Letter Carriers: Got A Pain In Your Back? New Stowage and Retrieval System Will Help...

Employers and employees alike continually search for ways to be more productive and profitable - as well as safer and more comfortable.

Canam Marketing, a division of ICM Corp., has created a product that fulfills all four objectives. It’s a single or double shelf stowage and retrieval system that fits the close to 200,000 postal vehicles delivering mail on the streets and roads of America. And it is U.S. Postal Service approved.

Letter carriers have responded enthusiastically. They like the fact that they can stow and retrieve mail trays, tubs and parcels without climbing into the rear of their vehicles. After the shelf is extended outside the vehicle, carriers stand erect and retrieve from three sides.

That’s much easier on the body than trying to scramble inside. It’s more ergonomic than the bending, reaching and lifting they once did. Bottom line: no more back strain.

After loading or unloading, the Canam shelf can be retracted into the vehicle’s rear cargo area, then locked into position. Each shelf has a capacity of 300 pounds. Carriers on high volume routes tend to choose the double shelf arrangement over the single shelf. It helps them eliminate possible second trips back to the post office to pick up what initially couldn’t be fit into the vehicle.

In short, the stowage and retrieval system allows carriers to better organize their postal vehicles, which reduces delivery time. It also prevents work-related injuries.