USPS honours million-mile marvels
Nearly 5,900 USPS employees have achieved a unique distinction after driving more than 1m miles accident-free.
The nation’s 34,000 Post Offices are linked by 221,000 vehicles – the world’s largest civilian fleet. As one of America’s last vestiges to make house calls, 340,000 letter carriers and truck drivers log more than 1.2bn miles annually when delivering to America’s 140m addresses.
Since 2005, when records were established, 5,858 Postal professionals have each driven more than a million miles without a single accident. Reaching this pinnacle requires 30 years of service and a safe attitude.
“We place the safety of our employees as our top priority,” said Deborah Giannoni-Jackson, vice president, Employee Resource Management. “And we credit our comprehensive safe driver training programme as being second to none.”
After a review of state driving records, candidates undergo a thorough medical examination and an extensive interview process. Potential drivers also must pass road tests in their own passenger vehicles before taking eight hours of classroom training to pass a computer based exam. If they pass these hurdles, defensive driver training and a special skills course for hands-on behind-the-wheel training follow.
The skills course acclimatises candidates to driving right-hand drive postal vehicles under various conditions on an “off-road” course that simulates street conditions. When completed, driving instructors accompany them for a 45-minute street drive followed by a final exam in a postal right-hand-drive vehicle.
