I have a good shot at becoming a rural carrier associate, but me car has a console in the middle. Help!?

Question

I interviewed for the job of rural carrier associate and there's a good change I might get it. Here's the problem, though. My car's shifter, cup holder, CD holder and parking break are in between the seats. The postmaster here in Ellensburg Washington says I might have to get a new car if I want the job. That's not fair! Espechially since the only car I can find with a bench seat is a piece of junk. I don't want to buy a new car. I like my current one, thank you very much. I'm willing to alter it, though, if I can find an affordable way to do it. Is there anyone out there who was once in my shoes and knows of a way to help me with my problem?

Answer 1

My opinionis go to a station that uses government provided vehicles but still have rural routes.....I am a RCA but I do not have to deliver out of my vehicle.....Let me tell you this as well, you will hate this job after a while I promise you and swear by it, during your first few weeks of being bounced back and forth to this route and that one you might even want to cry cause you cannot figure out how to case it or you may not even be able to find a certain location you are supposed to deliver to......I will honestly say no one gets the hang of how to case or deliver in a fast manner until about 6 months time......And if your management at that station are J/O's like they are at most it will make it even worse on you....Yea of course we make good 17.98/hr but who cares we have no benefits, no sick leave, no vacation, no nothing.....I am really getting tired of it plus I despise having to work saturdays......These are all things you need to think about cause I am shooting to you straight forward here  

Answer 2

I didn't have this problem starting out. I had a ford super-crew with the bench seats. After almost a year on the job I bought a used montero sport and it has worked out pretty good. You are not going to want to drive the car you work a route in for pleasure anyway. Believe me you are going to tear it up! I have been doing it for over two years now and it is almost not worth it. Have you tried putting a pillow over the console? That might help. Well good luck!

Answer 3

sure don't take the job. it hurts the cars and lots of tires u have to buy, you have to change the oil , breaks , rotors. etc. find a different job its not worth it. i used to do that job

Answer 4

Yeah, as an RCA you're required to have a car that you're capable of delivering from. And you'll beat that car up along the way scratching up the passenger side door, worn out brakes and tires, among other things.

It really depends what kind of car you have. Most carriers I work with just get the center consoles removed and straddle the gearshift. With my car (Toyota Highlander), the console is flat and the gearshift is up high so luckily I didn't have to do any altering, though I sort of broke the cover to the cup holders from sitting on them. They have right-side drive kits you can get put on your car for a few hundred dollars so the center console doesn't become an issue, but like I said, it depends on your car.

http://www.postalthings.com/right_hand_d...

The job isn't for everyone; RCAs have a very high turnover rate because people come in thinking the job is cake just discover it's extremely stressful and physically uncomfortable, especially in the beginning. I wouldn't do anything severe to your car until you know for sure you'd want to stick around.