Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

I was wondering if you would know how I would go about trying to find the last name of a letter carrier from 1967 in Brooklyn, NY.

Asked by Barbara about 9 years ago

Barbara, I have no idea how that information would be found with the USPS. I also don't know If those type of HR/Personnel records are public. Before 1971, the USPS was the Post Office Department, an executive branch of the US Government. Even if the information was available I don't know who would be helpful enough in the current USPS HQ or Human Resources Department to look this up. It would seem like a needle in a haystack and I don't have confidence you'd get anywhere in your search. This is based on my personal observations of my employer, not through any knowledge of your specific question.

Been getting message on scanner when scanning a parcel on street, "is this a duplicate mail piece" scanner icon says no, so when l press enter it goes to barcode so l scan delivered. Is that right, bc when I hit yes in another instance comes up 2,

Asked by jrvitto48 about 10 years ago

You are doing it correctly by choosing "no" when the question comes on the MDD asking "is this a duplicate mailpiece". The next screen should say "label scanned in error" and then let you choose "delivered". I get this message when I accidentally have scanned a mailpiece twice in a row. The scanner is asking if you have 2 mail pieces with the same USPS tracking number which shouldn't happen. It has nothing to do whether or not it was ever scanned in the office by a clerk. The MDD doesn't hold that information. I think the only time you'd get two packages with identical tracking numbers is if the mailer printed out the same label twice and attached it to two separate items. This would be cheating the USPS out of revenue. I've seen this happen before but it is rare.

Welcome to Massapequa, anything goes, leave it at that

Asked by jvitto48 over 10 years ago

Okay, I believe it. The contract is only as good as the mgmt and the workforce and shop stewards agree to enforce it. I see things that happen in my office which may not be the correct thing if the contract were followed to the letter, but they seem like rational solutions. It's a tricky balance in our office due to chronic short staffing and incompetence of both supervisors and coworkers. Some workers are very dedicated and do the job well. They don't need to be superstars. Others seem to purposefully work against the system and try to make everything as difficult and slow and crappy as possible. They often tend to the loudest, least mature, and least educated.

Hit yes the package number comes up two times. So confused so hot enter gets delivered. Do l hit yes or no, how do l know it's was scanned, it should be scanned in office by clerk so why does it come up duplicate?

Asked by jrvitto48 about 10 years ago

Funny that this is kind of a duplicate question and we are talking about duplicates. You are doing it correctly by choosing "no" when the question comes on the MDD asking "is this a duplicate mailpiece". The next screen should say "label scanned in error" and then let you choose "delivered". I get this message when I accidentally have scanned a mailpiece twice in a row. The scanner is asking if you have 2 mail pieces with the same USPS tracking number which shouldn't happen. It has nothing to do whether or not it was ever scanned in the office by a clerk. The MDD doesn't hold that information. I think the only time you'd get two packages with identical tracking numbers is if the mailer printed out the same label twice and attached it to two separate items. This would be cheating the USPS out of revenue. I've seen this happen before but it is rare.

2. If I'm attending orientation does that mean I am hired as a CCA? I was told it is my first day of work and will be paid. So I guess I have it? or can i still be terminated if I performly poorly in the LLV?

Asked by Dee almost 10 years ago

You certainly are paid when you go to orientation. The current CCA pay rate is approximately $16.10/hr. You will likely have to file HR paperwork if you'd like direct deposit or maybe it's all done electronically now. It sounds like you are hired, however there is a 90-day probationary period where you can be fired with not much recourse. If you can't perform sufficiently enough in the LLV or whichever vehicle they are training you in its possible you'll be terminated. Also, if you don't perform your job duties sufficiently and safely enough within the first 90 days you can also be terminated. Being on time and regular in attendance is also important. Many CCAs quit or are let go during this probationary period. I'd guess the attrition rate where I work is 50%. I truly like this job a lot though many others don't. As a CCA it's particularly difficult because each day you could be doing something different in an area you aren't familiar with. In my opinion it's worth it because most CCAs I've worked with become a regular career carrier within 18 months. Again, your mileage may vary. Once you are a regular carrier there is a guarantee of at least 40 hrs per week of work, benefits, and pretty solid job security. Dee, take one step at a time. Report to orientation and see how that goes and if you like it. The NALC has a brochure you can access online called "City Carrier Assistant Rights and Benefits" nalc.org That is the national union that represents City Letter Carriers nationwide,









Hey MailmanDave! I'm back again, yes I am full of questions... Do you know what Orientation is like? What happens? Also, curious about the next step after orientation.

Asked by Dee almost 10 years ago

It has been many years since I've had orientation so I can't tell you exactly what it's about. If I remember correctly, it was 3 days long (usually not at the office where you will be a CCA) which included a carrier academy where you "practice" sorted some mail and learn a lot about working safely including how to avoid dog confrontations. You also learn about the different classes of mail and how to forward mail and how to handle express mail and certified mail. Once you report to an office you may be assigned a trainer who may take you around for 3 days with them to deliver a route. Also please remember that as a CCA you may be required to work Sundays and Holidays to deliver Amazon parcels if your office/area participates in that program. You really need to be flexible in the number of hours and which hours you will be asked to work. Thanks for your questions and keep them coming if you think of anything else. Please remember that I'm just basing these answers at my experience at my Post Office. As they say online, YMMV (your mileage may vary). 

Can postman have rounds that include their own address?

Asked by Keri almost 10 years ago

I don't know of any rule against this. I haven't seen it in my office much (or at all) but several letter carriers (4 I think) live in the towns where we service.