~VERIFYING AND SIGNING FOR ACCOUNTABLES.  It is important to take the time to properly verify and sign for all accountable items, because you are responsible for accounting for this mail. You make take time to fill out the name or address for identification purposes on the Form 3849, to case the Form as a reminder, and to verify and sign for all accountables.

~REPLENISHING FORMS. Letter carriers are required to check the forms pouch several times each week to be sure all necessary forms are there when needed (See Footnote 5 (M-00605), M-41 Section 143).

~Verifying hold mail. M-41 Section 241.312 requires letter carriers to verify hold mail held at the carrier case once each week to ensure that no mail designated by the mailer is kept beyond the retention period. Such mail is endorsed “temporarily away.” This is counted as a manual carrier mark-up.

~Lunch: You should take your full 30 minute lunch at one of the authorized locations recorded on the Form 1564-A in your route book.  When leaving the route for lunch, lock the satchel containing undelivered registered and COD mail in a designated relay box or the vehicle. Make a simple record of the registered, COD, and other more-than ordinary-value items that are left. When returning from lunch, check to ensure that no pieces are missing (M-41 Section 131.13).

~The above excerpts are taken from "Additional Information" excerpts contained  throughout the NALC Route Protection Program Chapter one

~The M-39 regarding any employee over 55 or 25 years of service says.

 242.214 An exception may be made for carriers who have served continuously for 25 years or more or are over 55 years of age. Before making an exception,  determine that the carrier cannot meet the standard office time and that his or her conduct and performance are otherwise satisfactory. The office time allowed for an exempted carrier must be reasonable and be determined by management.

The key word is "may" this allows for management discretion to allow the office standard time exception.