Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Wondering if mail is picked up from the blue outside mailboxes at the post office on a federal holiday (like 2-15-2016)? I figured I could drop it off tomorrow and it would be in the mail system and on its way one day earlier. It's a stamped envelope

Asked by DebB. about 9 years ago

I doubt that mail is picked up from the blue outside mailboxes on a federal holiday (02/15/16 Washington's Birthday, for example). I can only speak for where I work but I think there are no trucks with collection box mail going from most POs to a mail processing facility. At the PO where I work in Long Island, NY the building is shut on Sundays and Holidays (except for most of December when we deliver parcels from our PO) and nobody is emptying the blue outside collection boxes. In summary, whether you mail the letter this Monday (02/15/16) or Tuesday, (02/17/16) it shouldn't make a difference on the speed of processing it.

364 Votes

I was a floater who just got a route. Does my salary go down with getting a route in office as opposed to 5 different routes

Asked by jvitto48 about 9 years ago

I think you would like having your own route. It's a lot more relaxing than having to deal with 5 different carriers and their personalities. As far as pay goes, you are correct. It does decrease when you have your own route. It's not a significant decrease IMO. If you do a web search for City Carrier Pay Chart or Pay Scale, that should help. Also, you may go to www.nalc.org where the pay chart is available. You would look at City Carrier Level 1 and the table based on when you were hired. The yearly difference between a floater and someone with their own route probably never gets to be more than $1600, but the pay chart would show it more clearly.

364 Votes

I have had an issue with my mail carrier and filed a complaint against her, but she is still delivering mail. So I had my mail fwd to a PO Box. The carrier left a Vacant card in my home mailbox and now stops and checks it all the time. Why?

Asked by Jr almost 9 years ago

I can't say why your letter carrier does what you are mentioning. It's unfortunate that you have an issue with her. By saying that she is still delivering mail, I assume you mean that she still is working for the USPS as a letter carrier but not physically delivering mail to your residence because your mail is being forwarded to a PO Box. A vacant card is appropriate to be put in your mailbox so that anybody who is delivering mail on a route that includes your address would know not to leave any mail in it. It's also unfortunate that you have to now go to a PO Box to retrieve your mail plus pay a rental fee. Is it possible that the letter carrier is checking the mailbox to make sure no mail has been accidentally left there by someone else? I doubt that is the case because it seems like you and her were in a conflict and that she probably isn't going out of her way to help you. While I'm only hearing one side of this conflict (yours), I can certainly say there are some bad workers for the USPS and nothing would surprise me about the actions of some letter carriers.

364 Votes

Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Asked by Sophia Woodland almost 9 years ago

As I'm writing this reply on April 12, I'm pretty sure that the mail has been delivered on stonesboro rd in ft Washington, MD by now for April 8. ???? This q and a isn't for USPS customer service or any real-time questions. I mostly answer questions about being a letter carrier and possibly make suggestions if someone has a customer service problem that doesn't need immediate attention. With regards to your question, I think that only your local PO would know when and if mail was delivered to your street.

364 Votes

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If the post office is close, does that mean the mailman stops running?

Asked by Aracely about 9 years ago

Generally that would be correct. If the PO is closed due to poor weather conditions it would usually mean our whole retail and delivery operations have been suspended. I don't know if there are still processing operations going on at the mail plants. It isn't too common for us to suspend delivery for an entire day, but in blizzards or states of emergency, it could be necessary for us to do so.

364 Votes

put my company's mail in the Priority Express blue box instead of the regular one. Will these important documents be sorted correctly and reach their destination> Also will they be delayed severely because of this or arrive in a reasonable time? TNX

Asked by Lisa is going to be in trouble! over 8 years ago

I don't think you will be in trouble. Lisa, in my experience your mail should be processed normally so you need not worry. I don't often collect mail from the blue boxes as part of my assignment but if I saw regular mail in the Express Priority Blue Box I'd just put it with other outgoing mail in my postal vehicle and it'd be treated normally. I've never heard of outgoing mail being delayed by this. Thank you for your question.

364 Votes

How do you and the other letter carriers you know feel about all these extra parcels from SmartPost and SurePost that you're expected to deliver alongside the mail every day? Is it an annoyance? Sometimes if I order too much from Amazon I feel bad!

Asked by Scott over 8 years ago

Asking me and other letter carriers will likely get you 2 different answers. I think it's great to get the smartpost and surePost parcels to deliver alongside our regular mail. I view it as more business for the USPS, my employer. If my employer can get more business that would hopefully translate as better for the workers. I don't find it an annoyance whatsoever and know it's part of my job. If the volume of parcels gets too high I would possibly take longer to complete my route which translates into overtime pay which would be beneficial. The volume of parcels that I deliver is not overwhelming except around the holiday season. Amazon uses the USPS as well as other delivery companies to complete their delivery fulfillment. There are some coworkers who don't want to do any extra work and complain about everything so the extra parcels would annoy them. I feel they are close-minded and lazy. In so many cases I don't see the importance of US Mail nowadays with regards to financial statements and bills. That has been able to be done electronically for so many years now. Parcels are what our business should be happy to be delivering. Don't ever feel bad about ordering too much online. I know I wouldn't.

363 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Wondering if mail is picked up from the blue outside mailboxes at the post office on a federal holiday (like 2-15-2016)? I figured I could drop it off tomorrow and it would be in the mail system and on its way one day earlier. It's a stamped envelope

I was a floater who just got a route. Does my salary go down with getting a route in office as opposed to 5 different routes

I have had an issue with my mail carrier and filed a complaint against her, but she is still delivering mail. So I had my mail fwd to a PO Box. The carrier left a Vacant card in my home mailbox and now stops and checks it all the time. Why?

Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Also on Jobstr...

If the post office is close, does that mean the mailman stops running?

put my company's mail in the Priority Express blue box instead of the regular one. Will these important documents be sorted correctly and reach their destination> Also will they be delayed severely because of this or arrive in a reasonable time? TNX

How do you and the other letter carriers you know feel about all these extra parcels from SmartPost and SurePost that you're expected to deliver alongside the mail every day? Is it an annoyance? Sometimes if I order too much from Amazon I feel bad!

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Wondering if mail is picked up from the blue outside mailboxes at the post office on a federal holiday (like 2-15-2016)? I figured I could drop it off tomorrow and it would be in the mail system and on its way one day earlier. It's a stamped envelope

I was a floater who just got a route. Does my salary go down with getting a route in office as opposed to 5 different routes

I have had an issue with my mail carrier and filed a complaint against her, but she is still delivering mail. So I had my mail fwd to a PO Box. The carrier left a Vacant card in my home mailbox and now stops and checks it all the time. Why?

Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Also on Jobstr...

If the post office is close, does that mean the mailman stops running?

put my company's mail in the Priority Express blue box instead of the regular one. Will these important documents be sorted correctly and reach their destination> Also will they be delayed severely because of this or arrive in a reasonable time? TNX

How do you and the other letter carriers you know feel about all these extra parcels from SmartPost and SurePost that you're expected to deliver alongside the mail every day? Is it an annoyance? Sometimes if I order too much from Amazon I feel bad!

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