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.
Rob F., the main customer service rep phone # for the USPS is 800-275-8777. Please advise them that you are having a delivery issue at your apt. building. They will likely just forward the comment/complaint to your delivery PO and I'm not sure what will happen from there. I'd hope that you would either see the mail service resume or get an explanation as to why the mail delivery has stopped to your unit when you are residing there. Is there any construction going on at your building that would restrict access to the mailboxes which I presume are located in the entry vestibule area of the apt. building. You could also leave a note in your mailbox explaining that you reside in the building in a specific apt. and you should be receiving mail. I don't know why mail delivery would be suspended form your building or just you with no clear explanation.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20in%20Midtown%20West%2C%20in%20an%20apartment%20building%20with%2010%20units.%20When%20I%20first%20moved%20in%2C%20I%20received%20mail%2C%20but%20about%20one%20month%20later%2C%20my%20mail%20delivery%20stopped.%20When%20I%27ve%20called%20to%20PO%2C%20mail%20delivery%20resumes%20for%20a%20few%20weeks%20but%20then%20stops.%20Help%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13977)
I remember your question about having tickets delivered to your neighbors and asking if you could ask the mailman to deliver them your house or some type of favor. I am rarely asked for any type of favor like that and I think if I heard a request like yours that may sound a bit fishy I would decline to get involved. It's not worth risking any type of job discipline to help a customer. I don't know that if you approached a mailman they would be offended. I just hope they would have enough common sense to decline to assist you. Also, we don't deliver the route each day so even if one carrier agreed to assist you there is no way of knowing that when they are off from work the replacement carrier would smart to not get involved with any favors. If what you are doing is unethical or shady I would not get the USPS involved.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20asked%20the%20question%204%20days%20ago%20about%20having%20tickets%20delivered%20to%20my%20neighbors.%20If%20I%20approached%20my%20mailman%20about%20helping%20me%20would%20he%20be%20offended%3F%20How%20often%20are%20you%20approached%20by%20people%20asking%20you%20for%20favors%2C%20etc%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13784)
From what I understand, most city carriers that need a vehicle to deliver the mail will use a USPS vehicle. We do have CCAs that use their own car to deliver the mail on walking routes when there aren't any USPS vehicles available for them to use. They can get reimbursed for some of their expenses when doing this. In some offices rural letter carriers have no choice but to use their own vehicles to deliver their rural routes. For ease of maintenance and not having to wear down my own vehicle, I definitely prefer using a USPS vehicle at work. I don't have a choice in the matter. Gasoline is paid for using a fleet credit card and maintenance is handled by a contracted mechanic. Thank you for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20letter%20carriers%20deliver%20mail%20in%20their%20own%20vehicles&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13551)
Deedee, I don't know the minimum requirements for taking the USPS carrier exam, but I do think you will need one to actually get hired. I would look on the USPS employment website to see if there is any information on it as to when you need to have a driver license. All city carriers where I work drive postal vehicles and therefore need a driver license. Good luck and thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Will%20I%20be%20disqualified%20for%20employment%20if%20I%20don%27t%20have%20a%20valid%20drivers%20license%20when%20I%20take%20the%20exam&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14125)
Antiques Dealer
How easy is it to forge a rare piece, and are fakes a big problem in the antiquing world?
CPR Trainer
Are men better at CPR than women because they're generally stronger?
Special Education Teacher
Should special-needs students be separated from other students?
I don't believe you would be hired without a driver license to be a letter carrier. It is great that you like to walk a lot which is very healthy, but many communities have mail delivery which uses a motor vehicle to go from house to house or at least uses a vehicle to get the letter carrier to their route. That vehicle is usually driven by the letter carrier themselves. In some urban environments (like some of NYC), there are "walk-out" routes where the letter carrier leaves the PO on foot with a mail satchel and/or cart and doesn't need to drive. The mail for parts of their routes are left by another carrier in a vehicle in what is called a "relay box". I dont know that this relieves the carrier from not having a driver license because when one is hired they need to be flexible in their work assignments which may include a route that has driving involved. My short answer to your question is no, but would need further research.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=i%20would%20love%20to%20be%20a%20letter%20carrier%21%20im%20in%20great%20shape%20for%20the%20work%20as%20i%20already%20walk%2015%20miles%2F%205%20days%20a%20week.%20the%20only%20thing%20is%20that%20i%20dont%20know%20how%20to%20drive%E2%80%A6could%20someone%20like%20me%20be%20a%20letter%20carrier%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13168)
If you live on a college campus, they probably already have established a standard method of delivery to the dormitories. They probably don't deliver it to your room. It is likely that the dormitory has central delivery boxes in the lobby area or in a mailroom. Other campuses might have all the student mail come to a central mailroom or student center which has individual mailboxes for each student. You can contact the student life office or office of residential life for more information. Thank you for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=WIll%20you%20deliver%20to%20my%20school%20room%20door%20if%20i%20leave%20on%20campus%20or%20you%20would%20leave%20it%20in%20front%20of%20my%20dorm&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12247)
Kathy, I can only guess that Ken was being followed by a supervisor in another USPS vehicle doing a route inspection. They are usually done about once per year on city carrier routes to see how long it takes a carrier to do their route and if they are doing it properly and safely. Sometimes they will ride in the same vehicle as the carrier and sometimes behind in another vehicle. If the mail volume has increased significantly then the carrier may be allowed more time to complete their route or may have some territory taken off the route to allow the assignment to stay within the normal window of an 8-hour work shift. There may have been another reason for Ken being followed though I'm not sure what it could be. (Possibly a mechanical issue where Ken asked someone to come out and rescue him if the truck broke down, though that call is usually made after the fact).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Recently%20I%20came%20home%20during%20the%20time%20my%20mail%20was%20being%20delivered%20%28I%20am%20usually%20at%20work%29%2C%20and%20the%20mailman%20%28Ken%2C%20great%20guy%20for%20years%2C%20I%20order%20a%20lot%29%20jeep-type%20vehicle%20was%20being%20followed%20by%20a%20USPS%20small%20SUV%20with%20flashing%20lights.%20%20What%20does%20this%20mean%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13405)
-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
