RURAL CARRIER NEWS

USPS-licensed toys, apparel, home décor and collectibles are available from the online Postal Store and other retailers this holiday season. Here’s an overview: Fun for little ones. There’s still time to send letters to the North Pole. The Dear Santa: Letter-Writing and Holiday Fun Kit for Kids ($24.95) is new this season and...

Reliable mail service is not a luxury in rural America. It is a necessity for receiving checks, handling daily business, and getting critical medicine and supplies that many families cannot easily pick up in town. But delays are becoming more common, and the frustration is spreading well beyond Iowa....

Postal Service’s Employee Vetting Process Project start date Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Estimated release April 2026 The Postal Service must thoroughly screen and evaluate prospective employees to ensure suitability and maintain the integrity of the organization. The level of clearance required is based on the type of position; however, most positions are considered low...

Photo: Sailors sort boxes during a mail call aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Arabian Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan D. McLearnon) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service highlights its long and proud history of ensuring a vital connection between American service members and...

President Donald Trump has ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff to honor West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was fatally shot Nov. 26 in Washington, DC. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Thursday, Dec. 4. Additionally, USPS facilities that are open Sunday, Dec. 7, are required to fly the...

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service today announced that it will open up entry to its valuable last mile delivery network. Shippers large and small will be able to access the more than 18,000 USPS delivery destination units (DDUs) nationwide via a solicitation process that will begin accepting bids in late...

Find that perfect holiday gift that carries a union label and is made in America. Shipping gifts this year? Make sure to ship using a union carrier like the U.S. Postal Service or UPS.

The 2025 Christmas period for rural carriers begins Saturday, December 6, 2025 (Week 2, Pay Period (PP) 26–2025), and ends Friday, December 26, 2025 (Week 2, Pay Period 01-2026). During this period, certain timekeeping and pay rules apply. Timekeepers, including postmasters, supervisors, and other employees responsible for rural carrier...

KOUNTZE, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a fatal crash involving a U.S. Postal Service truck that happened Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and State Highway 327 in Hardin County. On Wednesday morning, DPS identified the driver of the postal service truck...

Our 2025 Rural Carrier Year in review is up and ready for you! Check it out!