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.
This job message board isn't a customer service site to advise when mail will be delivered to a specific address. Depending on staffing and quality of the operations at your local PO will have an impact as to when your mail is delivered. In my experience mail is usually delivered between 0930 and 1800 but have heard about mail being delivered much later in some locations. If you called the USPS general customer service number i don't think they'd give you anymore of a specific answer either.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=what%20time%20mail%20man%20delivers%20mail%20in%20181%20willow%20rd%2018%20san%20ysidro%20ca%2092173&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17766)
For the drive and drop, I have heard that the satchel should be used as a protection in case of a dog attack. I can’t verify that is true, but I’ve rarely seen any carriers use their satchel for this type of delivery. I deliver to many houses using this method and have never carried a satchel with me. As far as seat belt use is concerned, I put it on each time I go anywhere even if just between houses that are near each other. For me, seatbelt use is an absolute all of the time. It’s an automated muscle memory item so I don’t even think about it.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20route%20is%20a%20drive%20and%20drop%20for%209%20houses%2C%20an%20anonymous%20source%20said%20l%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20to%20use%20my%20satchel%2C%20l%20disagree%20and%20does%20the%20carrier%20have%20to%20use%20seat%20belt%20after%20every%20stop%2C%20not%20sure%20on%20that%2C%20thanks%20again&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19563)
Martha, I have no knowledge in the field of hiring and retests for when one fails an LLV test. Since you are applying for a different position at a different location, it's possible they let you retake the exam, but I'm just guessing.
I have no idea about the internal communications of USPS HR and if one dept or location would even know about the other. I'm guessing with the internal HR technology that they might share information about your past applications to the USPS but have no idea what impact that would have for your future hiring prospects. It is very important to learn how to drive the LLV safely and responsibly. I hope you get to take the exam again because I found that once you learn how to operate an LLV safely it becomes second nature even though the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%2C%20I%20recently%20failed%20the%20LLV%20test%20for%20RCA%20and%20I%20asked%20if%20I%20can%20retake%20the%20test%20again%20but%20their%20answer%20is%20their%20are%20not%20sure.%20I%20was%20told%20I%20was%20ineligible%20for%20that%20position.%20I%20interviewed%20for%20CCA%20will%20I%20be%20able%20to%20retake%20it%20since%20it%27s%20diff%20location.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18080)
Jessica, that is an interesting story. A little bit of light soap opera drama perhaps. Thanks for sharing your story and glad I could help with any insight of how easy (or not easy) it is to change routes.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27m%20definitely%20not%20uncomfortable.%20I%20just%20thought%20it%20was%20strange%20he%20wasn%27t%20replying%20to%20my%20messages%20all%20of%20a%20sudden%20and%20then%20I%20saw%20the%20new%20carrier.%20I%20assumed%20his%20wife%20found%20out%20how%20flirty%20he%20was%20and%20made%20him%20change%20routes.%20But%20this%20happened%20this%20week.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19360)
Meter Maid
What's the meanest thing anyone's ever said to you?
Geek Squad Agent/Supervisor
What's the biggest scene a customer's ever made in the store?
Sitcom Writer
Is reality TV here to stay?
Congratulations Mr. fulltime. That's a clever name. As far as any tips or advice I have a few. First, you are there to serve the residents or businesses on the routes, not the regular carrier who normally does the route. This means you don't have to do any favors or anything that the regular asks you to do for the customers. Please just be conscientious about delivering the mail properly and accurately. I'd recommend not going too fast just to get the route done. It's best to go at a consistent moderate pace and don't waste time on your cell phone texting and talking to people when you should be focused on working safely and efficiently. If you aren't sure about a certain delivery or maybe how to do a route, you can ask the regular carrier and hopefully they will help you. I have a route which I deliver daily, but when I have a non-scheduled day, the T6 delivers it. I give my "floater" or "comp person" the information they'd need re: houses where there are vacancies or forwards or dogs to be aware of. If the regular carrier comes in for his non-scheduled day for OT, it's possible (depending on how your office operates) you could be "bumped" off that assigned route for the day and deliver another route in the office. My advice would also be to try to stay out of any office politics if possible. Having the same route to deliver daily, I don't need to know much about what else is happening at the PO. Good luck to you, sir!
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=In%20less%20than%20two%20weeks%20I%20will%20be%20converted%20to%20full%20time%20on%20a%20T6%20route.%20Do%20you%20have%20any%20tips%20or%20advice%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18155)
Jvitto48, thanks for your question but I’m sorry that I can’t give you any assistance in this matter. I don’t know if your local shop steward or area representative can help with this. I’ve never been too involved with any rte inspections, or if I have, it was so many years ago and I don’t remember. NALC has a 2012 “guide to route inspections” available online as a PDF but it’s 188 pages long and may not even address your question about base parcel amount. I don’t know how the base parcel amount is arrived at. I also don’t know if it includes every scannable parcel. My generic advice is to take all authorized lunches and breaks, as well as one or two bathroom breaks if needed. I know route inspections can make people anxious but my attitude has always been that whatever time it takes is valid as long as you aren’t obviously extending your street time. I’ve received between 1-5 sampling requests daily and I know that is a valid use of time while scanning the flats and letters. Good luck on the inspection. I know that’s easy for me to say not being involved. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20is%20the%20amount%20of%20time%20a%20carrier%20for%20parcels%20over%20the%20base%20amount.%20%20Or%20what%20is%20my%20base%20parcel%20amount%20for%20a%20route.%20Had%20100%20%E2%80%9Cscanner%20hits%E2%80%9D%20went%20over%2040%20minutes%20street%2C%20took%20lunch%20and%2010%20minute%20break%2C%20doing%20route%20inspections%20next%20month%20in%20Massapequa&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19551)
I don't think you'd get in trouble for that. The recipient may question why the mail and documents look water damaged but I don't know that they could pinpoint it was you who sent it in that condition. Mail is often wet when I deliver it in the rain. It's difficult during downpours to keep it dry and to be honest I don't try that hard to keep it completely dry. The bottom of my mail satchel gets wet very easily so when I carry mail in it the edge of the mail will often get wet. If the recipient has an issue with the condition their mail came in they may just ask you to resubmit the documents if that is possible. Thanks for the question and I hope I helped you.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20sent%20out%20documents%20and%20mail%20that%20got%20wet%2C%20will%20i%20get%20in%20trouble%2C%20and%20will%20anyone%20know%20it%20was%20me%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18856)
-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
