Not all driving work comes through an app. Some of the steadiest contract driving in the country is route work: mail between post offices, newspapers to rural doorsteps, bank deposits and interoffice mail between branches. You sign up once and drive the same route every day or week. It is less flexible than an app, but it is predictable, and rural routes routinely cover 100 miles or more a day.
This guide covers USPS contract routes, newspaper delivery routes, and bank and business courier routes — how each one works, who hires, what they pay, and what all those daily miles are worth at tax time.
USPS contract routes
The Postal Service hires private contractors to haul and deliver mail on Highway Contract Routes (HCRs), historically called "star routes." A USPS contracting guide counted more than 17,000 of them nationwide. Contractors always use their own vehicle, and contracts typically run for several years.
| Route type | What the work is | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Box delivery HCR | Delivering mail to roadside mailboxes on sparse routes, typically under one customer per mile driven | Owner-operators who want a daily rural route in their own car or truck |
| Transportation HCR | Hauling mail between post offices and processing plants on a fixed schedule | Small trucking companies with vans, box trucks or tractors |
| Contract Delivery Service (CDS) | Delivery-only routes, often in more developed areas | Businesses that bid several routes and hire drivers |
How to get a USPS contract route
- Register as a supplier. Surface transportation suppliers register through the USPS supplier portal.
- Watch for solicitations. Each one lists the route, schedule and terms. USPS does not publish a central list of expiring routes, so contacting the regional surface transportation office helps.
- Bid a fixed annual price. Awards have historically gone to the lowest bidder, so estimate fuel, vehicle wear and labor carefully before you bid.
- Plan for coverage. The contractor supplies a backup vehicle and a substitute driver for sick days.
Rather not bid?
Many routes are held by companies that hire drivers. Contract Delivery Service operators such as Jusbero Group post openings for specific USPS routes on job boards. You can also ask the contract carriers at your local post office who holds nearby routes. Note that USPS rural and city carriers are federal employees, not contractors.
Newspaper delivery routes
Newspaper routes are early-morning, mostly 1099 runs paid per paper delivered, often two to four hours a day with no customer contact. Rural routes cover long stretches of road, which makes them high-mileage for the hours worked. Some publishers are shrinking home delivery, so local availability varies.
| Company | Example routes and pay from listings |
|---|---|
| USA Today Co. (formerly Gannett) | Driver routes in Rhode Island, North Carolina, Wisconsin and more; some with sign-on bonuses |
| Lee Enterprises | Routes such as Roanoke, Virginia; requires $100,000/$300,000 liability coverage |
| Publishers Circulation Fulfillment (PCF) | Early-morning routes in New York, Massachusetts and Oregon; $20 an hour listed in Portland |
| American Newspaper Solutions | Clermont, Florida routes from $2,200 a month |
| Advance Local | Kalamazoo, Michigan routes up to $1,000 a month |
| Union Leader | Concord, New Hampshire; $275–$300 a week, per piece plus tips |
| The State Journal-Register | Springfield, Illinois; $700–$800 a month for a couple of hours a day |
| Post Independent and Aspen Times | Rifle to Basalt, Colorado; 400 to 2,000 papers, $200–$850 a month |
Local dailies and weeklies in almost every county hire carriers. Search "newspaper carrier independent contractor" plus your county, or ask your local paper's circulation department.
Bank, legal and business courier routes
Scheduled business routes carry bank deposits, interoffice mail, legal filings, parts and pharmacy totes between the same stops every day. Banks and law firms often hire part-time employee couriers directly, and armored cash transport is employee work, so most contract opportunities are with courier companies that hold the business contracts.
| Company | Route work | Area in listings |
|---|---|---|
| Jusbero Group | USPS Contract Delivery Service mail routes | Nationwide |
| USPack Logistics | Scheduled business-to-business routes | New Jersey, New York and other states |
| Life Couriers | Routed and on-demand deliveries | Multi-state |
| Alliance Courier | Interoffice mail, library totes, bulk items | Multi-state |
| All-Med / AME Pharmacy Courier | Business and pharmacy routes, 4 to 8 hours on weekdays | Columbus, Ohio |
| Pace Runners | Small-package business routes | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Solidified Logistics | Small-package routes at $1.50–$1.70 per stop | Columbia, South Carolina |
| AmeriShip Parcel Delivery | Local package routes, Monday through Saturday | El Paso, Texas and other markets |
How route contracts pay
| Route type | How pay works | Typical schedule |
|---|---|---|
| USPS HCR or CDS | Fixed annual contract price you bid, paid in installments | Daily, multi-year term |
| Newspaper | Per paper delivered, sometimes plus tips | Overnight to about 6 a.m., 3 to 7 days a week |
| Bank and business routes | Per stop, per route or daily rate | Weekday business hours |
Because the schedules differ, many drivers stack them: a 3 a.m. newspaper route pairs well with a daytime bank, pharmacy or app-based route. Before you commit, line up a substitute. Newspapers and USPS contracts both expect you to cover your own days off.
How much route carriers can deduct
Flat route pay rarely moves when gas prices do, so for a contract carrier the mileage deduction is where much of the real take-home is decided. For 2026, the IRS standard mileage rate is 72.5 cents per mile through June 30 and 76 cents from July 1, about 74 cents on average for driving spread across the year.
| Route mileage | Miles in 2026 | Approximate deduction | Approximate tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 65 miles a day, 6 days a week | 20,000 | $14,850 | $3,600–$4,400 |
| About 100 miles a day, 6 days a week | 30,000 | $22,275 | $5,350–$6,600 |
| About 110 miles a day, 7 days a week | 40,000 | $29,700 | $7,100–$8,900 |
Tax saved combines self-employment tax and federal income tax and depends on your bracket. Run your own numbers in the MileShield tax calculator.
Which miles count
The miles driven on the route are business miles. The drive from home to the depot or post office where your route starts is often treated as commuting, unless your home is your principal place of business. Confirm your situation with a tax professional. Because a fixed route repeats the same miles every day, it is easy to fall behind on your log, and a contemporaneous log is what the IRS expects.
Route carriers also have no tax withheld, so plan for quarterly estimated payments and report your route income on Schedule C.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get a USPS contract route?
Register as a USPS surface transportation supplier, watch for solicitations for routes in your area, and bid a fixed annual price for the multi-year contract. If you would rather not bid, many routes are held by companies that hire drivers, so ask the contract carriers at your local post office who holds nearby routes.
Are newspaper carriers independent contractors?
Most newspaper home-delivery carriers are 1099 independent contractors paid per paper delivered, sometimes plus tips. A few distributors pay hourly. Carriers usually use their own vehicle and must arrange their own substitute for days off.
How much do newspaper delivery routes pay?
Pay depends on route size. Recent listings ranged from about $200 to $850 a month for small rural routes in Colorado to $2,200 a month or more for larger routes in Florida, usually for two to four hours of early-morning driving.
Can route carriers deduct mileage?
Yes, if you are a 1099 contractor. Miles driven on the route are business miles. The drive from home to the depot or post office where the route starts is often treated as commuting. At the 2026 IRS rates, a 30,000-mile route year is worth roughly $22,000 in deductions.
The bottom line
Route contracts trade flexibility for predictability: the same miles, the same stops, the same pay, day after day. For drivers who want steady work that fits around another job, a newspaper or mail route is one of the most reliable gigs there is. Price the miles, not just the hours, line up a substitute, and keep a daily log of every route mile.
Routes, pay and contract terms change often. This guide was compiled from USPS publications, company websites and job listings and is reviewed periodically. Confirm details with each company or USPS office before you commit, and verify tax specifics with a qualified CPA or enrolled agent.