12 Basic Carrier Duties
121 Office Duties
121.1 Time Allowances
121.11 Route or case all classes of mail (exception, DPS mail will be cased only when management requires) in sequence of delivery along one or more established routes (see exhibit 121.11 for maximum time allowances). The accurate and speedy routing of mail is one of the most important duties of a carrier; you must be proficient at this task.
121.12 Time standards for carrier office work (see exhibit 121.12) represent the minimum acceptable performance standards.

Exhibit 121.11 (not reproduced here) is where the term "18 and 8" comes from. It's a table of minutes with how many pieces should be cased. 18 letters or 8 flats cased in one minute. This is what is called "throwing standard." DOIS is built on this. If management does not accurately count and record the mail volume for a route the time projections are off. Also on this chart is "pull down time." There is a 3 minute minimum. After 210 cased pieces a carrier is credited 1 extra minute for every 70 cased pieces. For example, if a carrier cases a total of 700 letters, flats, and SPRs there is 10 minutes of allotted pull down time.

Exhibit 121.12
Time Allowances for Carrier Office Work
TIME ALLOWANCES FOR CARRIER OFFICE WORK

1. Routing letter-size mail. . . .18 per minute.

2 Routing all other size mail. (Use Notice 26, Maximum Time Allowance for Routing Mail, to convert pieces to minutes.) 8/min.

4 Strapping mail in bundles or placing in trays, preparing relays and placing mail into satchels; for each 70 pieces regardless of character (minimum allowance 3 minutes). Strapping mail in bundles for markup at computerized forwarding unit. Lines 1-2-3 combined mail volume (strapping out pieces and markup pieces) is used in determining time allowance at 70 pieces per minute. . . . .1 minute

8 For each 10 pieces of all classes of mail separated for forwarding or return. . . . . 1 minute

9 Periodicals marked up (for each 2 pieces handled for forwarding or return). . . . . 1 minute

10 For each Form 3579, Undeliverable Periodical, Standard A & B or Controlled Circulation Matter. ....2 minutes

11 For each 4 pieces marked up (mail marked Deceased, Temporarily Away, Refused, Vacant Occupant mail of obvious value) or No Mail Receptacle). . . . . .1 minute

12 For each change of address, including Form 3546, recorded on Forms 1564-B and 3982. . . . 2 minutes

13 Insured receipts turned in. . . . . 1 minute

14 Registered, Certified, COD, Express Mail, Customs and Postage-Due; Keys, Form 3868, signing for, returning funds or receipts, and for partial completion of Form 3849 (name or address for identification). Base minimum allowance is ...6 minutes*
15 Withdrawing mail where applicable (from distribution cases, trays, sacks, and/or hampers).
Base minimum allowance is .....5 minutes*

16 Sequencing and collating by-pass mail. (Representative time in minutes will be allowed for work function.)

17 Strapping out time (when mail must be placed in order of delivery) see 922.51d. (Representative time in minutes will be allowed for the work function.)

18 Break (local option).

19 Vehicle inspection see 922.51f. Base minimum allowance is .....3 minutes*

20 Personal needs, etc. (Time allowances are printed on the form for each trip, and must not be changed.)

21 Office work not covered by form. (Work functions must be identified and approved as being necessary and of a continuing nature.) (Use “Comments” section.) Base minimum allowance ......9 minutes*

22 Waiting for mail (office) and all other office activities not performed on a continuing basis which are excluded in computing net office time. (Use “Comments” section.)

23 Counting Mail and filling out Form 1838-C worksheet.

Note: For piece items, grant the next higher allowance in minutes for fractional units.
Use actual times for Lines 14 through 19 and Lines 21 through 23 when those functions are performed.
* Computing Standard Office Time Under Columns (e), (f), and (g) on Form 1838:
If the actual time for each of Lines 14, 15, 19, and 21 is less than the base minimum and the carrier
performs the function the base minimum must be entered for the Line Item in the appropriate
column. If the actual time exceeds the base minimum, an adjustment to that time cannot be shown
which is less than the base minimum.

These office functions with the time allotments are the basis for what is called "fixed office time." Notice the numbers match form 1838, the form used to inspect our routes in the office.

Fixed office time, or FOT, has become an item of contention in some offices. Management has tried to argue that carriers don't always need the entire fixed office time. They argue that sometimes carriers don't have to use the full minimum time, or might not have to perform every function on a given day. They would like to argue that FOT is only for examining and adjusting routes, not for day to day operations. The Union argues, "which part of the word 'fixed' do you not understand?" If the routes are examined and adjusted using FOT they need to be treated the same way daily.Perhaps one day a carrier might not have accountable items and can save a minute. It is presumptive of management to calculate something which they fail to count.

Bottom line is if carriers yield to management pressure and skip or shortcut duties and responsibilities the short term may yield a slight bit of reprieve of the pressure. But the long term will guarantee more pressure and ultimately a longer route built on trying to "make the numbers." Sooner or later a carrier just won't be able to do it any longer.

So, know your M-41, duties and responsibilities, do them everyday, properly, and make this job doable and bearable.