Rural mail carriers in demand in Naples, Bonita

To keep up with the boom of housing and businesses in Lee and Collier counties, the Bonita Springs and Naples postmasters hosted a “one-stop” recruiting fair on Saturday to hire part-time rural carriers.

Applicants could fill out forms, interview and test at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club.

In the past three years, delivery sites have increased by 1,200 each year, said Bonita Springs Postmaster Richard Barber.

There are 200 slots open for rural carrier positions in the Naples-Fort Myers area, said Bill Bishoff, manager of delivery and customer service programs in the Suncoast district. Bishoff said he was hoping to recruit at least 50 carriers at Saturday’s fair.

Job openings usually are displayed at individual post offices, Bishoff said. Depending on the success of Saturday’s fair, the postmasters may host another one, he said.

Because of the jump in the number of rural routes in Lee and Collier counties, post offices are hiring rural carriers “as fast as we can get them,” said Mike DeBrino, customer service operator in Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

The number of rural routes has increased by 10 to 15 every year in the Fort Myers area, DeBrino said.

In a presentation to fair attendees, Barber asked applicants to take an additional application to give to a friend.

Because there are not enough government-issued postal service cars, applicants must have their own cars to make deliveries, and the post office will compensate for mileage costs.

Some of the applicants were concerned about having to deliver mail through the right windows of their vehicles.

Colleen Bailey, a rural career for 25 years, said she was able to convert the middle section of the front of her car by installing a seatbelt between the two front seats. Another option is to purchase a car with a right-side driver’s seat, which often are sold by veteran rural carriers, she said. She recommended that everyone practice driving on the right side.

Although the job is part-time, new rural carriers may be able to work up to three or four times a week because the summer usually is when regular carriers take their vacations, Barber said.

He also emphasized the opportunity to move up to being a full-time carrier, which has a regular salary and benefits, after two years as a part-time carrier.

Current employees and applicants alike said they like the stability of a postal service career.

“Just the security alone, with the times we are in right now, I get a paycheck every two weeks for sure,” said DeBrino, who has worked in the postal service for 34 years. “It’s a comforting feeling.”

Rural carrier associates will earn a $16.48 per hour, with a mileage allowance. Full-time salaries range from $35,000 to $60,000 with benefits.

Kathy Huber, who recently was laid off by US Airwaves, said she was attracted to the postal service because of the pay and her brother’s positive experiences in the service. But she is a little uneasy about unexpected challenges to mail delivery.

“Dogs scare the hell out of me,” said the 50-year-old. “I thought I’d be safe from that being in a truck, but I didn’t think about going out to the house.”