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.
LA, it is awful that mail is being stolen. I don't know what good it will do, but I would recommend reporting that to your local post office or the Postal Inspectors. To answer your question, I don't know that a mailman would get involved with being responsible for a key to a private mailbox. If everyone on their route did that, how would they keep track of all of those keys? Furthermore, if that mailman was off/sick/vacation, how could you be sure that the replacement mailman would get the key? I just don't think it will be feasible or practical or possibly even allowed. Another option (though less convenient) would be to rent a PO Box which would definitely be secure.
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I don't know the procedure and "track record" of how many days a week that a CCA will work. I think that it differs for each office and sometimes on the time of year re: weather and how much vacation/sick coverage is needed. When I was a PTF (which was before CCA position existed), it varied from day to day. Some days I would start the same time as other letter carriers (apprx 0730 AM) and others I would start work at 1030 AM to deliver parts of routes that needed coverage. If someone called in sick on a day that I was scheduled to start at 1030AM, I may get a call early in the AM to come in to work earlier. Also, if you are not scheduled to work on a particular day, once you leave work on the previous day, I don't think there is any requirement to be available until your next scheduled day/time to work. Of course, if you are interested in the extra hours/$$ that would come in with coming in to work based on a phone call, then I would make yourself available and go to work when called.
Regarding your 3rd question, if I didn't currently have a job with benefits or vacation pay, etc. I would definitely start a career as a CCA. The reason is that you potentially could become a USPS career employee which has MANY benefits that have helped me enormously through the years. I'm not exaggerating one bit when I say this. Also, having a union to support me through difficult times has also been helpful. I don't honestly know what the long-term future of the USPS is because of technology and how little younger people use the USPS, but I think it will be healthy for the forseeable future to start a career in it.
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More than likely the envelope with the irregular thickness item in it would make it through the mail system as long as the item didn't puncture through the paper envelope and possibly get lost. The letter sorting process is highly automated so the item in the envelope could get damaged as it goes through the letter sorting machinery. For this reason, I highly recommend using a small padded envelope to protect any fragile or valuable contents that need to be mailed. The cost to mail this is higher than that of a letter-sized envelope but well worth it.
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Sa-mind, I do understand your concern about driving the LLV as well as your co-workers and supervisors. I have experienced the latter myself. As to whether or not you should give it a shot, I'd say absolutely try it. It isn't the easiest of jobs and there are some tough personalities you may have to deal with. After all of my years at the USPS, I am still trying to learn that myself. Fortunately, as a letter carrier, much of the day is spent on your own delivering mail. Regarding not knowing the area they are putting you in, the management should give you a map and delivery instructions for the area. It also helps if you have a smartphone with a mapping like Google Maps or Waze. There were several occasions where I thought about quitting the USPS, but I was fortunate to have family members who thought much more logically than myself and advised against it. Starting as a CCA may not be so great due to lower wages and minimal benefits, but once you become a regular letter carrier, it is a solid job with benefits and a pretty good union. Nothing is perfect, but when I see people working in retail and grocery stores or the local convenience store, I doubt they are making $50K per year with paid vacation, paid sick days, a 401(k), decent health insurance and a retirement plan..or at least not all of this. I don't know what type of work you do now, but consider the pros and cons of leaving it with the benefits of working for the USPS, and try not to let mean people get to you. As the saying goes: mean people suck! I wish you the best and hope you at least try the job.
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I believe the service standard for a letter from Burbank to LA is 1 day. It is not a guarantee but most letters probably meet that standard.
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I am sorry but I am not familiar with the application process and how it would work if you didn't live in the area. If you go to www.usps.com and look at careers that may give you an idea. I hope in your case that it is possible.
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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.
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