Yep...they are re-counting ALL rural routes nationwide in February...which will result in some major changes. I've been a rural carrier with USPS since 93. Currently though...I'm out with an injury/surgery. Last year they counted the routes in order to save money...I lost 10,000 in pay..yet my mail volume was the same the rest of the year. I had 700 daily deliveries. The USPS conducts these counts during the times of year when business is slow (February) in order to save money. Right after these counts...mail volume seems to magically improve...but yet our routes have been butchered so badly pay wise...we are forced to take on more territory...in order to make the amount of money we were making. That is why you "may" see possible later delivery times...because carriers are forced to build their routes back up in order to stay afloat pay wise. Heck...after being there for nearly 15 years...I was making $50,000 when I was injured...now, after last years count it went back down to $40,000....yet I still have 700 customers on my route. It's hard to imagine what my route will have to take on in order to remain at $40,000 a year after the count in February. Probably 1,000 deliveries. USPS ought to apply cuts where they are needed...management and their exorbitant salaries. Do a search and find out what PM General receives...it's abhorrant....especially when USPS is crying about how much money they are losing. http://www.bolivarcom.com/index.cfm?event=news.view&id=8F1C5B3A-19B9-E2E2-67D66E65664B95F8 There will be many more increases in postage rates...no doubt about it. And I agree...though I'm a postal employee...we have some real winners that work for USPS. Some are just down right nasty. Not to toot my own horn...but my customers loved me...and no doubt wonder where the heck I'm at. My route would be delivered no later than 1pm most days...because I was a hustler...and didn't sit around with my finger up my butt. I went to work, did my job and went home.