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.
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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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