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.
Jordan, first of all, thank you for writing in to this Q and A board. I don't know the rules as far as sending back mail because you haven't emptied your box for a week or two and your box is not full. If I were the letter carrier, I would just continue to deliver mail until the box is full and then probably return any future mail endorsed "box full" to the senders (or discard the mail if it is unendorsed Standard Class mail.) I don't recall ever coming across this situation in my postal career, but if it came about I'd probably ask my supervisor for direction. It is not in my nature to leave any notes (esp. threatening ones) for the most part.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20don%27t%20empty%20my%20mailbox%20for%20a%20week%20or%20two%2C%20but%20it%20is%20not%20full%2C%20is%20my%20postal%20carrier%20allowed%20to%20post%20notes%20on%20my%20door%20demanding%20I%20empty%20it%20and%20threatening%20to%20send%20it%20back%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12730)
I'm sure each Post Office has a slightly different dispatch schedule for mail being sent off to a P&DC (Processing and Distribution Center). I think that our Post Office dispatches the mail 2-3 times per day. I don't think that something mailed in the morning gets to its destination sooner than a letter which is collected prior to our final dispatch which is usually around 6PM. We have service levels which basically say if a letter or parcel is mailed on a certain date (before a final dispatch) that it should reach its destination by a certain date. This is usually 1-3 days depending on the distance between the origination and destination Post Office and the class of mail that is being sent (1st Class, Priority, Express, Parcel Post, etc).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20many%20times%20is%20mail%20picked%20up%20at%20the%20post%20office%20and%20also%20does%20mail%20being%20sent%20off%20in%20the%20morning%20get%20to%20its%20destination%20sooner&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12882)
In my experience it isn't too common for anyone to get terminated for anything. I mean people are given a letter of removal but the union often will appeal that and the carrier is reinstated. If it isn't the first time something happened that was the carrier's fault it may be more difficult to appeal successfully. If you are a CCA it is probably easier to fire you if you get in an at-fault accident. I don't recall any letter carriers at my office ever being terminated for an at-fault MVA. I can't speak for any of the other thousands of offices nationwide. Drive carefully, defensively and don't be distracted.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=In%20your%20experience%2C%20when%20a%20CCA%20or%20a%20Letter%20Carrier%20gets%20into%20an%20accident%20while%20on%20the%20job%20and%20it%20is%20his%20or%20her%20fault%2C%20would%20they%20still%20be%20kept%20on%20the%20job%20or%20terminated%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14801)
You can give a mailman any package that has the postage paid on it either via a computer printed label (such as Click 'N Ship) or a label where the recipient will pay the return postage. In the latter case, the label will clearly say "No Postage Necessary If Mailed Within The United States". Every letter carrier should accept the package no questions asked. The exception to this would be a city letter carrier who may not have a USPS vehicle which they are operating from and are unable to bring the package back to the Post Office. In that case I believe you can go to www.usps.com to schedule a package pickup. The mailman usually won't take a package back to a specific address until it is processed through our mail distribution system. Most of the time we just accept any package or mail along our delivery routes and bring back to the post office where we work from and it gets dispatched to a mail distribution center for processing. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=can%20i%20give%20my%20package%20to%20the%20mailman%20to%20ship%20off%20or%20take%20back%20to%20that%20specific%20location&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12601)
Certified Nurse Aide
Are there social cliques (like "cool kids") in old folks homes?
Beauty Queen
Have you ever suspected that the judging in a pageant was rigged?
Meter Maid
Is it tough to have a job that consists exclusively of ruining peoples' days?
I am not sure why they would leave the mail in the mailbox at the bottom of the hill. One reason is that if there is nowhere to securely put the mail at the top of the hill outside of the elements the carrier wouldn't want to leave the mail outside.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20was%20just%20wondering.%20If%20the%20mail%20carrier%20delivers%20a%20package%20to%20your%20door%2C%20is%20there%20a%20reason%20why%20he%20chooses%20to%20leave%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20mail%20in%20the%20mailbox%3F%20I%20have%20a%20long%20driveway%20atop%20a%20hill%2C%20so%20why%20not%20bring%20it%20all%20up%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10097)
When mailing a letter it is always best to put a full return address on it if you want to get it back in the event the item is undeliverable for any reason. It is not wrong, however, to just put your first name and return address on the letter. I can't tell you how common I see it since I don't often pay attention to the thoroughness of the return address. Most mail that is sent actually gets delivered as long as it has a proper destination address, including unit/apt. # (if any). Thank you for the question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20sent%20a%20letter%2C%20and%20only%20put%20my%20first%20name%20and%20the%20returning%20address%20on%20it%2C%20is%20that%20somewhat%20common%20to%20see%20on%20letters%3F%20or%20is%20it%20not%20right%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12514)
I don't know if you will receive the package tonight. This time of year I'd say that most packages are delivered by 6PM, but each office probably has varying times due to mail volume and staffing levels. During the holiday season, we deliver some packages on Sunday as well. If you have a tracking number you can track the shipment at www.usps.com but I'm not sure how well it works with items that originated from another country.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20late%20could%20I%20expect%20to%20possibly%20have%20my%20package%20arrive%20tonight%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14062)
-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
