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.
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)
The Facebook Link does work, but why do I only see one photo with a date stamp of 2012? As far as what we are a.lowed to do I don’t think an LLV should be parked for :45 in front of the house of a letter carrier as we only are allotted :30 for lunch and that includes any travel time. I will say that enforcement of any rules regarding this is far from uniform. Our organization is entirely inconsistent in so many ways and some supervisors don’t care what you do as long as you don’t get hurt and don’t cost them overtime unnecessarily. Others are more strict and sometimes they play favorites which I find entirely unprofessional. The bottom line as far as your question is: I don’t think it’s appropriate but I can’t say for sure that the carrier is doing something against the rules. One letter carrier in my office used to drive his delivery vehicle home for lunch as his delivery route was nearby his house. , but he never stayed for more than about :25.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Are%20u%20allowed%20to%20go%20home%20with%20your%20llvs%3F%201%20carrier%20here%20does%20up%20to%2045%20minutes%20a%20day%20right%20after%20doing%20office%20work.%20Home%20is%20south%20of%20post%20office.%20Route%20is%20north%20of%20post%20office.%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frobert.philips.1675%20.%20Saw%20again%20today.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19167)
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)
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)
Basketball Referee
Do you think the nets should be lower for girls?
Claims Adjuster
Will you get disciplined if you approve too many claims?
Starbucks Barista
If a homeless person wants to use your bathroom, are you supposed to stop him?
I can't really comment on any specifics that are happening with regards to your mail delivery. I do agree 100% that you should be receving every piece of mail that a mailer has paid for you to get. This would include any mailing that isn't addressed but goes to each address on the route and is labeled "postal customer". As I've stated before I'm sure it goes on at the PO where I work as well. From top to bottom there are some apathetic and lazy employees. Please do write to your US Senator or the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and make a report of what you believe is happening. I would first take it up with your local post office but that could prove fruitless.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Ref%20below.%20Started%20after%20sub%20carrier%20removed%20from%20my%20route%204%20not%20delivering%20my%20catalogs.%20Reg%20carrier%20did%20this%202x.%20Other%20carrier%28union%20rep%29%20put%20something%20back%20in%20bag%20%26%20went%20on.%20Not%20receive%20%20Red%2FWhite%20Kroger%20coupons%205%2F24.%20Time%202%20write%20US%20Senator%20again&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18644)
It should be a very straightforward process as to who is awarded an assignment. Seniority is usually the main determining factor. In your case I don't know why they would say you won the bid and then later say someone higher in seniority bid for it. I would ask to see evidence of the bid and that it was submitted in time by the person with more seniority than you. I've never seen this conflict happen before where I work. If you can bid for other offices in your city I thought the process was fully automated. I am not sure what advice to give you. A union shop steward may be able to help you but maybe they are involved in person with higher seniority get assigned to the route that you got.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%20A%20month%20ago%20i%20bidded%20on%20a%20route%20and%20i%20got%20the%20news%20that%20i%20got%20it.%20I%20started%20working%20in%20the%20route%20and%20then%20i%20hear%20that%20someone%20else%20posted%20for%20the%20position%20also%20and%20that%20he%20had%20more%20seniority%20than%20I.%20I%20am%20ask%20to%20give%20him%20the%20route&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18730)
I wish. LOL. I’m sure there are some that do get hit on often and some carriers may be the ones doing the flirting. I think it’s inappropriate to do if it’s excessive or the person being hit on feels uncomfortable and if it’s unwanted. I rarely have been hit on or flirted with. I mostly just do my job and try to stay professional. There are certainly cases of carriers meeting their future mates either at work or on the postal route. It’s all good when the relationship is getting on well. I’m sure it can be uncomfortable or ugly if it doesn’t end well. Good question by the way.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=do%20letter%20carriers%20get%20hit%20on%20a%20lot%3F%20like%20flirting%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/19355)
-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
