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.
I don't like to quote too many rules here on jobstr with regards to what a letter carrier can and can't do. One of the main reasons is that many rules are barely told to us, if at all, and the enforcement of any rules seem so inconsistent even within a particular office. In our office we are told not to have both ears plugged with earphones while delivering mail (driving or walking). I use earphones but only have one ear plugged in. I wouldn't be surprised if some of my co-workers have them both plugged in, because "rules" are for other people, not them. I also think we are allowed to play a radio in our vehicles, but it shouldn't be that loud where you can't hear what's going on around you. That is rude and a safety concern as far as I see it. I'm glad that no threats were made and nobody was touched. I won't stick up for my fellow employees who have any type of bad attitude or poor work ethic or don't follow some basic courtesy rules.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=thank%20you.%20%20that%27s%20what%20i%20hoped.%20%20i%20said%20some%20things%20after%20i%20walked%20away%28about%2020%20feet%29.%20%20no%20threats%20were%20made%20and%20nobody%20was%20touched.%20%20are%20you%20allowed%20to%20have%20phone%20plugs%20in%20your%20ears%20and%20the%20radio%20going%20in%20your%20truck%20where%20you%20can%27t%20hear%20people%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15736)
You are obviously referring to holiday gratuities, no need to hide that on this forum. We aren't really supposed to expect or accept cash tips but know that many of us do (me included). I can't really comment on who has a right to them. Maybe the comp man and the unassigned regular could split anything they get but I'm guessing there may not be enough trust to do that. I'm not really sure why the former carrier deserves anything if he voluntarily bid off that route for another assignment. I don't know what "aa" means but "as" means ass kisser. I guess I don't really agree with you in this situation and holiday gratuities really shouldn't be basis for any rules about bumping or holddowns. It really just seems to cause problems when it shouldn't even be entering into the picture.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=On%20the%20holddown%20scenario%20it%20sucks%20bc%20the%20holidays%20r%20coming%20up%20and%20that%20carrier%20had%20no%20right%20to%20u%20know%20what..%20The%20former%20carrier%20and%20the%20comp%20guy%20should%20reap%20the%20benefits%20for%20their%20hard%20work%2C%20especially%20when%20the%20unassigned%20is%20not%20well%20liked%20and%20aa%20ak&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16007)
If I were in motion, I'd safely pull over, put on my four-way flashers, and then get out to investigate. It's possible that my gas cap is hanging out the side of the LLV, the back gate isn't secure, or maybe I'm dragging something. It could also be something that I haven't thought of. If the motorist is still around I'd ask them what they are pointing out.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=While%20driving%20the%20vehicle%20to%20make%20a%20delivery%2C%20another%20motorist%20points%20towards%20the%20back%20of%20your%20vehicle%20as%20if%20something%20is%20wrong.%20What%20do%20you%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16012)
As a general rule, I think a letter carrier should be delivering mail to a mailbox unless they know or trust the person asking for the mail. If you are asking if they can bypass a house and not deliver mail at all, the main reason for refusing to deliver mail would be that the carrier feels their personal safety is in jeopardy due to a dog or other unsafe condition. They can also refuse to deliver the mail if safe access or access in general (door to an apt. Building is locked for an example) to the mailbox can't be assured. I don't know if the situation occurred to you which brought up this question. It is rare that I ever don't deliver mail to an address. Even if it's an unsafe construction area, I may give the mail to one of the workers who will put the mail in the mailbox.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Could%20any%20mailman%20refuse%20to%20give%20you%20your%20mail%20for%20any%20reason&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15531)
Nightclub Promoter
How do you decide who gets into your club?
Call Center Representative
What is the meanest thing a caller has ever said to you?
Bar Mitzvah DJ
Why are DJ's so unwilling to accommodate song requests?
I would give it back to you if I know who you are, or you can positively ID yourself, and if I can easily retrieve the letter. It's rarely happened to me and in each case in gave back the letter(s) to the sender. I can't speak to how another letter carrier would react to your request and I don't know if there are any rules specifically allowing or prohibiting this. We are not trained on how to handle this request as far as I can remember.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20i%20post%20a%20letter%20but%20didn%27t%20mean%20to%20can%20i%20go%20back%20and%20ask%20the%20postman%20if%20i%20can%20have%20it%20back%20before%20he%20takes%20it%20away&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15371)
Teri, generally the mailman will be running behind because the day after any holiday there is often a heavier quantity of mail to deliver. I can't speak for all offices, but most of my co-workers were probably 1:00-1:30 behind their regular schedule when they started deliveries today. There was a huge quantity of parcels to have sorted by the clerks (took awhile) and also delivering these takes longer . One other factor is that the sun sets earlier this time of year so delivering the mail in the dark takes even longer.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=is%20the%20mailman%20going%20to%20be%20running%20behind%20on%20the%20day%20after%20Thanksgiving%20with%20his%20mail%20delivery&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13970)
The only suggestion I'd have is to have your daughter or you contact the PO which delivers the mail to her and see if the key may still be in the mailbox for another resident and/or the package is still in the lockbox. It is disconcerting that if another resident errantly got the key and/or package that they wouldn't deliver it to the intended recipient. As a letter carrier I can tell you we make delivery mistakes on a somewhat regular basis. I am pretty accurate (though not 100%..nobody is) in my delivery, but some carriers don't care as much or are unfamiliar with an area and sometimes rush which can result in mistakes. I understand that the tracking is only somewhat helpful because it shows as delivered to the lock box but that doesn't help if your daughter didn't get the key.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20recently%20sent%20a%20pkg.%20to%20my%20grandson.%20The%20tracking%20%23%20says%20it%20was%20delivered%20and%20put%20in%20the%20lock%20box%20but%20my%20daughter%20says%20there%20is%20no%20key%20in%20her%20box.%20I%20am%20so%20afraid%20someone%20else%20got%20the%20key%20by%20mistake.%20What%20do%20we%20do%3F%20This%20is%20a%20priceless%20gift.%20Thanks&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16027)
-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
