What Is the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA)?

The NRLCA is a union within the U.S. Postal Service representing around 133,000 bargaining unit members in rural and suburban areas. The association was established in 1903 to “improve the methods used by rural letter carriers, to benefit their conditions of labor with the United States Postal Service (USPS), and to promote a fraternal spirit among its members.” Currently, rural letter carriers serve roughly 80,353 routes throughout the United States. Of those, rural letter carriers use their own vehicles on more than 32,102 routes. Rural carriers deliver to 47.8 million delivery points for a total of 3.9 million miles per day. The average distance driven for a rural route is 46 miles per day but can range anywhere from 1 mile to 186 miles.

What Is a Rural Letter Carrier?

Rural letter carriers work in rural, suburban, and urban areas throughout the United States. Rural carriers function as a “post office on wheels,” offering all the services performed over the counter at a post office. Rural carriers sell stamps and money orders, accept express and priority mail, provide postal products such as priority flat rate boxes, offer signature and delivery confirmation, register and certify mail, and of course, collect customers’ parcels.

What is a Rural Carrier Associate (RCA)?

An RCA is a non-career employee working as a substitute for a regular rural carrier. An RCA does not have their own route, but instead fills in when a regular rural carrier is off, sick, or on vacation. RCAs comprise 44% of the rural carrier craft and do not receive health or retirement benefits until they become a regular carrier. On average, it takes an RCA 6.7 years to become a regular carrier.

The Evaluated Pay System

Rural letter carriers are not paid by the hour; rather, their pay is based on an evaluated pay system. This system is composed of three elements: the length of the route or mileage, the total number of boxes, and the weekly average of mail delivered. The weekly average of mail is determined by a two, three, or four week annual mail count, as determined by the National Agreement. Since this evaluation occurs annually, a rural carrier’s route is constantly being adjusted and readjusted from year to year, making the rural craft the leanest and most efficient way to deliver mail.

Rural Letter Carriers are the Least Expensive, Most Efficient Craft

Since the establishment of the evaluated pay system, rural letter carriers have the incentive to work as rapidly and efficiently as possible with the merit reward of returning home once their route and work is complete. According to United States Postal Service (USPS) figures, rural deliveries cost the USPS $6.62 per delivery per year* less on average than a city delivery, which operates at a set hourly rate.

*Data is from the 2018 USPS National Payroll Hour Summary Report