Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

1236 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

My mail man keeps writing tally marks and numbers on the cover of my magazines. I am particular about my stuff and dont want to see two hash marks on every magazine I put on my coffee table. Are they allowed to do this? Am I allowed to complain?

Asked by The deuce over 11 years ago

I am not sure why he does it. On a walking route, some carriers will write a number on the top piece of mail to indicate which street or the delivery order that bundle of mail corresponds to. (I.e. bundle 1, bundle 2, bundle 3). We probably shouldn't be writing on the mail itself, but I have never heard a complaint until this q from you. You certainly are allowed to complain and I would hope that your mail carrier respects your wishes. 

My friend is a CCA. He asked for a day off a month in advance and was told it was not available. He is in a wedding and absolutely cant work that day. Are there other options to get a day off? Can he get fired for just not showing up?

Asked by MMM about 11 years ago

I don't know whether he can get fired for just not showing up on the day of the wedding. as a CCA I know you may not have as many job protection rights as a career employee. Does your friend have a wedding invitation to show the supervisor? is it possible that he goes to work for a couple of hours in the AM. I am guessing that's not likely. I don't have any other info, but would hope that mgmt comes to their senses and allows the day off. 

Is a mailman the only person who delivers from the post office. And if my package was recieved by a local post office yesterday at 2:00 should it come the next day on Saturday?

Asked by McKenna Peltier almost 11 years ago

Generally, a mailman (letter carrier-terms are synonomous) is the only person who will deliver from a post office, but I don't know that to be an absolute rule. My brother is a clerk at a post office which is comprised only of rural letter carriers. If Express Mail arrives later in the day when the rural letter carriers have completed their routes, either he or another clerk, or maybe a supervisor will deliver the Express Mail item.  Also, in general, a package that arrives at a local post office on a particular day at 2:00 PM should be delivered with the following delivery days mail. Again, it's not an absolute guarantee but within the normal course of operations, I would think it should be delivered.

We live on a remote side street. It is common practice for a mailman to sit in his truck everyday with it running from 3:30 to 4:15. I would guess he's done with his route and wants to do nothing until it is time for overtime. Who should I call?

Asked by Malik over 11 years ago

I can't tell you for sure that he is doing something wrong but from what you say it seems like it. In our office we have 30 min for lunch plus a 10-minute break while we are on our routes. Also, we are allowed whatever is necessary to use a restroom. maybe the size of his route is small that he doesn't need a full day to deliver it all. If that is the case, many supervisors might pick up on that and try to give that carrier more work. If you were to call someone, i would first recommend calling a delivery supervisor or postmaster depending how large your PO is. To be honest, they may just thank you for calling and do nothing, or they may approach the carrier and tell them to not park that long in one place at 3:30 PM. I rarely hear complaints about this but if someone is being so wasteful of the USPS $, I don't see any issue with bringing it to the PO attention. 

I am moving into a house that has been vacant for several years. Someone sent me something there before I moved in and it got returned to them. How will the mailman know to start to deliver my mail?

Asked by Rachel over 10 years ago

Rachel, I am not sure how the mailman will know when to start delivering your mail since just by having a letter or parcel mailed to that address with your name apparently wasn't enough. If it were on my route and a house was vacant I would pay attention if I saw a new name for that address and I'd attempt to deliver it by leaving it in the mailbox (or at the door if it was a parcel to big for the mailbox.) Another way I'd know to start to deliver is if I saw visible clues that a house was being prepped for occupation or I saw somebody moving in to that address. I think I sure way to advise the PO that they should start delivering mail to your new house would be to call the PO that will be servicing your new house or USPS Customer Service
Call 1-800-ASK-USPS® (1-800-275-8777) and tell them that you are moving in. Hopefully, one of these suggetions will work out fine.  Congratulations on your new residence.

I work in a building that has designated mailboxes for each company. Is it legal for the mailman to drop mail for my company on the floor in front of the mailbox if it all doesn't fit? He comes to our company with certified mail only.

Asked by shelley over 11 years ago

I don't know the legalities of the carrier just leaving the "overflow" of mail on the floor. I would personally bring it to your suite/office. If the carrier feels it is safe to leave it on the floor near the mailboxes, I suppose that is okay.  I realize that you don't control the size of your mailbox. You could call post office to see if this can be rectified, though I don't really know the rules on this. 

I droped my mail on the blue box , on saturday. When will it get delivered? I know that they don't work sundays.

Asked by shanen over 11 years ago

1-3 days from when it was picked up from the blue mailbox would be the normal length of time For delivery.