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 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)
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)
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)
I am not sure there is a way to verify they were actually delivered by the PO. In general, an EDDM should only sit for a few days at most from what I've seen at the PO where I work. I don't know if there is a specific time frame that they must be delivered after being received by the delivery PO. If you called the destination POs, I don't think there is much hope that whoever you speak to could verify if they were delivered or not. There is a good chance they wouldn't even remember it. Basically all I can say is that they should've been delivered, but can't recommend a way to verify that your EDDM postcards were delivered. EDDM stands for Every Door Direct Mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20had%20a%20question%20about%20EDDM.%20%20I%20recently%20had%203000%20EDDM%20postcards%20delivered%20by%202%20local%20post%20offices.%20%20It%27s%20been%20about%20about%202%20weeks%20and%20I%20haven%27t%20heard%20anything%20as%20far%20as%20new%20clients%20go.%20%20Is%20there%20a%20way%20to%20verify%20they%20were%20delivered%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16427)
Peace Corps Volunteer
Are Peace Corps volunteers just a bunch of "hippie freaks?"
CPR Trainer
Are you supposed to perform CPR differently on a man vs. a woman?
CPR Trainer
Is it possible to perform CPR on animals?
I'm generally satisfied with the uniforms that we wear at the USPS and they haven't changed much since I've been working there. The only issue that I have with our uniforms that I can think of is that they are difficult to keep clean. I wear a satchel over my shoulder and carry mail in my arms so the shirt tends to get very dirty. The shoulder strap makes a mark on the uniform shirt where it rests. I admit that I don't wash the shirts as often as I should but they are hard to keep looking crisp nonetheless. I like the fact that we wear uniforms so there isn't much to think about wearing each day to work except the layering to keep me warm in the winter. Thank you for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20you%20could%20change%20anything%20about%20your%20uniform%20what%20would%20it%20be%3F%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17523)
I don't think there's any benefit for the USPS at all. I just think he's benefiting himself and it does seem unethical to me. It doesn't sound legal to take home any mail even though it's nondeliverable, nonreturnable, or excess advertisements. I just am not familiar with anybody enforcing it if it is illegal. On a similar note, there is a promotional pen company that sends out sample pens to potential customers. Sometimes the company has moved and the mail isn't forwardable. I'll take the pen out of the envelope and put the envelope into the NOVM (no obvious value mail) receptacle which each PO has. Again, it may not be legal, but I don't see the issue in taking it for personal use.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=The%20volume%20that%20he%20takes%20seems%20a%20bit%20unethical%20%26%20he%20has%20been%20known%20to%20take%20coupons%20for%20free%20items%2C%20B1G1%2C%20%2410%20off%20a%20%2410%20purchase%2C%20get%20the%20items%20in%20bulk%20then%20resells%20them%20on%20Craigslist%20or%20Ebay.%20Extra%20benefit%20for%20USPS%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16522)
To be honest with you, I don't know that there is any way to get the letter carrier removed from your neighborhood for the reason given. Has this affected the delivery of mail to your house? If so, I would recommend talking to a delivery supervisor or manager at your local post office. As long as your dogs are secure and the screen won't break and your mailbox isn't too close to the door, the letter carrier should deliver your mail as they would anyone else. I am not sure who has the ultimate authority whether or not it's "safe enough" to make the delivery. The USPS management does take a very proactive stance to stop letter carrier from being bitten by dogs, but we should be delivering the mail unless it is unsafe to do so. I should clarify that the decision might be up to the individual letter carrier whether or not they feel it is safe or not. I am quite afraid of dogs myself but have never not delivered mail due to a dog on the property. They have always been behind a screen or storm door or on a leash where they can't get to me. I know my answer to you is a bit vague, but carrier safety is the number one priority. Having said that there is sometimes a varying opinion on what is safe and what isn't and I'm not sure who gets to make the ultimate decision.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20anyway%20to%20get%20a%20letter%20carrier%20removed%20from%20my%20neighborhood.%20She%27s%20afraid%20of%20dogs%20and%20why%20she%20took%20the%20job%20in%20the%20first%20place%20is%20beyond%20me.%20My%20screen%20is%20secure.%20Have%20had%203%20dogs%20over%20the%20years%20and%20not%20once%20did%20they%20ever%20get%20out.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17575)
-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
