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

If I had a letter mailed but moved during the time the mail was being sent would it still make it to my new address?

Asked by fred over 11 years ago

If you put a mail forwarding request in to the PO via the website www.usps.com or via paper at your local post office then the mail may get forwarded to your new address. Most first class mail is forwarded from a previous address to a new address for 1 year. If the letter was actually delivered to your old address and arrived before the PO rcvd the forwarding order than the mail may not make it to your new address. If the new resident gives back the letter for the old tenant as "moved" then it may possibly be forwarded to the new address If the PO has a valid forwarding order request on record.

I've been a CCA for almost three months now and since we're so close to Chritmas I've had several customers slip me tips during a postage due or even leave entire boxed presents addressed to me as gifts. How do you handle these situations?

Asked by Kruesser over 10 years ago

It is very kind of the customers to give you tips and or boxed presents for the holiday season. I believe we aren't supposed to accept any gift valued at more than $20 at any one time and it's supposed to be non-cash. I would venture to say that most employees don't follow this rule and it is rare that you'd get in trouble for accepting it. For those that give you gifts, I'd recommend replying with a thank you note or card that you can deliver with the mail the next time you are at their office or residence. I do realize you are a CCA and may be doing different assignments daily unless you have a hold down. Another recommendation is to not discuss any amounts or gifts you receive with your fellow co-workers. It's better to just be modest and quiet about it IMO. I hope this helped you. Please also remember that we are paid to do our job and nobody should expect a tip for doing their job at the USPS. It is unethical to expect any gratuity, but I, like most, will gladly accept it when offered.

I sent a $100 check to someone in NY at a wrong address, then found out she had moved. I am wondering if I should be worried about someone else eventually cashing that check. It has been 2 months. And where has undelivered mail usually landed?

Asked by reiat over 11 years ago

I am not sure where the check would have wound up. If the letter carrier had been notified of the change of address and been paying attention to the envelope you had sent her then the check should have been forwarded on to her new address. It's also possible that the item is undeliverable due to a lack of a change of address and could be returned to the sender though this seems not to have happened in your case. Some people may advise you to put a stop payment on the check through your bank which may cost you $25. Others may just say don't worry too much about it gettting cashed by an unintended recipient. I would probably choose the latter approach but that certatinly still has some risk involved if there is no stop payment order on the check.

got offered the city carrier assistant position but just found out my license is suspended... will they work with me until i get it? what can i do, been unemployed for over a year and i REALLY need this job!!!

Asked by mary over 11 years ago

I am not sure what will happen re :your license being suspended and being offered a CCA Position. How long do you think it will be before you get your license back? I don't believe it is legal to have you driving a USPS vehicle with a suspended driver license.

What time does a city carrier usually have to report to the post office in the morning to start? I have a good chance at getting this position but am wondering in advance because I need to put my daughter in daycare and very few open that early.

Asked by Jess almost 11 years ago

I can't speak for all POs, but from what I have experienced, most full-time assignments start between 7-8 AM and end 3:30-4:30PM. For a newly hired carriers, they might start later in the day as there may not be enough work for them to work a full day or the operations require that they work much later. I've seen a 10-11AM start time for the CCAs (city carrier assistants) when they aren't needed to cover a whole assignment  . During peak vacation time (usually summer months), many offices are shorthanded due to carriers being on vacation, so CCAs possibly start their workday the same time as other regular carriers. There are some assignments (like a parcel post or collection route) which usually start a bit later in the AM. In our office that is a 10AM-6:30PM assignment. Thanks for writing and good luck. 

I would like to know if I put my mail in the mailbox to be picked up and I mistakenly put the wrong mail in. Once the carrier pick it up, is it too late for me to retrieve my mail before it is sent. Thanks

Asked by Tomy Black over 11 years ago

Generally, if an outgoing item has been picked up and is in the mailstream to be delivered it is close to impossible for it to be retrieved. If you happen to see the letter carrier and he/she still has the item (meanining they haven't yet sent it out for dispatch), you could ask them to retrieve it but I don't know if they are obligated or even if allowed to give it back to you.

 

do you get another chance to take the road test for rca if you fail the first time

Asked by pink floyd about 11 years ago

I don't know the procedure re: road tests and being able to retake them if you fail the first time. I'd recommend getting in contact with the National Rural Letter Carrier's Association at www.nrlca.org and see if they have any advice. Good luck to you.