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.
Congratulations on being hired as a CCA. I wear black shoes that have the SR/USA tag required by the USPS. These can be purchased using your uniform allowance which you may not receive for several months after being hired and passing probation. The brands I use are New Balance and Rocky. I've never had a problem with their comfort, just that I usually have to replace them every 6 months or so due to the amount of walking I do daily. If you don't have a uniform allowance I'd say to wear whatever is comfortable to you like an athletic shoe. Don't wear anything fancy because it will inevitably get dirty in no time.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=i%20just%20got%20a%20job%20as%20a%20cca%20in%20the%20ny%20triboro%20area%20and%20want%20to%20know%20what%20the%20most%20comfortable%20sneaker%20is%20to%20wear&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16010)
That is very considerate of you to wonder if we will be annoyed by you receiving so many parcels. Have you worked out with the local USPS if you can pick them up daily? At the office where I work I don't think that would be allowed unless you are a PO Box renter or have made an arrangement that I wouldn't know about. . If packages are addressed to your residence or office they would be delivered since that is our service. I know that I'd never be annoyed if someone received many packages on a regular basis. That's our business. I can't say that other coworkers would be so positive as I am but I wouldn't be concerned. If you use a private mailbox service it is possible that the USPS is still delivering the items to the private mail company known as a CMRA and you'd be picking up your packages there.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20will%20be%20receiving%2030-50%20textbook%20size%20packages%20a%20day%20in%20the%20mail%20for%20a%20small%20business%20I%20am%20starting.%20I%20will%20pick%20them%20up%20daily%20but%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20that%20will%20annoy%20the%20post%20office%20workers%3F%20Should%20I%20take%20my%20business%20to%20a%20private%20mailbox%20service%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16295)
If it was a blank envelope with cash in it, I have no idea how it can be retrieved. I know this doesn't help you, but I'd have just left the item in the box if I saw no postage and no address on it. The letter carrier probably put it in the outgoing mail which is usually sent to a processing facility. There'd be no way to trace it back to your mother's address. To answer your question, I'd surmise that the envelope containing the cash is gone forever.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20left%20cash%20in%20an%20envelope%20in%20my%20mom%27s%20mailbox.%20Unfortunately%20the%20mail%20carrier%20made%20it%20there%20before%20she%20did%2C%20and%20picked%20up%20the%20envelope%20%28assuming%20it%20was%20outgoing.%29%20The%20envelope%20was%20blank.%20Is%20there%20any%20way%20we%20can%20retrieve%20it%20--%20or%20is%20it%20gone%20forever%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16358)
Are you referring to having a pen for a signature of accountable mail like a certified or registered item? I would say we are supposed to carry a pen because we sometimes have to leave a notice that we attempted a delivery but were not able to leave the item for whatever reason. With the current mail data collection device items can be signed for directly on an electronic screen with a stylus or fingernail. No pen is required unless the sender has requested a return receipt to be signed. Basically it is good practice to carry a pen at all times while delivering the mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20you%20supposed%20to%20carry%20an%20ink%20pen%20so%20letters%20that%20require%20one%20can%20be%2C%20and%20you%20can%20carry%20on%20with%20your%20day%2C%20or%20is%20it%20the%20recipients%20responsibility%20to%20have%20an%20ink%20pen%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16363)
Private Detective
Has anyone ever caught you surveilling them, and what happened?
EMT
What was the most gruesome trauma you witnessed while on the job?
Professor
Are professors really subject to the "Publish or Perish" policy?
I don't think so. The request has never been made of me but generally once mail has been delivered it would seem to be in the possession of the recipient even if they haven't actually retrieved the item from their mailbox. I've also never heard of anybody else having this requested so my advice for the future is be careful what you mail because it is almost definitely a one-way trip.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=can%20a%20postman%20retrieve%20mail%20i%20sent%20if%20it%27s%20still%20in%20the%20recievers%20mailbox%20if%20i%20request%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16177)
Sure, I don't think there are any restrictions on this whatsoever. I have a friend of the family who met his future wife while delivering mail to her. I think it's important to keep it professional while delivering the mail and don't do any special favors or inappropriate while in uniform. I mean having lunch with them would seem fine to me, but don't have them follow you around if you are delivering mail on foot. Romance can bloom anywhere. Two of my former coworkers met while working at the PO and later became married and have a child and work in separate locations.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20you%20allowed%20to%20date%20someone%20who%20is%20on%20your%20route%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16107)
Congratulations on being offered and accepting the CCA position. I don't know what you'd be required to drive in Manhattan. In our office all carriers are trained on the LLV and on the 2-ton postal truck, but I haven't driven the latter in years and would be reluctant to if asked due to my lack of familiarity with it and I, too, don't like the size of it. In Manhattan I don't like to drive at all. It is so congested and some streets are pretty narrow. Besides the 2-ton I don't see too many other postal vehicles driven in Manhattan. Many CCAs work on Sunday's delivering Amazon parcels which requires driving. You may ask at orientation about this or if you felt comfortable you could ask a letter carrier that you might see delivering in Manhattan the same question which you posted here. Always wear your seatbelt and good luck David!
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%2C%20Dave.%20I%20just%20accept%20a%20CCA%20position%20in%20Manhattan%20district%20in%20New%20York%20City.%20Do%20I%20need%20to%20drive%20the%202%20ton%20postal%20van%3F%20Even%20though%20I%20have%20my%20driver%27s%20license%20for%20more%20than%2010%20years.%20I%27ve%20never%20driven%20a%20car%20this%20size.%20Especially%20in%20a%20city%20like%20NY&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16274)
-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
