Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1236 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

How did you get thousands of questions and other forms got a couple hundred if even that???

Asked by I am about 5 years ago

I don’t know how I get so many questions. My job isn’t that exciting, but my theory is that some questions have more to do with customer service issues versus my actual performance of the jon. I’m glad to answer many questions but always caution that they are out of my area of expertise and it seems there is so little consistency throughout the USPS. I occupy a miniscule part of the postal world. I also try to respond within a couple of days to each question so maybe that leads to others who have questions that i will give a prompt response. Thanks for what I think was a compliment.

171 Votes

Is USPS better then private shipping companies?

Asked by Jimmy about 5 years ago

Not really. If you are referring to FedEx or UPS, they have a very good reputation for quality work and they are profit driven so their management is under pressure to get things correct. I also think that they have better technology. The flipside to that is that they are sometimes more expensive and do not go to every address in the USA. I think USPS does a very good job in delivery but we employ too much “dead weight” and people not caring about quality work. Of course, those other companies may have the same issues, but I think their employees are on a shorter leash if they make too many errors. I am proud to work for USPS and what I do, but don’t think we are better than the major alternatives.

168 Votes

What’s the worst weather you have ever worked in

Asked by Sid about 5 years ago

I can’t say what the worst weather was, but extreme cold for NY Metro area (around 0F) is pretty difficult to work in. If we get a significant snowfall, our LLV (long life vehicles) perform poorly on unplowed streets and even worse on inclines. As long as you dress properly and cover your extremities well, most inclement weather is manageable. A deluge of rain is difficult to work in because you are trying to stay dry as well as to keep the mail dry. I realize this doesn’t fully answer your question, but I can’t pinpoint any “worst weather” day I’ve experienced.

167 Votes

What do the strobe lights on the top of some of the trucks mean

Asked by Fjfjfjjdkd almost 5 years ago

I think it’s just a general caution strobe that means this truck may make many starts and stops and it may be slow moving. I think it’s similar to hazard flashers.

167 Votes

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What do you do if your doing your mail route and a Tornado warning is issued?

Asked by Yancey almost 5 years ago

I don’t live or work in an area with tornado warnings or sirens. I imagine if there was one or a severe thunderstorm, I’d seek shelter somewhere. The vehicle I use for work would be fine if there were a thunderstorm. If there were a tornado I do not believe the vehicle would be a safe place to be. Maybe I would go see if I could find a house and get down low but I’m not really sure of the right procedure because I’ve never been involved in an area subject to tornadoes. They are rare in the northeastern US where I work.

164 Votes

Do you think the post offices will close?

Asked by asdf almost 5 years ago

This question is being asked during the 2020 Covid19 pandemic. I think you are asking if we will close due to this and not just close in general. Also, this question was asked 2x so I deleted one of them. As I write this, the USPS is operating as best as we can under the circumstances we are faced with. We are considered and essential service so no state order can close us. Another reason that a state order can’t close us is that we are tied to the federal government and I believe only the Postmaster General (and possibly the President) could close the USPS.

In a practical sense, our mail workload will likely decrease during a time when many businesses across the country are temporarily shuttered. We have seen an increase in online package deliveries but hasn’t been a huge amt for my office to handle. Amazon is mostly delivered by a private contract courier in the area I work.

I know I haven’t answered your question yet, but here is my thought. We would probably be closed if a large number of our workforce were infected by Covid19. It’s possible a local facility could suffer staffing shortages and be unable to operate as normal. I don’t foresee a nationwide USPS shutdown, but with the situation changing daily, I feel that anything is possible. Stay safe and help Flatten the curve by doing your part.

162 Votes