(3) Storage car service. Service of this class shall be authorized in standard cars, 60 feet in length, inside measurement, except as hereinafter provided, used exclusively for mails. This service

is the transportation and handling of made-up mails in bulk and the requirements for this service shall include the maintenance and cleaning of the cars. The handling of mail into and from all storage cars shall be performed by employees of the railroad companies under instructions of postal employees with respect to proper routing and separation of mails.

(4) Lesser storage unit service. Service of this class shall be authorized in less than full-car units of space in mixed traffic, combination, or other cars. This service shall be the transportation and handling of mails of the same type as those handled in storage cars. The requirements for lesser storage unit service are the same as for service in storage cars.

(b) Nature of services. The services which the railroads are to render in connection with mail transportation shall be as follows:

(1) Railroad companies are required to perform all necessary switching of cars; to load all mail into cars so as to obtain maximum utilization of the space authorized, including the proper separation, piling, and storing of such mail; and to unload mail from all cars. Handling of all mail within railway post office cars and apartments shall be performed by postal transportation clerks.

(2) Railroad companies are required to transfer all mails between cars in the same train were such transfers are necessary and required by the Post Office Department.

(3) Railroad companies are required to take mails in transit from and deliver them to Government employees and contractors at an accessible point at railroad stations for transfer to and from post offices or railroad stations, and to transfer mails between trains operating into and out of the same railroad station, as required by the Post Office Department.

(4) Railroad companies are required to furnish all necessary facilities for caring for and handling mails, including suitable and adequate space and rooms in their stations for storing and transfer of mails in transit. They shall also furnish suitable and adequate office space

for transfer clerks of the Postal Transportation Service when required by the Post Office Department.

(5) Railroad companies are required to transport without extra charge the persons in charge of the mails and the agents and officers of the Post Office Department and Postal Service, under the conditions prescribed by law and regulations pursuant thereto.

(6) Railroad companies are required to construct, light, and maintain mail cranes and other adequate facilities for the exchange of mails at points or stations on the run where the train does not stop and exchange of mails is necessary.

(7) Railroad companies are required to take the mails from their railroad terminals and stations and deliver them into post offices, postal stations, and Postal terminals; take the mails from post offices, postal stations, and Postal terminals, and deliver them into their railroad terminals and stations; and take the mails from their stations and deliver them into other railroad stations where the distance does not exceed 80 rods, unless other provision for this service is made by the Post Office Department. § 511.40 Authorizations.

(a) General. (1) The anticipated space needs of the Department shall be reflected by regular authorizations which shall be restricted to the needs of the service between established railway passenger or freight division points or junctions. Regular authorizations shall be determined in accordance with such instructions as may be issued by the Postmaster General. Regular authorizations for railway post office cars and railway post office apartments shall remain in effect unless and until modified as provided in this section. Regular authorization for other classes of service shall be effective for a period of one calendar month, subject to modification or cancellation of service as provided in this section.

(2) Excess service may be requested of railroad companies in trains in which no unit of space is regularly authorized or in trains in which the regularly authorized space is inadequate to accommodate the mails available for dispatch. Requests for excess service shall be restricted to the needs of the Service and shall be made in accordance with the instructions issued by the Postmaster General.

(3) Railroad companies are required to anticipate the needs for service only to the extent of the regular space authorizations. Where there are excess mails and baggage or express or both to be loaded, and the available space is not sufficient to accommodate all, the mails must be given preference. Railroad companies will not, however, be required to unload baggage or express in order to provide space for the excess mail.

(4) The class, frequency, and distance of service to be authorized shall be determined in accordance with the needs of the Postal Service and under such rules and regulations or instructions as shall be prescribed by the Postmaster General.

(b) Equipment. (1) Authorization for railway post office cars shall be for cars of the standard length of 60 feet. Authorizations for railway post office apartments shall be for the standard lengths of 30 or 15 feet, as the needs of the Postal Service require. If a railroad company is unable to furnish standard railway post office cars and apartment cars, the Department may accept nonstandard railway post office equipment as a convenience to the carriers provided compensation not exceeding pro rata pay is accepted for the facilities furnished. Any deficiency may be provided in another car in the train when necessary and in such case full pay will be made for the standard car authorized.

(2) The Department does not require and will not authorize railway post office equipment longer than the standard lengths specified herein. However, as a convenience to the carriers, and to enable them to obtain revenue from the operation of space which otherwise might be unused, the Department will accept the excess space beyond the standard lengths authorized for the accommodation of lesser storage unit service when needed.

(3) Cars in excess of 60 feet in which a railway post office unit of 60 feet is partitioned from the remainder of the car may be accepted to fulfill an authorization for a railway post office car of 60 feet.

(4) When a railroad company is unable to furnish cars of the standard length authorized for storage car service, the Department may accept cars less than 60 feet in length, inside measurement, provided compensation not

exceeding pro rata pay is accepted for the length of the car furnished. The Department may accept storage cars of greater length than the standard, provided compensation not exceeding pro rata pay is accepted in accordance with rules and regulations of the Postmaster General.

(c) Modification of authorizations. (1) Authorizations for full railway post office car service and railway post office apartment service shall be subject to modification at any time to provide for new and additional service, discontinuance of service, or reduction in service.

(2) Regular authorizations for storage car service and lesser storage unit service shall not be discontinued or reduced during the calendar month unless discontinuance or reduction in the service is necessitated by service changes. Regular authorization for storage car service and lesser storage unit service shall be subject to modification at any time to provide for new and additional service.

(3) Requests for excess service may be made at any time during the calendar month.

(d) Cancellations. (1) Whenever there is insufficient mail on any day to warrant the operation of a full storage car, the regular authorization may be cancelled by a representative of the Post Office Department at the initial point of the run of the car. Reasonable advance notice of such cancellation shall be given to the railroad company at the initial point of the run of the car to permit the car to be removed from the train.

(2) Authorizations for classes of service other than full storage car service shall not be cancelled during the calendar month.

(a) Definition. Star route service is the means used by the Post Office Department for intercity highway transportation of mail. Routes are operated under formal contracts, awarded after competitive bidding, and may provide box delivery, collection, and other services normally furnished by rural carriers.

(b) Head of route. The term "head of a route" means the first post office referred to in the statement of service. It may be the initial point originally named or one later stated as a result of change in the route. The office from which a carrier starts his trip is not necessarily the head of a route.

(a) Exchange of mail—(1) At post offices. (i) The carrier must exchange mail at each post office on the route in accordance with the terms of the contract and any subsequent orders changing the service.

(ii) Where tailgate exchange at a loading platform cannot be made at an intermediate post office and the carrier cannot drive his vehicle near the door of the post office, the postmaster must arrange to take the mail. A carrier must not leave his vehicle containing mail unprotected. In no case shall mail be thrown on the ground.

(iii) All intermediate post offices on star routes must be supplied by carriers on both outward and inward trips unless otherwise specified. Directors, transportation divisions, may change the frequency of supply to intermediate offices, without issuance of formal orders on Form 5440-C, Contract Route Service Order, provided distances as shown in the statement of service are not affected.

(iv) Where no time is specified at intermediate offices, mail should be exchanged within 10 minutes. Directors, transportation divisions, are authorized to vary from this standard whenever service conditions require.

(v) Except when space is available at a loading platform where tailgate exchange may be made, a contractor or

carrier is required to deliver mail into and take mail from the post office at each end of his route.

(vi) Employees of postal installations served by star routes may be required to load or unload contractors' vehicles or to assist contractors in loading and unloading mail, when, in the judgment of directors, transportation divisions, it is in the best interests of the Postal Service to do so.

(2) Through lobbies or lockers of post offices. (i) Mail may be exchanged, when authorized, through the lobby of a post office when no one is on duty. For this purpose the contractor will be provided a key to the lobby. A lobby exchange can be authorized only where the screen work extends to the ceiling; all doors, windows, and wickets connecting the lobby with the working portion of the post office are securely locked; and police protection is adequate. If any doubt exists as to the propriety of a lobby exchange, secure approval of the postal inspector in charge.

(ii) Exchanges may also be made through lockers when approved by the postal service officer, or the director, transportation division, and the postal inspector in charge. Locks and keys for lockers may be provided by either the postmaster or the contractor.

(iii) Postmasters shall obtain a signed receipt for each key furnished to star route contractors or carriers for use in exchanging mail through the lobby or locker of the post office. Reclaim the key and surrender the receipt when key is no longer needed. When old keys are recovered or new ones issued, notify the director, transportation division, who will maintain a current record of all outstanding keys.

(iv) Keys furnished to star route contractors or carriers must be protected against theft at all times. Do not allow examination of the key or its possession by an unauthorized person.

(v) Star route contractors or carriers must not have access to rotary, LA, SR series padlock, street letterbox (except METRO series-see subparagraph (4) of this paragraph), or post office workroom keys.

(3) At railroad stations. (1) Where a star route terminal is at a railroad station at which no agent is on duty, the carrier may be required to exchange mail with trains, unless locker service is provided. Where catcher service is provided,

the carrier may be required to hang pouches and take charge of mail dispatched from trains.

(ii) Where a railroad agent is on duty and the exchange of mail would impose a hardship on the carrier or delay mail for the star route, the carrier must deliver the mail to, and receive it from, the agent who must make the exchange with the train.

(4) Through collection boxes (collections only). (i) The Director, transportation division, may require star route contractors or carriers on intrasectional routes to make collections from hasp and staple-type collection boxes locked by METRO series padlocks. Generally this type collection will not be required on intersectional star routes because this would dilute their essential purpose of high-speed, over-the-road transport between larger post offices.

(ii) The director, postal operations division, will arrange for and keep record of, METRO padlocks and keys issued for use by star route contractors or carriers who are authorized to make collections from collection boxes. The METRO keys will be issued to the administrative postmaster or postmaster at the head of the star route on which collections are authorized. Such postmaster will be responsible for issuing the keys to the contractors and recovering the keys when no longer needed for collections. See subparagraph (2) (iv) of this paragraph.

(b) Box delivery and collection service (1) Duties of postmasters. Postmasters shall:

(i) Upon request of a patron for box delivery and collection service, complete and furnish patron Form 5431, Star Route Box Patron Notice. If uncertain as to the type of box service required by the contract, ascertain contract requirements from the director, transportation division.

(ii) Arrange mail addressed to patrons served through boxes in the order of delivery by the carrier, unless the contract requires that the carrier arrange his mail in proper order for distribution.

(iii) Make a table and routing case available to the carrier if the contract requires that he case his mail and instruct him in the distribution and arrangement of mail in proper order for delivery to patrons.

(iv) Deliver to carrier any mail addressed to a patron of his office who:

(a) Lives on or near the star route or which box delivery is required.

(b) Has provided suitable box or sack. See § 159.4 of this chapter.

(c) Has completed and filed a Form 5431 with the postmaster.

(v) Instruct carrier as to proper point at which mail is to be delivered.

(vi) Withhold delivery of registered, insured, certified, and COD mail to carrier for delivery. See § 159.3(b) (4) of this carrier deliver such mail.

(vii) Tie out and place in pouch mail addressed to patrons of his office who reside along road traveled by carrier after serving another post office on the route. This mail is removed from pouch by the postmaster at office last supplied before serving such patrons and handed to carrier for delivery. See § 159.3 (b) (4) of this chapter.

Postmasters must not deliver mail to carrier outside of regular lock pouch before it has reached the post office to which it is addressed.

(2) Duties of carriers and patrons. (i) See §§ 159.3 and 159.4 of this chapter for the principal duties of carriers and patrons.

(ii) If the contract requires that the carrier case his mail, he must:

(a) Report to post office in sufficient time to distribute mail in advance of scheduled departure time.

(b) Accept mail addressed to patrons of the route, from the postmaster, and arrange it in order of delivery.

(c) Prepare and maintain a list of the names of the patrons served, arranged in alphabetical order with the box number opposite each name.

(d) Markup and forward mail for patrons on his route who have filed a change of address order and make appropriate entry in the roster book.

(c) Sale of stamps and stamp supplies. If contract requires carrier to sell stamps and stamp supplies, he must:

(1) Carry a stock sufficient to meet the needs of his patrons.

(2) Accept a fixed credit of postage stamp stock. Fixed credit will be provided by the postmaster at the head of the route. Where the carrier serves patrons who receive mail through other offices on the route, the carrier will replenish his fixed credit at those offices in amounts representing sales made by him to patrons served through these offices.

(a) Contract terms. Contracts are made for terms of 4 years or for the remainder of a contract term set for the State in which the route is located. To spread the workload, contract terms are staggered for the different States within regions.

(b) Types of contracts. Star routes are classified according to services required as follows:

(1) Serving post offices and performing delivery and collection service to box patrons.

(2) Serving post offices but not performing box delivery and collection service.

(3) Performing box delivery and collection service to box patrons but not serving post offices.

(4) Serving post offices and providing rural delivery features to box patrons.

(5) Providing rural delivery features to patrons but not serving post offices.

(6) Handling restricted classes of mail for post offices only.

(7) Handling empty equipment primarily.

(c) Obtaining bids.-(1) Advertisements-(i) Issuance and distribution. When it becomes necessary to advertise for bids for a 4-year contract term or for the remainder of a regular contract term, when less than 4 years, advertisements will be prepared on Form 5435, Advertisement for Mail Service, by the director, transportation division. Advertisements will allow at least 30 days' posting from the date of receipt until the closing date for bids, except in emergencies when the advertisements will contain an explanation for the shorter posting period. Sufficient copies of advertisements will be prepared by the director, transportation division, for distribution to postmasters at post offices named in advertisements, prospective bidders, and other interested persons. Form 5468-5468-A, Star or Water Route Bid and Bond-Work Sheet, is used in submitting bids.

(ii) Distances stated in advertisements. Most advertisements inviting proposals for star route service show the one-way length of the routes and refer to:

(a) Distances traveled by carriers where service is in operation.

(b) Distances by shortest public roads between points named on new routes.

Distances stated in advertisements are believed to be substantially correct. The pay will be neither increased nor decreased if the actual distance is greater or less than advertised, provided the points to be supplied are correctly stated.

(iii) Advertising by postmasters. Postmasters must:

(a) Post copies of bulletin advertisements in conspicuous places in the lobbies of their post offices for the periods stated in the advertisements.

(b) Obtain the widest possible publicity, without expense to the Postal Service, to gain the attention of interested persons.

(c) Familiarize themselves with the advertisements and attached instructions, and the services to be performed.

(d) Maintain an ample supply of proposal forms (Form 5468-5468-A) while advertisement is pending. Make immediate request to director, transportation division, for needed forms, telephoning or telegraphing that office when necessary to obtain forms during last few closing days for receipt of bids.

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(e) Furnish prospective bidders copy of the advertisement and bid form on request.

(2) Requirements of bidders-(i) Eligibility. Any person who is at least 21 years of age and who is a citizen of the United States, or has filed a declaration of intention within the past 7 years to become a citizen, may submit a proposal and enter into a contract for carrying the mail, subject to the following restrictions:

(a) No proposal for a contract for star route service shall be considered unless the bidder is a legal resident of one of the counties crossed by the roads over which the mail is to be carried or a legal resident of a county adjoining one through which the mail is to be carried, with this exception: Proposals for carrying mail will be accepted from firms, companies, or corporations actually engaged in some business other than transportation of mail under a contract within the counties in which individuals are restricted as to residence.

(b) No postmaster, assistant postmaster, clerk employed in any post office, rural carrier, special delivery messenger, or other postal employee, including substitute or temporary, shall be a bidder, contractor, or concerned in a bond or contract for carrying mail on a star route.