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 is a bit of a lengthy process to replace the massive fleet of delivery vehicles for the USPS. From what I’ve read the testing phase of approximately 5 competing proposals is almost complete and a decision will be made later this year (2019). From that point it would probably take a few years to fully replace our fleet of LLVs. I don’t know if the current financial difficulties of the USPS would impact the timeline for this process. As far as old jeeps being used, I don’t know if some places still use it. With the volume of packages we deliver nowadays, they’d seem entirely inefficient. I haven’t seen them used in years, but I can’t speak for the entire country. At this point, they’d be well over 25 years old.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27ve%20been%20hearing%20that%20the%20US%20Postal%20Service%20was%20going%20to%20get%20new%20trucks%20but%20I%27ve%20been%20hearing%20that%20for%20years%20when%20will%20that%20even%20happen.%20Also%20I%20heard%20some%20places%20still%20use%20the%20old%20jeeps%20is%20that%20true&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20666)
Fortunately this has not happened to me and hope it doesn’t but of course it could. If we get into an accident we would call 911 if necessary and definitely call our supervisor. The supervisor would come out to the scene take some photos take a report and then we would either go to an emergency room if necessary or just go back to the office. If there is more of the route to still be completed, other letter carriers will probably have to finish up the delivery, likely with OT pay. More often than not, the letter carrier Who was involved in the accident may not be able to drive a postal service vehicle until they have gone through some driver refresher training. If the accident was clearly not their fault they may be able to skip this step. I have had some close calls, but fortunately the only collisions i have had were minor involving side-view mirrors striking some tree branches and breaking the mirror.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20do%20if%20your%20in%20a%20accident%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21285)
Some letter carriers may handle it differently than others. This is my comment in most situations as to “what would we be done if....”We can rubber band the mail and leave it on the ground or on a bench by a door. Technically, the mail should be endorsed “NMR” which means No Mail Receptacle and returned to the sender, if applicable. Certain classes of mail would just get discarded at the PO and maybe sent out for recycling.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20do%20with%20mail%20that%20is%20sent%20to%20an%20address%20that%20doesn%27t%20have%20a%20mailbox&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20721)
Let’s just hope I don’t! That wasn’t the answer you’re looking for. I’ve never been in a wreck yet, but have had plenty of close calls and it’s possible one day my luck will run out. If we get into a wreck, we are directed to call a supervisor and also call the police dept if a report needs to be filed or if there are any injuries. A supervisor will then report to the scene and take some photos and information. A tow truck will be called if the vehicle is not driveable. After that is taken care of, the letter carrier is usually not allowed to drive a postal vehicle until they go for a multi-hour driver training course. I’ve noticed they try to have that course scheduled pretty quickly to get the carrier back to their normal duties. While their driving privileges are suspended, the carrier will often be given office duties or be driven around and then walk a route if that’s the method of delivery. The bottom line is drive defensively and hope to not get into an accident.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20do%20if%20you%20get%20in%20a%20wreck%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20811)
Lifeguard
Are most public pools just gross lakes of bodily fluids?
Stand-Up Comedian
Did your career blow up after you performed on the Tonight Show / Conan?
Firefighter
What's the worst you've been burned in a fire?
It is very unlikely someone would mail a bomb, but Im sure it has happened. Recently, a man sent quite a few inactive devices that looked like explosives ito famous people or politicians. I’m sure that there have been some explosives detonated at their destination or possibly before, but I don’t know the details. We are sometimes told to be on the lookout for suspicious packages, but, to be honest, it’s never really on my mind. Keep in mind I tend to look through rose-colored glasses and think that kind of thing doesn’t happen here.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20peopleReally%20send%20the%20bombs%20to%20people%20via%20mail%3F%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20872)
I guess that happens sometimes on these kind of sites.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Yo%20for%20real%20just%20a%20few%20days%20ago%20he%20was%20answering%20questions%20and%20then%20boom%20just%20says%20he%E2%80%99s%20off%20slaying%20dragons%20and%20shit&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21541)
I am pretty sure the Grumman LLV is allowed to drive on a highway. I think I may have accidentally driven one on a highway once. It’s a bit of a scary experience because the engines or transmission aren’t that strong to go 55 MPH or above. They definitely can go that fast but it doesn’t feel as comfortable as if you were in a regular car. I have rarely seen them on a highway, but I work in the suburbs and most post offices serve a nearby community which wouldn’t necessitate getting on a highway to get to a delivery route. Thanks for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20can%27t%20say%20I%27ve%20ever%20seen%20a%20gruman%20llv%20on%20the%20highway%20before.%20Do%20they%20ever%20take%20the%20highway&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20565)
-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
