Disclaimer! Ruralinfo.net is not sponsored or authorized by the NRLCA, the USPS or any state or local association. Click here to read full disclaimer

RURAL CARRIER NEWS

2025 Rural Carrier Year in Review

A look back at the rural carrier universe in 2025

Latest
Popular

A union member’s Bill of Rights

A union member's Bill of Rights, primarily defined by the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), guarantees members equal participation in union activities, freedom of speech and assembly, a say in dues, the right to sue, and protection from unfair discipline, ensuring democratic governance through rights like secret ballots for elections,...

Here comes UPS – Back Again

UPS has reached a tentative agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to provide last-mile parcel delivery for its low-cost Ground Saver shipping service, company officials disclosed on Tuesday, patching up a relationship that ruptured in late 2024 over rate hikes.

USPS releases EMA Charts effective January 10, 2026

On December 18, 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the November 2025 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the release, the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for rural carriers will decrease 0.5¢ to 97.0¢ per mile. This EMA rate will be effective...

There’s a new Thrift Savings Plan benefit

The Thrift Savings Plan will allow participants to convert traditional funds to Roth funds within their TSP account beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28. This is known as a Roth in-plan conversion. Traditional retirement contributions are those that are taken from employee paychecks on a pretax basis, which can lower your taxable income...

Federal retirement inventory reaches another new high

The federal retirement inventory has reached yet another new high. The Office of Personnel Management now has over 50,000 applications still awaiting a finalized annuity. The increase comes after more than 13,000 retirement applications entered OPM’s systems in December. It’s taking OPM about 67 days to process a...

Online Retirement Application (ORA) Effective January 1, 2026

Online Retirement Application (ORA) Effective January 1, 2026 The Office of Personnel Management has introduced a new system to process retirement applications. The Online Retirement Application (ORA) is a secure, fully digital system that replaces the paper-based process. USPS is now processing all optional retirement applications through ORA. (Disability applications...

Special Contract Edition of the National Rural Letter Carrier Containing 2024-2027 National Agreement Released

The Special Contract Issue of the NRLCA magazine containing the 2024-2027 National Agreement between the NRLCA and USPS is now available to download here. It will be mailed to all active members.

There’s a new Thrift Savings Plan benefit

The Thrift Savings Plan will allow participants to convert traditional funds to Roth funds within their TSP account beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28. This is known as a Roth in-plan conversion. Traditional retirement contributions are those that are taken from employee paychecks on a pretax basis, which can lower your taxable income...

Here comes UPS – Back Again

UPS has reached a tentative agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to provide last-mile parcel delivery for its low-cost Ground Saver shipping service, company officials disclosed on Tuesday, patching up a relationship that ruptured in late 2024 over rate hikes.

Amazon denies it is dropping US Postal Service

Amazon has told Newsweek it is not exploring the possibility of ending its longstanding partnership with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as it weighs a dramatic transformation in its Prime delivery operation. A spokesman for the company made the remarks following a Washington Post article about how Amazon will go about exploring and expanding its...

UPDATED RIGHT-HAND DRIVE (RHD) VEHICLE INCENTIVE INSTRUCTIONS

Below please find the updated RHD vehicle incentive instructions and forms in accordance with MOU 8: Right Hand Drive Vehicles.

This business was hoarding more than $10,000 worth of USPS pallets

Postal inspectors and employees at the Wilmington, DE, Processing and Distribution Center have recovered more than $10,000 worth of USPS pallets at one business in Delaware. The Postal Service provides mail transport equipment — including pallets, boxes, trays and tubs — to businesses to facilitate shipping. The businesses are expected to...

Postal workers waiting on heat protection more than two years after Dallas carrier’s death

WASHINGTON — More than two years after a Dallas postal worker died from heat exposure on the job, letter carriers say the United States Postal Service has yet to take steps required to fully protect them when the temperature and humidity soar. The 2023 death of Eugene Gates Jr. prompted a...

Rural families struggle with slower postal deliveries

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....

26-year-old U.S. Postal Service mail truck driver (RCA) killed in two-vehicle crash near Kountze

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...

Amazon explores cutting ties with USPS, building its own delivery network

Amazon has long been the Postal Service’s top customer, providing more than $6 billion in annual revenue to the agency in 2025. Amazon is preparing to expand its nationwide delivery network and give up its long-standing partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, according to three people with knowledge of the...

NEW: 2026 Rural Carrier Benefit Plan (RCBP) Premiums and Coverage Details

Did you know the Rural Carrier Benefit Plan (RCBP) is the only plan dedicated to rural letter carriers, annuitants, and their families? Membership is restricted to members of the NRLCA. The RCBP has been providing superior service to rural letter carriers nationwide for more than 60 years. With RCBP, you could save on your...
See more news

Buy mea coffee

A ridiculous amount of coffee has been consumed while creating this and my other rural/postal websites. If you find any of my coffee-fueled content worthwhile, you can buy me a coffee to keep me going. Just click on the bouncing coffee. Thank you for your support!

CONTRACT AND MORE

2024-2027 National Contract
Handbook PO-603
Employee and Labor Relations Manual

Do you need to buy or sell a route vehicle?

Join our Rural Carrier Vehicle Buy and Sell Facebook group

TOP DOCS

POPULAR DOCUMENTS

Order of Consideration
Table of Evaluated Hours for Rural Routes
Leave Replacement Matrix Guidelines

Donate to the Postal Employee Relief Fund

100% of Proceeds from Shirt Sales Contributed to PERF

SALARY AND EMA

EMA Charts (01/2026)
Salary Charts (11/2025)
RCA wage (11/2025)

Postal Worker Tees - With a postal attitude

Our tees reflect that postal attitude we all love!

Secret Link
Send this to a friend