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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

1236 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

Did you relocate to where you were hired or did you wait until there was an opening in your area? Did you start as a carrier?

Asked by cjz over 11 years ago

I am in the same office that I was hired in. I live about 35 minutes from work. I was hired as a carrier, but some clerks have become carriers and vice versa though they are represented by different unions and have a different pay scale. Carriers make a higher Wage. The exam I took was specifically for a certain area that would be hiring on Long Island, but not one specific office. 

I am in first grade and have a project about mail carriers. What is the best part of your job? What is the most challenging part of the job?

Asked by Stella over 11 years ago

That sounds like a good subject and I'll be gland to help. The best part of my job is the indpendenence I have most of the day while delivering my route. I can listen to a radio or iPod or just get lost in my thoughts. The route I deliver I am so familiar with so I can do it without much deep thought required. The most challenging part is when we get overwhelmed by mail volume and you feel like you can never get a handle on it. The reality is that this doesn't happen too often. The holidays create substantially more parcel business but that's about it. People don't mail as many holiday cards as in the past. It would also be a challenge if the USPS decides to cut delivery from 6 days/week to 5 days/week. This would make the 5 days that we deliver mail so much heavier. I hope this doesn't happen unless the overall mail volume continues to drop. I hope this helps!

Can a mailman use his Ipod or mp3 player while delivering mail on his route?

Asked by Brian over 11 years ago

When walking on my route, I use an iPod to listen to podcasts, but only cover 1 ear with it for safety reasons. I don't know the official rule on using one while delivering mail, but I've never had a problem. While driving, I think this would be frowned upon even if only 1 ear was covered. As you can see from most of my answers, I have a very limited view as to what goes on in other POs, so I don't like to speak in terms is absolute rules.

I am a female thinking about becoming a city letter carrier. Will I be safe? Also, I can only work Monday-Friday. Can I do this?

Asked by Kelsie over 11 years ago

We have quite a few female carriers In our office. As far as it being safe, I would say it is, but I don't have a female's perspective on it. The woman must be assertive in rebuffing any unwanted advances and be aware of their surroundings. I know it is a vague answer. As far as only working Mon-Fri that would likely be a problem since we presently deliver mail mon-Sat and new hires rarely get their choice of schedule. 

As a city carrier assistant are you driving the truck ? and how flexible is the post office with scheduling , im still trying to go to school full time. and am worried that i might have to let this opportunity go by

Asked by Noah over 11 years ago

You possibly would be driving a postal vehicle as a CCA. The PO is probably not too flexible in scheduling unless they have so many extra people to cover the assignments.   I don't know anybody in my office who was able to go to college full time and work.

My mailman suddenly out of the blue stopped delivering my mail because I took the name card out of the box for ONE DAY. I had made the name card myself in the first place. All my paychecks were returned and I can't pay my bills. Can he do this?

Asked by Lori over 11 years ago

I am not familiar with the name cards, but I am thinking that once he saw it removed, maybe he thought you moved. I still don't think he should have stopped delivering the mail if there were no Hold Mail or Change of Address request submitted. Did you call the PO to have this rectified?

I have been offered a job as a CCA, I am worried about the working hours, because I have two small kids and they are starting school, will I be able to drop and pick them around up 7 am to 6 pm.
What will be max working hrs. Is it shift system

Asked by Laksi over 11 years ago

I don't know what the hours sechedule would be like for a CCA. from 7a-6P would seem like a lot more than would be be offered at the beginning. Each office schedules CCAs as needed so I can't speak to how you would be used. I wish you well for sure.