Step 4 on Management Accompanying Carrier on Route Inspection

The issue in this grievance concerns whether the postmaster or designee must be accompanied by the rural carrier assigned to the route during a route inspection.

After reviewing this matter, we mutually agree that no national interpretive issue is fairly presented in this case. Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, Section 52, defines the inspection of a route as the physical inspection/observation of the route and route conditions made by the postmaster or a designee while accompanying the carrier on the route. It further states that during a rural route inspection, rural carriers must travel the route and deliver the mail precisely as they do the rest of the year.

The parties agree that the postmaster or designee will accompany a rural carrier that is knowledgeable of the route, generally, the assigned carrier.

 

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