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 sometimes listen to an iPod while walking but not driving. While walking I usually only cover one ear for safety reasons. You aren't permitted to listen with earphones while driving, but maybe a portable radio or CD player is allowed when driving. Your local post office should advise you of any rules regarding this. Safety is very very important. I don't remember the driving test too well. Keep to the speed limit, buckle up, both hands on steering wheel, use turn signals,and use your mirrors as necessary. On Ice, just go very slowly. Same with rain and use the windshield wipers and headlights. Ice and Snow are the most difficult conditions for the LLVs. Rain isn't too bad as long as you drive cautiously.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20you%20listen%20to%20music%20or%20CDs%20in%20the%20postal%20truck.%20How%20about%20while%20you%20are%20walking.%20Can%20you%20listen%20to%20music%20or%20CDs%20while%20you%20are%20walking%3F%20Also%20what%20is%20the%20driving%20test%20lke%3F%20What%20is%20the%20best%20way%20to%20drive%20on%20ice%20or%20heavy%20rain%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8760)
I'm sorry to hear about your mail being stolen. I don't know about moving the location of your mailbox. I am just speculating, but if you live in a circle where the mailbox sits at the street and is serviced by a letter carrier from their vehicle where they just stick their arm out and you want to move the box to a location where the same process can still be accomplished, I don't see why it would be a problem. Does the carrier drive by your house anyway, or do they not come in the circle because all of the mailboxes are at an area where they can avoid coming into the circle. If that's the case, I am not sure it would be allowed to be moved "inside the circle". It's important that the approach to the mailbox is not blocked on any regular basis so the carrier doesn't have to "dismount" from their vehicle to put the mail in the mailbox. I'm not saying they wouldn't dismount to deliver the mail, but the general idea of mailboxes at the street is so the mail can be delivered directly from the postal vehicle. For further clarification, I'd recommend calling or visiting your local post office and speaking with a delivery supervisor.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20in%20a%20circle%2C%20there%20has%20been%20situations%20that%20my%20mail%20got%20stolen%20and%20I%20can%27t%20see%20my%20mailbox%20from%20my%20residence%20because%20it%20sits%20before%20the%20circle%20starts%2C%20can%20I%20move%20my%20mailbox%20to%20the%20front%20of%20my%20house%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10826)
Congratulations Daniel on finishing your training as a mail carrier including the driving evaluation. With regard to driving the 2-ton vehicle, I don't know if you will ever be made to drive it. I would hope that you wouldn't be. I know that I am in the same position as you with regards to driving it. I have only driven it a few times in my career and and am never asked to drive it. If you didn't feel comfortable driving it, I would speak up and mention that you don't think it is safe for you to drive it and see if you could get out of doing it. I wish you well.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20gone%20through%20all%20my%20training%20as%20a%20mail%20carrier%20and%20just%20finished%20my%20driving%20test.%20.Everything%20went%20well%20and%20he%20said%20I%20did%20well%20but%20im%20not%20comfortable%20with%20the%202%20ton.%20Will%20i%20be%20asked%20to%20drive%20this%20or%20was%20it%20just%20to%20familiarize%20me%20with%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11112)
Rob, congratulations on being hired as a CCA. I am guessing it is either Hcksville or Plainview. The PROs may be that you will have many people to meet, many opportunities for filling vacancies, and large neighborhoods to get to know. A con may be that if they are short-staffed, the mgmt can ask you to fill in and do parts of several routes in one day which may be exhausting. The positive part to that is that you are paid for all of your time work including Overtime pay. I believe you can refuse to use your own vehicle to deliver mail, however, they may not then be obligated to give you a govt vehicle to deliver the mail. If that is the case, you may have a reduced opportunity to earn a paycheck. Try to be as polite as possible when given assignments and if it turns out to be too much, speak up and advise the supervisor how much extra time you may need. Always make sure to work safely as well. Try not to get too involved with any office gossip or politics. Good luck and continue asking if you have more qs.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hey%20Dave%2C%20I%20was%20just%20hired%20at%20a%20PO%20in%20Long%20Island%20as%20a%20CCA.%20Zip%20code%20starting%20118.%20My%20office%20is%20a%20fairly%20large%20office.%20What%20are%20the%20pros%2Fcons%20on%20being%20at%20a%20large%20office%3F%20Also%20if%20I%20am%20asked%20to%20deliver%20with%20my%20own%20vehicle%2C%20can%20I%20refuse%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10643)
Dry Cleaner
Why do dry cleaners have autographed pictures on their walls?
Casino Dealer
Do you find casinos to be depressing places to work?
Programmer
Why are most developers socially withdrawn?
I believe that this was acceptable but am not familiar with the rural carrier vehicle regulations. The USPS would likely not let this carrier deliver the mail from that vehicle if it wasn't approved. They can see what vehicle is being used when she leaves the Post Office and returns from her route. The rural carriers in the office where I work also used to use their own vehicles but I don't remember whether or not they were right hand drive (modified for mail delivery) vehicles. In the past few years they have been given LLVs (USPS-owned vehicles) to deliver their routes and don't have the option of using their own vehicle to deliver the mail. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=A%20year%20ago%2C%20I%20had%20a%20rural%20mail%20carrier%20who%20used%20her%20own%20vehicle.%20It%20was%20a%20normal%20jeep%3B%20it%20had%20the%20steering%20wheel%20and%20gas%20pedal%20and%20brakes%20on%20the%20left%20side.%20She%20sat%20in%20the%20passenger%20seat%20and%20operated%20it%20with%20her%20left%20hand%20and%20leg.%20Was%20this%20acceptable%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12703)
You could call the post office and see if they will give you his name. They should at least give you their first name. If you happen to see him or her you could also ask them.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=how%20do%20i%20figure%20out%20my%20mail%20mans%20name%3F%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9763)
I can't quote you the regulations, but as long as the box is accessible to the letter carrier without a hazard that is usually sufficient for attaching a box to your house.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20would%20like%20to%20know%20the%20regulations%20for%20attaching%20it%20to%20my%20house&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9836)
-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
