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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

I live in NYC in a house that has been converted to 3 apts. We have 3 mailboxes for the different apts but our mailman has started putting all of the mail in mine. We have never had a problem untill recently. How should we address this?

Asked by Katie Blackcoffee over 11 years ago

I think the mailman should be delivering to all 3 mailboxes if there are 3 legitimate apartments. Please make sure that each box is clearly labeled with the name or apt # of who lives there. if you happen to see the mailman, you could ask why this happens. Now if you were 3 people all living in the same apt and had 3 separate boxes, that wouldn't be allowed. I hope your situation can be resolved. 

Hi Dave,
Just completed the phase 2 process for a CCA position in NY. I want to know are we given choices of which station to work at or is it randomly assigned to us? Can we choose if we want to deliver mail on foot or by postal vehicle?

Asked by CCA over 11 years ago

I don't know how assignments are made for CCA. In NY City, most deliveries are made on foot, but not exclusively. It is common to see carriers using a cart with several mail satchels attached and then using relay boxes to pick up future deliveries on route. I would suggest that most routes delivered by postal vehicle are by more senior employees, but it's not always a hard and fast rule. Good luck in your employment!

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.

What is the official term for a single house on your carrier route? Is it "destination"? Or do you call it something else?

Asked by Sahara over 11 years ago

I don't know the official term for a house. I would call it a "delivery address". So on my route there are 350 single family houses which is 350 possible deliveries or delivery addresses. I hope this helps you. 

How can one get driver training for the LLV TO CONFIDENTLY PASS THE DRIVER CERTIFICATON requirement. are there retired rural carriers in New york state who may be hired to provided lessons and preparation?

Asked by Chris almost 11 years ago

You are asking a good question which I don't know how to answer. When we were hired, co-workers who were certified as Driver-trainers would teach us how to drive the LLV and also sign us off as being trained. I don't know anything about "off the clock" or "off the job" rural carriers who offer training lessons or preparation on LLV training. I can only speak from personal experience that it wasn't terribly difficult to learn how to drive the LLV even though the steering wheel is on the opposite side that we are used to in the United States. Overall, the LLV drives similar to other automatic drive vehicles in the US. The important things to keep in mind is blind spots and handling in inclement weather. Those are times or conditions to be extra cautious and always wear your seat belt. Good Luck to you!!

I was wondering if I put my mail on hold for 10 days am I allowed to pick my mail up before the 10 days

Asked by dee almost 11 years ago

When you put your mail on hold there is an option to either "pick up your mail" or "have the mail delivered to you" on a certain date. If you choose the latter, you may go to the Post Office with proper ID and see if they will give you the mail that has been held and notify your letter carrier to resume delivery the following day. I know that would likely be allowed at the PO which I work at. I can't speak for any other Post Offices. Your best option is to choose "Pick up mail" and then the mail can be held for up to 30 days at the Post Office and you don't have to worry whether you pick up the held mail in 5 days, 15 days, or anytime less than 30 days.

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.