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.
Not usually. At our PO, we generally won't leave for a route until all of the regular (1st and 2nd class) mail is ready for delivery. So as to your question, I would think that the mail wouldn't be delivered until the following day unless a supervisor specifically approved a carrier to go out and deliver late-arriving mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20my%20regular%20mail%20isnt%20at%20the%20post%20office%20by%20the%20time%20my%20normal%20mail%20man%20leaves%20for%20his%20route%2C%20will%20they%20see%20it%20when%20they%20get%20back%20to%20the%20Post%20office%20and%20bring%20it%20back%20to%20my%20house%20the%20same%20day%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8651)
Unfortunatley, you are probably stuck with the new carrier. Do you know the reason that there was a change in postal carriers? Some of the reasons are: a change in the territory that makes up a route, a carrier chooses to leave their route for another one, or a carrier retires or transfers to another office. When this happens, the route often goes up for "bid", and the most senior carrier who desires to do the route that includes your street gets that assignment. It is not based on how friendly, efficient, or safe that this carrier works. There are plenty of letter carriers at the USPS who won't win congeniality awards or hard worker accolades. There is very little corrective action that can be taken as long as the carrier shows up for work and doesn't get into any motor vehicle accidents. I don't know how you would feel about calling the delivery supervisor to voice your concerns about the new carrier and the safety of their driving as well as them forgetting mail, but you could do that. I don't know what kind of response you will get or if it will change anything, but I don't think it would hurt to mention it. Those qualities are very unprofessional and unsafe in a letter carrier. There are some of these carriers at the office where I work as well. I try to have as little as possible to do with them whatsoever. I'm sure this problem isn't uncommon in the USPS and most other companies. Thanks for writing to jobstr for advice.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Recently%20we%20had%20a%20change%20in%20postal%20carriers.%20Our%20old%20guy%20was%20very%20efficient%20and%20kind%2C%20always%20greeting%20us.%20The%20new%20guy%20is%20gruff%2C%20speeds%20through%20the%20neighborhood%2C%20rude%2C%20forgetting%20mail%20from%20time%20to%20time.%20We%20miss%20our%20old%20guy%21%20Are%20we%20stuck%20with%20this%20guy%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13313)
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)
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)
Chef
Is it true that the "specials" are usually the stuff that's been sitting around awhile?
Firefighter
What's the worst you've been burned in a fire?
Antiques Dealer
What do real antiques dealers think of the Antiques Roadshow reality show?
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
