partially enter the main line of travel on your road. This means whenever you have to drive around a trash can, a parked car, trees or shrubbery you must signal out and then signal back in to the next stop. You might assume that what you are doing is obvious to other drivers since you are in that big white truck with the postal logo on it. You might think that other drivers surely know that you wilt be moving in and out of traffic as you move from box to box. Don’t assume anything! Assumptions turn into accidents!

3)  DO I HAVE TO WEAR MY SHOULDER HARNESS ON THE ROUTE?

Most of the time,YES. The ONLY time you may drive without the shoulder harness attached is when you are conducting curbside (mounted) delivery and the harness interferes with your ability to make your deliveries. If the type of delivery on your route varies then you must learn to re-attach your shoulder harness whenever you finish curbside deliveries and go to something else, such as NDCBU’ s, apartments, businesses or park-and-loop. Simply remember that if you are driving and are not delivering mail from the vehicle, then the shoulder harness should be attached.

4) CAN I LEAVE MY WINDOW DOWN A HALF-INCH WHILE PARKED?

NO. This is one of the changes that have been made because of heightened security. In the past we have been allowed to leave the windows cracked when it is hot, but

not anymore. The fear is that someone could slip an anthrax-tainted letter (or something worse) into your vehicle while you are away. (Though this may sound ridiculous to you, it probably would not seem so to our fellow carriers in New York, Pennsylvania and other areas back east who have experienced these things “up close and personal”. If it can happen there, it can happen

here.)

5) WHAT IF I PULL UP TO A MAILBOX AND THEN HAVE TO BACK UP TO GO AROUND A CAR OR TRASH CAN?

AVOID this situation if at all possible. Look ahead. If you don’t have enough room to pull out without backing, then stop before you get to the box and dismount to make the delivery. (Remember to curb your wheels.)

6a) IS IT LEGAL FOR US TO PARK OUR POSTAL VEHICLES IN A RED ZONE?

Not usually. However, the Fresno City Police Department has told at least one supervisor that recognized delivery vehicles such as ours may park in a red zone IF “it is necessary and safe to do so”. In addition, most public traffic laws DO NOT apply in a private parking area (such as a shopping mall) unless the owner posts a notification sign at each entrance.

6b) IS IT LEGAL TO TEMPORARILY USE A HANDICAPPED PARKING STALL?

NEVER! This is absolute, no matter whether you are in public or private parking areas.

Yes, I know all this takes longer and it’s a real hassle, but if you haven’t noticed this by now the new bosses aren’t looking for ways to save time. Don’t give them the satisfaction of catching you doing something wrong! All this petty little stuff may be harder on all you young, energetic newbies than on those of us who have been around to see how these little games turn out. Trust me, it’s just another phase we’re going through. Be ready for something new to come along after this one fades into history (or the acting postmaster does).

These two informative articles are courtesy of the Fresno, CA Postman’s View. Part 1 originally appeared in July 2003. Part 2 was published in August 2003. Thanks both the author, Trish Guy, and to Branch 231 Editor Gary Bottoms!!! Knowledge is power, eh?

AUGUST 2003

NALC BRANCH 782 E.A. BAKER UNION UPDATE

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