On September 11, 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the August 2025 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which established the Private Transportation Index at 278.712, an increase from the May 2025 Index of 277.131. Therefore, based on the August 2025 CPI-W release, the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for rural carriers will increase 0.5¢ to 97.5¢ per mile. This EMA rate will be effective October 4, 2025 (Pay Period 2025-22).
Rural Carriers
In accordance with the provisions of Article 9, Section 2.G.3 of the USPS/NRLCA National Agreement, effective October 4, 2025 (Pay Period 2025-22), the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) will increase to 97.5¢ per mile, or a minimum of $39.00 per day, whichever is greater.
Auxiliary Rural Carriers, Rural Carrier Reliefs, Rural Carrier Associates, Rural Carrier Part Time Flexibles, and Auxiliary Assistance
Employees providing auxiliary assistance or serving auxiliary routes under the provisions of Article 9, Section 2.G.5, will receive EMA of 97.5¢ per mile or $10.35 per hour, whichever is greater. This EMA should not exceed the amount provided in the special EMA chart for route stops and miles.
This was the first opportunity for an EMA adjustment under the terms of the 2024-2027 USPS/NRLCA National Agreement. The next quarterly adjustment will occur after the release of the November 2025 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and will be effective the second full pay period after release of that index.
The full EMA schedules will be posted on the Rural Carrier EMA Rate Schedule page when available.
That still doesn’t cover the wear and tear and maintenance on my vehicle It also does not cover the extra miles i go down the driveways. I track my milage everyday. I just added up my milage, and I I’m not getting paid for 113.7 miles. That’s my daily milage versus what they pay. I did from July 15, 2025 until August 29th. Why and how can they do that?