Most people easily associate the clunky, boxy Grumman LLVs with USPS, but the Postal Service also has a fleet of larger trucks to transport mail longer distances.
These trucks are driven by Motor Vehicle Operators (MVOs). If you’d like to know more about what this role entails, how much it pays and how to get hired as one, then you’re in the right spot! Keep reading to learn all the information you need to secure the job!
Key Takeaways
Motor Vehicle Operator USPS In 2022
Motor Vehicle Operators (MVOs) are responsible for picking up and transporting bulk mail at stations, branch offices, and terminal points as of 2022. Also, they prepare reports about truck conditions and perform minor mechanical repairs as needed. Starting pay is $23.34 per hour, and benefits include health insurance, life insurance, a flexible savings account, and more.
If you’re interested in learning more about the requirements for this position, keep reading to check out all the information I discovered!
What Is A Motor Vehicle Operator For USPS?
Motor Vehicle Operators (often shortened to MVOs) have several duties revolving around mail transportation and truck maintenance. For example, some of these duties include:
- Pick up and transport bulk quantities of mail at stations, branch offices, and terminal points.
- Pick up, load, carry and deliver moderate to heavy mail and packages.
- Review truck’s condition during usage and report all accidents, defects, and failures.
- Prepare daily trip reports showing work performed.
- Making minor mechanical repairs to the truck in emergencies.
- May occasionally be asked to drive a tractor or semi-trailer.
How Much Do USPS Motor Vehicle Operators Make?
USPS starts its Motor Vehicle Operators at $23.34 per hour paid biweekly, which works out to about $48,572 per year.
Do USPS Motor Vehicle Operators Get Any Benefits?
In addition to their competitive pay, MVOs receive many employee benefits.
For example, USPS offers newly hired employees the option to enroll in the following options:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program
- Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
- Thrift savings plan (similar to 401k plans)
- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
- Dental, vision, and long-term care insurance programs
- Flexible spending accounts (to cover out-of-pocket health care and daycare for dependents)
On top of that, USPS offers extra pay for working on federal holidays, accrued vacation days, and sick leave.
What Are The Requirements To Become A USPS Motor Vehicle Operator?
There are a number of requirements needed to become a USPS Motor Vehicle Operator. So, let’s take a look at the basic requirements first:
- Must be 18 years of age or a high school graduate or equivalent (GED).
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident alien status.
- Must pass a background check, drug test, and pre-employment medical assessment screening.
- Must reside within daily commuting distance of the position.
- Must have a Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) from the state in which they live.
In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have a safe driving record and at least one of the following:
- At least two years of unsupervised experience driving passenger cars or larger vehicles.
- At least one year of full-time unsupervised experience (or equivalent) driving a seven-ton or larger truck, tractor-trailer, or a 16-passenger or larger bus.
Also, driving must have taken place in the United States, in a U.S. territory, or a U.S. military installment elsewhere in the world.
Further, applicants must inform the Postal Service of all previous employment as a commercial vehicle driver in the past ten years and complete a Driving Notification and Compliance Certificate.
Finally, potential employees must pass Postal Exam 230. That said, this is less of an examination and more of a questionnaire about the applicant’s driving record and experience.
For example, USPS may ask applicants about any or all of the following topics:
- Number of drug, alcohol, or other controlled substance driving offense convictions in the past five years.
- Number of hit and run convictions in the last five years.
- Number of reckless or careless driving convictions in the past five years.
- Number of driver’s license suspensions in the last three years.
- Number of driver’s license revocations in the last five years.
- Number of accidents judged to be your fault in the last five years.
- Number of traffic/driving offenses (moving violations) in the past three years.
- Number of fatal accidents judged to be your fault (there’s no stated number of years for this topic. USPS wants to know about all such accidents regardless of when they happened).
Is It Hard To Be A USPS Motor Vehicle Operator?
Overall, MVOs seem fairly happy in their roles, citing convenient hours, good benefits, and fair pay.
There are, however, some negatives. For example, employees note that they often don’t get two consecutive days off during the week.
Also, many employees express frustration with the lack of training and poor management.
To learn more, you can also see our posts on whether or not you can drop off USPS at UPS, USPS dog bite policy, and USPS carrier facility.
Conclusion
Motor Vehicle Operators are an essential part of what makes USPS one of the fastest and most reliable mail delivery services in the world.
Tasked with picking up and transporting mail long distances, these employees are well compensated in both pay and benefits.
If this sounds like the job for you, make sure you’ve got enough driving experience and that you maintain a clean driving record.
Once you’ve got both, you’re on your way to a secure federal job!