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.
I am not sure why the mailman didn't take the outgoing mail that was left in the mailbox with a note saying it was outgoing. Generally, they should have taken it as it is understandable if it won't fit through the thin slot for outgoing mail. Did the mailman leave you any incoming mail? Maybe you could try it again tomorrow or make it more prominent that you have an outgoing letter, though I'm not sure how prominent you already had it posted.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20Mailman%20didn%27t%20take%20outgoing%20mail%20I%20left%20in%20my%20mailbox%20with%20a%20post%20it%20stating%20it%20was%20outgoing...%20I%20just%20wouldn%27t%20fit%20through%20the%20impossibly%20small%20slot%20for%20outgoing.%20%20Why%20would%20he%20not%20take%20it%20for%20me%3F%3F%3F%20%20I%20can%27t%20easily%20get%20to%20the%20postoffice.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9539)
This is a great question. Dry, comfortable footwear is of vital importance when working in snow, wet, cold, or icy conditions. Your uniorm allowance allows you to purchase several pair of shoes or overshoes per year to protect your feet. I wear rubberovershoes which fit over my standard shoes when it will be wet or snowy out. Furthermore, if it will be icy, we are issued small spiked overshoes to help us keep our grip on the snow or ice. Women and Men generally wear the same type of shoes except the sizing my be a little different.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20kind%20of%20shoes%20do%20you%20wear%3F%20Specifically%2C%20what%20works%20best%20in%20snow%20and%20ice%20conditions%3F%20%20Do%20women%20carriers%20wear%20the%20same%20type%28s%29%20of%20shoes%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9961)
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=We%20live%20on%20a%20remote%20side%20street.%20%20It%20is%20common%20practice%20for%20a%20mailman%20to%20sit%20in%20his%20truck%20everyday%20with%20it%20running%20from%203%3A30%20to%204%3A15.%20%20I%20would%20guess%20he%27s%20done%20with%20his%20route%20and%20wants%20to%20do%20nothing%20until%20it%20is%20time%20for%20overtime.%20%20Who%20should%20I%20call%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8698)
It hasnt happened to me before that somebody points to the back of my vehicle as if something was wrong. I can, however, picture that scenario. I believe I would safely pull over to the side of the road when I can and investigate what they may have been pointing at. Maybe it was a gas cap I forgot to replace, an open cargo lift door, or maybe I am dragging something. I do have people sometimes drive up near me, but if it is a busy road or they are unsafely positioned I will either ignore them or point them to pull over to the side of the road and assist them. Safety is my number one priority, because if I am injured or in a motor vehicle accident, I am not working and it could lead to internal discipline.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=While%20driving%20the%20vehicle%20to%20make%20a%20delivery%2C%20another%20motorist%20points%20towards%20the%20back%20of%20your%20vehicle%20as%20if%20something%20is%20wrong.%20What%20do%20you%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13366)
Nurse Practitioner
As gender roles continue to evolve, are you seeing a rise in the % of male nurses?
Emergency Room Manager
What's the best time to arrive at an ER to avoid waits?
REALTOR®
What's the best way to know if housing prices are going to rise or fall?
It would probably be hard to live in NY on a CCA salary starting at $15/hr. I know some regular carriers work second jobs or work as much OT as available. My situation is a bit different as I am single, have low overhead (I own a co-op apt), and am very conservative with my spending. The NY metro area can be very expensive with regards to rental apts/houses and property taxes.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20recently%20became%20a%20new%20CCA%20in%20Denver.%20%20I%27ve%20always%20thought%20it%20would%20be%20great%20to%20live%20in%20NY%2C%20but%20I%27m%20wondering%20how%20you%20make%20ends%20meet%20given%20the%20salary%20for%20Carriers%20is%20the%20same%20nationwide.%20%20Do%20you%20have%20a%20two%20income%20household%2C%20etc%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9117)
Not to my knowledge unless the USPS closes their local office or district. In all of my years working on Long Island, maybe 1 or 2 occasions have we been unable to deliver the mail, but I don't remember if we were expected to report to work or not. It's possible though that I may not have the correct information and that a local state of emegergency would excuse a letter carrier from reporting to work.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Does%20the%20mail%20carrier%20get%20a%20day%20off%20when%20it%20is%20a%20state%20of%20emergency%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10656)
I can't say whether or not it is illegal to write "not at this address" even if you are actually living at that address. The only problem may come is if a letter carrier sees that you are regularly writing that on then mail, they may see that as you not wanting any mail with your name. That scenario isn't likely but just wanted to make you aware of that possibility. I would just ignore any piece of mail i dont want. There is no proof you ever got that mail unless you signed for it.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20it%20illegal%20for%20me%20to%20write%20%22not%20at%20this%20address%22%20on%20my%20own%20mail.%20I%20don%27t%20want%20certain%20people%20knowing%20where%20I%20live&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8963)
-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
