MailmanDave
17 Years Experience
Long Island, NY
Male, 43
I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in NY. I've been a city letter carrier for over 17 years and it is the best job I've ever had. I mostly work 5 days per week (sometimes includes a Saturday) and often have the opportunity for overtime, which is usually voluntary. The route I deliver has about 350 homes and I walk to each of their doors to deliver the mail. Please keep in mind that I don't have authority to speak for the USPS, so all opinions are solely mine, not my employer.
Amy, it's been awhile since I've worked in extreme heat (mid-90s and above would be my unscientific definition), but I'll just give you some generic advice. The suggestions I have are: 1) Keep hydrated. Even if you aren't thirsty just keep drinking. Many liquids are lost through perspiration, and if you need to take more bathroom breaks, you just do so. It is rare I get a headache from the extreme heat and I credit that to drinking water or other non-diuretic liquids. 2) Wear as light as clothing as possible. 3) Keep your head covered with a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sunlight. I've found this to be more comfortable then not wearing a hat. 4) Don't exert yourself too much. The pressures of the job have some letter carriers rushing through their routes, but that could tire you out quickly if it is very hot outside. I keep a moderate, rational, pace, and if anyone ever questioned why it took longer to deliver a mail route (not common to be questioned especially in weather extremes), I'd just say it was for health and safety reasons. As an aside, the heat never bothered me compared to very cold conditions. I realize that you can cover yourself sufficiently when it's extremely cold, but my extremities still hurt when exposed. It's difficult for me to feel the mail if my fingers aren't touching the mail directly. I hope this helps. Basically, it comes down to preparation and hydration.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20do%20you%20survive%20the%20extreme%20heat%3F%20Also%20after%20a%20long%20hot%20day%20do%20you%20get%20a%20headache%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15240)
I don't know that submitting a forwarding order will result in your mail getting rede liveried from your former apt to your current address. You can submit a forwarding request for any future mail to be delivered to where you now reside or receive mail. As far as how you get the mail that has already been delivered, I don't know. You could contact the landlord or apartment management company to see if they have access to the mailbox and could send you your mail, but it's possible they don't have access to the mailbox or don't really care to assist you much now that you are no longer there. I'd recommend changing your address with your bank ASAP, and consider electronic banking so you can receive statements via email or online access. Banks are usually quick about updating addresses once they can verify the person requesting it is allowed to do so.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20lost%20my%20mailbox%20key%20and%20soon%20after%20that%20was%20evicted%20from%20my%20apartment%20%28losing%20the%20key%20wasn%27t%20the%20reason%29.%20My%20bank%20statements%20still%20go%20to%20the%20apartment%20address.%20Will%20submitting%20a%20forwarding%20address%20get%20my%20mail%20redelivered%3F%20If%20not%2C%20how%20do%20I%20get%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15763)
If it is truly a registered letter, a letter carrier will usually not sign for it even if you have given them written authorization because registered mail can sometimes be very valuable and individual custody is tracked along the way. If you mean a certified letter (which is often confused with registered mail) many letter carriers will deliver it and sign for you if you've given them authorization. I know that I would in this situation. Does your PO have Saturday retail hours? If so, you can pick up the item then unless that is also when you aren't home. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hello%20I%20live%20in%20a%20townhouse%20and%20%20I%27m%20receiving%20Registered%20Mail%20soon.%20where%20we%20live%20we%20have%20a%20common%20area%20where%20there%20are%20a%20bunch%20of%20postal%20boxes%20and%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20I%20leave%20a%20note%20to%20authorize%20mailman%20to%20sign%20will%20they%3F%20I%27m%20never%20home%20what%20do%20I%20do&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14004)
It depends when you drop the letter in the blue collection box. If it is before the daily pickup time (which is usually posted on a label somewhere on the box) then it is likely going to be on the same dispatch truck as if you put the letter in a box at the PO. The truck then goes to a centralized mail processing facility. If you put the letter in a blue collection mailbox after the daily cutoff time posted on the mailbox, but the local PO is still open, you'd probably be better off bringing the letter there for mailing. At most POs you can probably bring in letter up until 1700 for same-day processing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=is%20it%20quicker%20mailing%20a%20letter%20at%20the%20post%20office%20versus%20dropping%20it%20in%20a%20local%20mailbox%20to%20get%20to%20the%20recipient%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14179)
Hotel Travel Blog Active 2019
Can hotels see what I look at when connected to their in-room wifi?
Rap Promoter / Manager
Do rappers ever stage beefs with each other as a PR stunt?
Track and Field Coach
Do you let your athletes play another sport in the off-season?
I've never found car keys while delivering mail as far as I can remember. I don't know what I would do if I found them. I know if any item of value is found in a blue collection box, it is usually turned in to a supervisor.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=When%20you%20find%20lost%20car%20keys%2C%20where%20do%20you%20put%20them%20or%20what%20do%20you%20you%20do%20with%20them%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15948)
I didn't realize you'd be doing such a large mailing. I believe that amt of postcards would qualify for a discount but sometimes it depends on the quantity of pieces for a certain area, how the mailing is prepared, and where you enter it into the system (some large mailings are cheaper to drop off at a mail plant vs. a local PO). The name for a bulk mailing discount is usually called presort standard and presort first class Mail. The standard doesn't get handled as quickly as first class mail which is why it's cheaper. I am sure the answer is quite a bit more complex than what I've told you. Some resources that I'd look for are the Direct Marketing Association or search for "USPS bulk mailing discounts" or "basics of bulk mailing USPS". If stamps or meters are not affixed to your postcards you can't just drop them in a mailbox. The mailing would need to be processed through the BMEU (business mail entry unit). You may also need to get a bulk mailing permit to use an indicia and get a discount. I don't know these details at all. You ask good questions but my area of knowledge has more to do with the job of a city letter carrier. That is why I'm not being any more specific. Anything I've typed here is what I've learned over the years by asking my associates similar questions that you have asked. None of this knowledge is necessary to be a letter carrier.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%20again%20i%20got%20everything%20figured%20out%20with%20my%20postcard%20and%20am%20going%20to%20be%20sending%20out%2010%2C000%20at%20once.%20Would%20i%20be%20able%20to%20get%20a%20bulk%20discount%20for%20this%3F%20or%20would%20it%20be%20wiser%20to%20pay%20for%20first%20class%20postage%3F%20and%20will%20they%20be%20delivered%20the%20same%20either%20way&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16243)
I don't have an answer as to what the procedure is if the carrier can't deliver the mail because someone is parked in the loading zone of a building. I agree that the carrier should not be harassing anybody re: this. As far as I know they do have the right to not deliver the mail if there is no safe place for them to park their delivery vehicle. They could mention to the tenants or bldng/office managers as to the reason there may not have been delivery on a previous day, but I believe this can be done in a civil/professional manner. Is the building staff not enforcing the loading zone policy? I rarely deliver mail to an office building but I can see how it may be aggravating when a designated loading zone or short term parking policy isn't adhered to. Either way, nobody deserves harassment in my opinion.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Does%20USPS%20have%20a%20procedure%20that%20a%20carrier%20should%20adhere%20to%20when%20they%20can%27t%20deliver%20mail%20because%20people%20are%20parked%20in%20the%20loading%20zone%3F%20Sympathetic%20to%20his%20problem%2C%20but%20it%27s%20not%20right%20when%20he%20harasses%20building%20tenants.%20What%20does%20USPS%20say%20he%20should%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14812)
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
