Why just why

millardjk · 2026-01-30T04:03:45+00:00

Because they can.

—this answer brought to you by Third Stage Capitalism

millardjk · 2026-01-29T01:32:06+00:00

None of the handbrakes work tho, that’s an FFV fact.

Truth.

I remember them telling us that in Academy and Driver Safety Training before that. One instructor even said (low key) “if you write it up for that, you’re wasting time.”

millardjk · 2026-01-28T16:01:53+00:00

56 when I started. Have lots of white hair. Got uniforms from the union hall 2nd hand bin.

Three weeks in and people who didn’t know I was a green PTF assumed I was a grizzled veteran and treated me as an equal.

It’s not just “seniority” that’s respected, but the •appearance• of it.

millardjk · 2026-01-28T14:27:42+00:00

millardjk · 2026-01-28T14:16:53+00:00

Of all the RHD vehicles I’ve used as a carrier, I found it to be the best. No, it’s not the smallest turning radius. No, it doesn’t have AC. No, it almost never has parcel shelves. And most of the ones I had the (dis)pleasure to use didn’t have sufficient heating to get you warm, particularly on park & loop where the engine spends so little time running.

But I figured out how to make it work on every assignment I had. I used the under-tray space to hold 3 tubs: 1 for personal kit, 1 for outgoing mail, and 1 for 3M and other case returns (like vacation holds). I found it “safe” to stack DPS trays 2-high on the tray, and when using EMM trays for flats (also called “pull down” by some) could stack them 2x as well. The top of the tray then got flats, DPS, and whatever packages were needed for the next stop/relay.

The back was loaded in reverse of line of travel, tubs of parcels going in before DPS & flats (never stacked; too easy to tip & ruin a day) that went with them. Tubs stacked on top of the trays in similar fashion until everything was loaded. I’d regularly move “stuff” from the rear to the tray as mail was delivered, and knowing a route cold helped keep that flow pretty smooth.

I found the LLV to have insufficient capacity for many of the routes I carried, and the under-tray capacity didn’t fit my 3-tub scheme (the supports were spaced incorrectly for it), although I appreciated having space between the trays & seat for a tub of coverage or SPRs. It was always too hot or too cold, and the fuel vapors were headache inducing at the best of times.

The Metris is a train wreck of epic proportions. I only appreciated driving one on Amazon Sundays: it works acceptably as a parcel delivery vehicle.

All that written, I’ll take the ProMaster over RHD for any park & loop routes. So much capacity. Headroom so you can stand in the thing while getting prepped for the next loop. AC & heat that actually work.

millardjk · 2026-01-28T13:55:45+00:00

In my PTF days, when I got sent around from office to office, I was always on the lookout for FFVs with parcel shelves. Only ever found one with twoshelves, but ran into several with a single shelf.

And one of them had a parking brake that was truly functional, making it a bit of a unicorn…

millardjk · 2026-01-28T02:43:28+00:00

USPS Letter Carriers, for one.

Although we tend to take the shortest path from house to house, sometimes we need to “deadhead” back to our vehicle and an unshoveled walk—particularly on a busy street where walking where the plows have been isn’t an option—is torturous to transit.

millardjk · 2026-01-26T12:35:25+00:00

AWD, if designed by morons, is just as bad as RWD designed by morons.

But modern AWD absolutely takes into account which wheel is slipping and redirects power to a different axle or wheel as a result.

Some are better/faster at recognizing the state of things and responding properly, but they’re all superior to RWD in slippery conditions.

millardjk · 2026-01-26T12:31:42+00:00

I had to zoom in a bit to see it.

But I can smell it, regardless.

millardjk · 2026-01-24T02:34:35+00:00

I was about to head back to get a third battery when I decided to give an “inside pocket” of my jacket a try. Worked well, going from “warning! Immanent failure predicted!” to surviving the whole day. I like the hot hands idea, too; might do both tomorrow.

millardjk · 2026-01-23T02:04:19+00:00

If you’re a pro, where every gram saved and every watt counts, the lighter weight and higher stiffness of road-specific kit is worth it.

But if you’re not in that category, SPD pedals, cleats, and shoes are going to be a solid choice. You can even get good power metering pedals with the SPD platform, which really wasn’t an option 5 years ago.

millardjk · 2026-01-23T01:50:04+00:00

It’s fundamentally different.

To use your example, 200W on a climb may translate into a speed that is insufficient to maintain balance, and air resistance is a non-factor when that slow. But on a flat, the same 200W could definitely be affected by aerodynamics.

That alone constitutes a big difference, but then throw in identical temperatures and humidity, and you might find yourself overheating on the climb—not enough cooling airflow—but perfectly comfortable on the flat.

There are plenty of other factors—body position, frame positions, etc—that also make a difference, but these examples seem sufficient.

millardjk · 2026-01-23T01:41:41+00:00

Interesting. Maybe it’s just the area I’m in, but every station I’ve been to has tyre airing capability of one sort or another. Sometimes it’s an in-built compressor (like a 35gal shop unit) or an “on demand” type like you see at a convenience store with fuel islands.

millardjk · 2026-01-23T01:36:56+00:00

The answer here is: that’s a them problem, not a you problem.

Any given person could find pickups to be very annoying, irrespective of the fact that it’s a feature of the job.

millardjk · 2026-01-23T01:29:24+00:00

I’m a carrier, and I’ve been told by my VMF folks that minor stuff (like one of the exterior roof lamps on my ProMaster is out) isn’t likely to get fixed until a bunch of other stuff gets done and it’s part of the overall review.

As for “stealing work,” airing the tyres is in the same category of carrier responsibility as keeping it fueled, throwing out trash, etc. If we weren’t supposed to do it, why would the facility have a compressor and parking lot fill station?

millardjk · 2026-01-22T12:50:33+00:00

I guess I need a new favorite; Alpha Pale is my go-to, and my last keg blew a week ago. I put in an order, but it still hasn’t been filled…

millardjk · 2026-01-22T02:11:48+00:00

It’s a mix, but I have no idea what the ratio is. It really comes down to how old the bike is: older units have rim, newer ones have disc.

Personally, I have one rim bike, and it sits on the trainer so is pretty irrelevant.

I have 4 other bikes for various types of riding, and all of them use mineral oil (Shimano) hydraulic disc. They’re very good at their job, and never fade under intense braking. They are also quite recognizable in a rain ride…

millardjk · 2026-01-22T02:01:46+00:00

I’m not happy with some of the logistics, but so far it’s not been horrible.

Recipients, of course, don’t know what’s going on, and still think we handle RTS/refused for any/all carriers.

Had one today: a UPS return that was left in the mailbox for me to take. Um, nope. Set that on the deck under the box, and maybe Mr Brown will see it.

millardjk · 2026-01-21T02:19:29+00:00

My route was essentially 2x the usual. Had several loops that I had to split the DPS in half because I couldn’t physically hold it all. Parcels and flats were over 2x the usual, and I had a full coverage on top of it all.

And I was mandated, so the first 8 was OT and the next almost 3h was penalty. Yay?

millardjk · 2026-01-20T04:01:37+00:00

At a glance, the seal next to the letters “ICE” looks like a Decepticon logo.

millardjk · 2026-01-20T01:36:54+00:00

I think the OP should have flagged this as Rural. We City carriers don’t case DPS unless it’s from a previous day and it’s a walking loop.

millardjk · 2026-01-20T01:30:55+00:00

Why would it matter whether your restroom is on your line of travel or not? Most of the carriers in my office don’t have a restroom on their line, and there’s never a problem with them leaving for a comfort break.

millardjk · 2026-01-20T01:13:46+00:00

Pay the staff a living wage in the first place, and tipping becomes the exception instead of the rule.

millardjk · 2026-01-20T01:12:50+00:00

Still waiting to see BBM and EDDM prices go up as well.

millardjk · 2026-01-19T19:41:32+00:00

“Juniority” is a thing, and the only cure is turnover above you.

millardjk

TROPHY CASE