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 see on a map you are referring to towns in MN that are about 55 miles apart. That's the mileage from Chaska, MN to Zimmerman, MN. I'd say it's approximately 2 days to get from the origin to the destination. For example, if the letter was mailed on a Tuesday before the collection deadline it should be delivered by Thursday. I hope this answers your question. It's also not a good idea to send actual cash through the mail if you can avoid it.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20someone%20sends%20you%20mail%20today%20from%20Chaska%20and%20Elk%20River%20what%20day%20will%20it%20show%20up%20in%20Zimmerman%3F%20Let%27s%20say%20if%20someone%20needs%20money%20for%20a%20form%20thing%20and%20they%20send%20it%20that%20day%20how%20long%20will%20it%20take%20to%20show%20up%20at%20that%20place%20they%20sent%20it%20at%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16498)
That's a great question Cindy that I don't know the answer to but I'm embarrassed for the USPS that they would tolerate such lying. I believe if a letter carrier actually attempts to deliver a package or piece of accountable mail they should ring a bell or knock on the door and wait a minute or so before leaving a PS 3849. I know that Amazon.com wants all of their Prime parcels delivered by a specifc date and if they aren't at least attempted, maybe someone in the USPS supervision is held accountable. I'm not really sure. I have seen in our office that parcels that weren't delivered (either missorted or the carrier missed the house and didn't have time to go back) would get an "attempted" scan which is false. I've never done this nor have I ever been asked to do it. I'd refuse because it is dishonest. It also confuses customers when the package may say "attempted" when tracked and the customer knows full well that an attempt wasn't made.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Y%20is%20the%20po%20lying%20about%20if%20we%20are%20home%20or%20not%20when%20delivering%20%0AThey%20just%20put%20pink%20slips%20don%27t%20even%20ring%20the%20bell&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16045)
It's possible that either things happened. It may depend on where you live, but actually having things from mailboxes where I work is quite rare. As far as a letter carrier taking it out of the mailbox, I can't really say. Some letter carriers are strict and say nothing can be in the mailbox except US Mail. If they take it out I'm not sure what they'd be doing with it. I am not really sure how you'd find out. I doubt the PO would be of much help. As much as I don't like things left in mailboxes that aren't US mail, if I can clearly see it's not outgoing mail, I'll usually just leave it and put the mail in the box. I have to stress that I can predict the actions of other letter carriers. I've seen too many who don't care and can be vindictive toward customer which I don't understand.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=So%20a%20friend%20put%20something%20in%20my%20mailbox%20thinking%20I%20would%20get%20it%2C%20%28she%20puts%20like%20books%20and%20things%29%2C%20is%20it%20possible%20that%20if%20she%20put%20a%20bag%20in%20there%20that%20the%20mailman%20would%20have%20taken%20it%20out%3F%20Just%20curious%20and%20hoping%20it%20wasn%27t%20a%20thief...%20Thanks%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16057)
Jay, I don't know what happened to your package. It would be odd for a package from TX bound for GA to wind up in OH once already being in GA. My guess is that it was somehow missorted and put on a truck or plane to OH. As long as it was addressed properly there is a very good chance it will soon make it back to GA and be delivered to you. While I can't guarantee this, it would take multiple sorting and delivery errors for you not to receive your package. There will be a delay of at least a day or two until you finally receive the package (assuming that you do receive it).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20in%20GA.%20I%20am%20expecting%20a%20pkg%20from%20TX%20soon%20and%20when%20I%20last%20tracked%20it%20online%20it%20was%20in%20GA.%20A%20few%20hours%20later%20I%20track%20it%20again%20and%20its%20now%20in%20OH.%20What%20happened%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15818)
Starbucks Barista
If a homeless person wants to use your bathroom, are you supposed to stop him?
Employment Lawyer
Can I be sued for asking a co-worker on a date?
Basketball Referee
Do you think the nets should be lower for girls?
As far as I know you are allowed to. I know some carriers who have portable radios or just use their PED to play music. As far as a cell phone goes, I'm pretty sure you can use it as long as it is hands free. I have a route where I walk most of the day and I listen to podcasts on my iPhone. I have one earphone in and leave the other ear free. I think it's inappropriate and a bit unsafe to have both ears covered while delivering on foot or driving. The outside noise is important to hear if a car is coming or a customer that may need your attention. From time to time, there may be a safety talk or notice at work about the use of personal electronic devices but it doesn't seem too strict or maybe just not enforced. I don't like seeing my colleagues have both ears covered while delivering mail, but I'm not a supervisor so I don't address this issue.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20you%20allowed%20to%20listen%20to%20music%20in%20your%20truck%3F%20Say%20for%20a%20cell%20phone&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15017)
I don't know at all about the requirements for what vehicles are allowed for delivering US Mail. We use Postal-owned vehicles where I work. When I was first hired we sometimes used our own vehicles for mail delivery and didn't know of any requirements. We were only doing park and loop and foot routes with our own vehicles. The rural route carriers had privately owned right hand drive vehicles for mail delivery. I would recommend looking at the website or contacting the NRLCA, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. I know that city carriers (which I am) would sign a CDOA which was a Carrier Drive Out Agreement that would stipulate what is required and what the compensation would be for using your own vehicle.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20work%20for%20the%20Postal%20service%20can%20I%20have%20a%202%20door%20car%20to%20deliver%20Mail.%20its%20a%202006%20Honda%20Civic%20and%20I%20plan%20to%20put%20the%20steering%20in%20the%20right%20side%20but%20I%20want%20to%20make%20sure%20that%20a%202%20door%20car%20is%20ok%20to%20Deliver%20mail%20in%20a%20personal%20car%2C%20and%20not%20a%204%20door.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16230)
Will, I am not a rural carrier so I'm not sure how much my tips would help because as city carriers, we are paid for whatever time we work. There is almost an incentive not to work as quickly, but I think most city carrier's give a fair shake and not try to make their day longer. At least I don't do that because I enjoy my free time. My main tip would try to be very organized both in the office and on the route. Work efficiently, but safely, especially when driving. I load my parcels in the order of delivery or close to it. Being more organized does initially take more time, but you should come back with a pretty empty truck not having forgotten anything to deliver. Do you case your DPS letter size mail? If not, you can take it to the street and go through it as you deliver and not waste time in the PO casing it. City Letter carriers generally don't see the DPS letter mail until we finger through it at the delivery point. Along the route and in the office, try not to waste time talking to too many people.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20am%20an%20RCA%20.%20I%20have%20been%20carrying%207%20months.%20I%20work%20a%20different%20route%20every%20day.%20I%20can%20typically%20get%20done%20right%20at%20my%20evaluated%20time%20but%20I%20can%27t%20seem%20to%20get%20done%20before.%20On%20real%20heavy%20days%2C%20forget%20it.%20I%27m%20out%20there%20until%206.%20Any%20tips%20to%20speed%20up%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15555)
-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
