Scan and Load: What You Need to Know!
On April 6, the NALC National website posted an Item called “MDD Load Truck Feature.” This was listed as News and Information. The MDD is your Mobile Delivery Device. You all know it as your scanner.
The information that was being provided to you from the NALC National Union was that a “NEW” feature to the scanner would allow you to do two things. One: you would place your packages in delivery sequence while loading. Two: You would place them in a numbered section. Although it is not stated, this would occur on your street time when “loading.”
The alleged original purpose of the “load truck feature,” was to assist carriers who were unfamiliar with a route. This “new” feature was also supposed to complement the “Package Lookahead” feature. The “Lookahead” feature which was introduced a year earlier, provides a letter carrier with a list of all of the packages assigned to the route that day. As packages are delivered, the list is updated until all packages have been delivered.
Recently, the previous procedure (scan and load) that was only for carriers unfamiliar with a route was now changed to having all carriers use the “Load Truck Feature.” To my knowledge, no additional time was provided letter carriers for this change in policy. In fact, where some route count and inspections (RCIs) have been recently conducted, carriers have been told not to use the “Load Truck Feature.” Was it because the carrier’s street time (loading) would increase?
If this is an agreed to National policy by the Union, then it should be incumbent upon the Union to negotiate provisions that provide more time for carriers on their routes for doing this additional work.
Instead, the NALC has taken the position that as concerns carriers questions about this “ new policy(load and scan)” we are being reminded that their are two sections of the M-41 letter carrier handbook that need to be reviewed and remembered as concerns “load and scan duties.”
First, section 322.31 permits a letter carrier to place their parcels in sequence order. That is still your right to do. Using the “scan and sort” process, however, does not encourage or remind you to place the parcels in sequence of delivery.
Instead, you will be directed to sort to 6 separate bins in your vehicle (1 thru 6) although I have seen in one local office that they have created 10 bins. In either case, unless your “6 bins” match you relays you should still take the time to place the parcels in sequence order. This would be done when loading and should probably increase your street.
In addition to following the procedures in section 322, another part of the M-41 handbooks permits you to “reverse a letter in your case” where you have a small parcel (spr) that does not fit into case on office time. The reference in the M-41 handbook is section 225.22.
Finally, in most circumstance(s), a letter carrier who believes they are running late can notify management using form 3996 that they need assistance or authorized overtime. Carriers normally will do that prior to “loading.” Using the “load and scan” feature, however, might require you to complete a form 3996 after you follow that procedure.
Remember, when you scan and load to the “bins,” that takes time. Also, after you have completed the “scans” you can place these parcels in “sequence,” that also takes time. The additional time you take, will add to your street time. This is even more important when carriers who are on route inspection do not follow these procedures (based on management instruction) but are later instructed to do them after a route count and inspection (RCI).
Carriers are being monitored almost every minute of every day whether it be, in the office or the street. If you continue to “absorb new work methods or instructions” you will be given more and more work and have less and less time if you do not show the time on your route base information.
It is already becoming evident that the only way some carriers are doing more work it is by “working off the clock before they actually report in or clock out,” or not taking their rest break time(20 minutes) and reducing g their lunch time or no lunch (30 minutes).
Some of you may think that this is no big deal (its only a few minutes) now but if you plan to do this for 30 or more years, you had better think again. What you do today is laying a foundation for what management at all levels will think you can do tomorrow. Only a “fool” would perform work for no pay, especially when the law and your contract prohibit it.
