Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1236 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

my husband insists that if a mail carrier is in a truck, they are not allowed to get out of the truck to deliver mail, so if they cant pull right up to the mailbox, they wont deliver the mail, is that true?

Asked by erica almost 11 years ago

I don't know this answer for sure, but I do know if a carrier can't pull completely up to a mailbox to effect delivery, he can "flag" the box as non-approachable and bring the mail back to the PO and try again the next day. Most of the time if I couldn't completely get up to a mailbox, I would get out and deliver the mail so as to not have to deal with it the next day. If a mailbox was habitually blocked by a customer then I may suspend delivery to let them know that their box shouldn't be blocked. This has rarely happened in my experience. I'm pretty sure we are allowed to get out of the truck to deliver the mail. I've never been told otherwise.

647 Votes

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

Asked by Ella almost 11 years ago

I am sorry that the item arrived empty, but I do understand why it shows as arrived delivered. If that package arrived on my route for delivery I would have scanned it "Visible Damage" as well as "Delivered". This would not result in any settlement or claim being paid, but would validate what you are saying. If the item was not insured, I don't believe there is anything that can be done.

647 Votes

Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?
Thanks!

Asked by lebee almost 11 years ago

I am not sure what will happen to the UPS Package. The USPS may forward it if they have the correct forwarding address on file for the the previous owner, but they may not be obligated to. The USPS may also forward the package but have the recipient pay for the item being forwarded. The item may also be returned to UPS or to the sender. I'm sorry I can't be any more specific re: the package you are inquiring about.

647 Votes

Why does it take 3 days to get a package that arrived in the destination city at different zip code delivered to me at my zip code same in city

Asked by heather over 10 years ago

I don't know why it would take 3 days to get to another ZIP in the same city. As long as there is no weekend or holiday, I am pretty sure the next day would be the service goal for a package that arrived in the city at a different ZIP. Possibly a sorting error would delay the package for a day or two, but that shouldn't be a recurrent problem unless there is some other operational issue that I'm not aware of.

646 Votes

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Part 2 is what kind of supplies do you normally carry with you on your route? A few pens for yourself, maybe some stamps as a convenience to customers. Also are new CCAs allowed to use GPS on an unfamiliar route? Thanks for your time!

Asked by Sparky66 about 10 years ago

Sparky, again you're welcome regarding this forum. It can get a bit exhausting trying to keep up on the many questions asked, but I rarely get more than a couple per day. Furthermore, I volunteered to do this so I have nothing to complain about. On the route each day I carry a couple of pens, some scrap paper if I need to make some notes, water, my lunch, and sunglasses. I happen to have some stamps in my wallet and will give them to customers on occasion, but that's rare. Most of the time they have the envelopes ready to be mailed with the proper postage. I also don't want them to get in the habit of them thinking it's part of my job to have stamps with me, because it isn't. Fewer and fewer people are mailing letters these days and are paying their bills electronically. I don't see anything wrong with a CCA using a GPS on their smartphone to navigate to/from routes. The USPS should really be giving you a map with directions if you are unfamiliar with a route, but I am pretty sure our CCAs use their own GPS to get around the town. Since I do the same assignment each day and know it automatically I can listen to an ipod while delivering the route. I don't know if this is actually allowed but I think it should be. I only have one earbud in at any time. I think I'd get bored pretty quickly if I didn't listen to something (music/podcasts) while delivering the mail. The postal vehicle I drive doesn't have a working cigarette lighter outlet to charge up my PED so I am careful about not draining the battery during the day or I can carry a portable battery supply(but have never actually had to use it).

644 Votes

Just got offer for cca position AND just found out my license is suspended, what can i do? been unemployed for a year and really need this position.

Asked by mary almost 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.

643 Votes

I've been having this issue that I sometimes don't receive postal mail.It gets returned to the sender saying: the individual has moved.This has been happening mostly with mails being sent to me from out-of-city.Any clues as to why this is happening?

Asked by Hamza over 10 years ago

I'm sorry but I don't know why this would be happening. Did someone with a similar name possibly live at or near your address and then moved and not leave a forwarding address? I know that isn't a likely reason. The only suggestion I can think of is to contact your local post office and re-affirm that you are still at your present address and don't return any mail that comes with your name to your present address. If it isn't your local post office that is returning your mail, I don't know how/why this is a happening. Thank you for writing.

643 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

my husband insists that if a mail carrier is in a truck, they are not allowed to get out of the truck to deliver mail, so if they cant pull right up to the mailbox, they wont deliver the mail, is that true?

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?
Thanks!

Why does it take 3 days to get a package that arrived in the destination city at different zip code delivered to me at my zip code same in city

Also on Jobstr...

Part 2 is what kind of supplies do you normally carry with you on your route? A few pens for yourself, maybe some stamps as a convenience to customers. Also are new CCAs allowed to use GPS on an unfamiliar route? Thanks for your time!

Just got offer for cca position AND just found out my license is suspended, what can i do? been unemployed for a year and really need this position.

I've been having this issue that I sometimes don't receive postal mail.It gets returned to the sender saying: the individual has moved.This has been happening mostly with mails being sent to me from out-of-city.Any clues as to why this is happening?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

my husband insists that if a mail carrier is in a truck, they are not allowed to get out of the truck to deliver mail, so if they cant pull right up to the mailbox, they wont deliver the mail, is that true?

I recently sent a Christmas present in a large envelope. It arrived at the desired address empty. The wrapped present not inside. The package did have tracking, but it obviously reports delivered since the empty envelope made it. what can I do?

Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?Thanks!

Why does it take 3 days to get a package that arrived in the destination city at different zip code delivered to me at my zip code same in city

Also on Jobstr...

Part 2 is what kind of supplies do you normally carry with you on your route? A few pens for yourself, maybe some stamps as a convenience to customers. Also are new CCAs allowed to use GPS on an unfamiliar route? Thanks for your time!

Just got offer for cca position AND just found out my license is suspended, what can i do? been unemployed for a year and really need this position.

I've been having this issue that I sometimes don't receive postal mail.It gets returned to the sender saying: the individual has moved.This has been happening mostly with mails being sent to me from out-of-city.Any clues as to why this is happening?

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Hello, I just moved into a new house and put "please forward" on a UPS package for the previous owner and dropped it in my mail box. I realized my mistake when the owner called for the package. What will happen to the package?
Thanks!