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.
Thanks Jessica. It’s not me in the photo. I’m not sure if I could put up a photo (I mean I don’t know if it’s an option). I wouldn’t put one up though because I’m not authorized to speak on behalf of the USPS and would prefer my id isn’t known to anybody who may call me out for doing this and tell me to cease or possibly discipline me. It also allows me to be openly critical and honest where I feel it’s warranted. I’m sure the letter carrier liked that you came onto him. I don’t think I’d mind either if I liked the woman. I will now call you “homewrecker”. Absolutely just kidding.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20that%20is%20you%20in%20the%20picture%20I%20would%20say%20you%20are%20attractive.%20And%20he%20didn%27t%20flirt%20until%20I%20came%20on%20to%20him.%20But%20I%27m%20understanding%20that%20he%20can%27t%20just%20walk%20in%20one%20day%20and%20say%20my%20wife%27s%20mad%20I%20need%20a%20new%20route.%20Thank%20you%20so%20much%20for%20answering%20my%20questions%2C&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19361)
I don't know what can and can't be delivered to PO Boxes. The mailer decides that and I'm guessing when it comes to immigration or citizenship papers there may need to be a physical address to receive the mail in the US but I truly don't know. I don't know much about mail forwarding companies either. There are businesses called CMRAs which stands for "commercial mail receiving agency" (an example is the The UPS Store) which have private mailboxes for rent. I don't know, however, if that is a sufficient alternate to a PO Box for important documents delivery. The address for a CMRA usually reads, for example, "Name of recipient, street address, PMB xxx, city, state, ZIP". PMB stands for Private Mailbox. I don't know if the department that handles immigration and Green Cards can provide further information.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi.%20I%20have%20a%20question%20regarding%20delivery%20of%20important%20documents%2C%20like%20Green%20Card.%20I%27ve%20heard%20that%20you%20guys%20don%27t%20deliver%20them%20to%20PO%20Boxes.%20But%20i%20need%20to%20provide%20an%20address%20before%20i%27ll%20go%20to%20US.%20What%20are%20my%20options%3F%20A%20mail%20forwarding%20company%20will%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18909)
It's very common for people not to check their mailbox daily (me included). If there is mail in there from previous days I generally wouldn't look for any outgoing mail. Outgoing mail should have uncanceled postage and be clearly visible when you open the mailbox. Sometimes people leave the lid open or place the letters vertically to show that they have outgoing mail. If the item has no postage I just leave it there. Other people or companies aren't supposed to leave items in a mailbox but it's common and I just ignore it. Landscapers or oil delivery companies sometimes leave an invoice in the mailbox. Every now and again I forget to take someone's outgoing mail, but not often. Some mailboxes may have a red plastic flag that is put in the "up" position to notify the letter carrier that there may be outgoing mail. Upon collection of the mail, the letter carrier should put the flag in the "down" position. These flags are more common in a rural or suburban delivery environment.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20do%20you%20know%20if%20what%20is%20in%20the%20mailbox%20is%20outgoing%20mail%20to%20be%20collected%20or%20if%20the%20resident%20just%20left%20something%20in%20their%20mailbox%3F%20I%20know%20sometimes%20people%20forget%20to%20check%20their%20mailbox%20everyday%20%26%20sometimes%20a%20neighbor%20may%20leave%20somethin%20in%20the%20box&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17406)
I don't know the minimum distance that one must have a car from a curbside (mounted) delivery mailbox. Normally as long as the postal delivery vehicle can access the mailbox without the letter carrier needing to leave the vehicle to make the delivery that should be sufficient. We are supposed to minimize the amount of times that we put our vehicle in reverse so the letter carrier may also need clearance in front of the mailbox so he may safely drive to the next delivery point. It also may depend on the personality of the letter carrier. They are allowed to refuse delivering of the mail to any address where they need to exit the vehicle but for many letter carriers it may be easier to just leave the vehicle and walk a few feet to the mailbox rather than having to "flag the house", bring the mail back to the PO, and reattempt delivery on the next delivery day. I suppose if it's a chronic problem or they would need to get out for each stop due to vehicle blockage it would be time consuming and the management may even tell the carrier not to do that. I don't have any curbside deliveries on the route I deliver. If I'm helping out on another route which does have curbside deliveries I tend to get out where necessary and deliver the mail. I don't like to bring back any mail to the PO that should've been delivered. Again, all of this is my opinion and I don't know the actual rules which govern your question except, as stated above, the carrier should be able to approach and leave your mailbox without having to get out of their delivery vehicle.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20many%20feet%20from%20the%20mailbox%20does%20a%20car%20need%20to%20be%20parked%20for%20the%20mail%20carrier%20to%20deliver%20mail%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18794)
Freelance Writer
Can a freelance writer live comfortably?
Day Care Provider
Is it ok w/your employer if you babysit one of the kids outside of daycare hours?
Auto Mechanic
What car brands are most/least likely to end up in the shop?
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)
I have heard of this happening before. A customer showed me her Informed Delivery email and the image of an item that should've been delivered that day but wasn't. I said I had no idea why the letter wouldn't be in the mail but asked her to wait until the following day to see if the letter would arrive. The letter did arrive the next day so that issue was resolved. I hope it is the same case with your missing paycheck. I overheard from a supervisor what the problem would be. Apparently the letter is imaged somewhere in the automated mail sortation process before the very last step of being placed in a tray of mail in delivery sequence. This is one possible reason why the letter was not in the mail delivery the day it should have been. It is also possible that the letter is missorted by our automation and/or misdelivered. Hopefully this isn't too common of an occurrence when compared to the quantity of mail delivered each day. I hope this helps and thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20subscribe%20to%20the%20new-ish%20%22Informed%20Delivery%20Service3%22%20that%20started%20in%20aroud%202016.%0ABwwn%20using%20it%20now%20for%20about%204%20months%2C%20impressed.%20One%20isssue%3A%20I%20saw%20the%20phtograph%20of%20my%202nd%20paycheck%20%28a%20%22one-ff%22%2C%20stipend%29%20Monday%20morning%2C%20but%20wasnt%20in%20my%20box%20later%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18951)
Letter carriers sometimes have a choice to move to other neighborhoods/assignments based on a seniority-based bidding process. As other carriers retire or move on to other assignments this creates vacancies to be filled, often by lesser-seniority personnel. Sometimes there are newer employees who may be on the same route for awhile just filling in for someone who may be on Long-term leave for illness or injury or military leave. I have been on the same route for 15 years and can stay on it indefinitely unless there is an office reorganization. I can also bid to another route (if I prefer to) if a vacancy is available to be filled and my seniority is enough to move to that route.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20noticed%20that%20I%20had%20a%20new%20mailman%20today%2C%20and%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20they%20change%20route%2C%20how%20often%20and%20why%3F%20I%20was%20getting%20used%20to%20him%20after%20moving%20to%20my%20new%20neighborhood.%20Just%20curious...&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19354)
-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
