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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

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I just got interviewed for CCA position. Just wondering, how many years does it take to make career and what to expect the hourly rate if starting in California is $15.68. Also I'm kind of nervous about getting lost. Do carrier use GPS for route?

Asked by Nat almost 10 years ago

I'll answer your second question first Nat. The carriers I work with (as well as I myself) use GPS on their smartphones to find streets and neighborhoods they may not be familiar with. I've been working in the same area for many years but sometimes get sent to streets I haven't been to in awhile. I break out the maps App on the iPhone to get me there. Management used to give out route maps to assist carriers but I don't know if they still do since GPS is easily available to most. Please be careful using it when driving. I try to picture the directions ahead of time so I'm not fumbling with the phone while driving. With regards to how long it takes to make career employee from CCA, it really depends on the attrition/retirement rate in your office/area. CCAs are usually made into career employees when a somebody retires or leaves the office or area where you work which would create a vacant position. It could range from a few months to several years to be converted from a CCA to career employee. In my opinion it is generally worth the wait. Your wages don't go up significantly when you become a career employee but you are entitled to health and retirement benefits and paid annual leave. If you access the NALC website and search for pay chart you can see what the wage progression is. You have to make sure you look at the section for CCA or Career letter carriers hired after 2013 I think as the pay scale is different than those hired before then. Good luck and work safely. The NALC is the labor union that represents city letter carriers employed by the USPS. I recommend joining that organization.

My boyfriend just got hired for ptf rural carrier. We planned a vacation before he appied for 1 week and it's in 4 months. Will they be nice and let him take it? we don't care if it's not paid vacation time, we just can't cancel our reservations.

Asked by ut-ohs about 12 years ago

I Can't answer that re: whether they will let him take off or not. If airline tickets or other travel was booked pre-hire, he could always use that as evidence that it was planned earlier. It is up to each mgr or supervisor whether or not to approve time off. I hope they are flexible and give the time off whether paid or not.

How many deliverys to the same house can you do a day

Asked by Cameron Flynn about 11 years ago

Generally we will go to each address 1X per day Monday-Saturday. Exceptions to this might be is if we have an Express Mail delivery for a house and the regular letter carrier won't reach that address on time. During a busy holiday season when there are many parcel deliveries it is common to have a couple of deliveries made: once by the regular letter carrier and once by the parcel delivery carrier. In a city environment where the letter carriers do not have delivery vehicles, a parcel post carrier will deliver the parcels and the regular letter carrier will deliver the traditional mail and small parcels.

Thank you for such a prompt response! Yes, it was media mail, but I still feel violated. I am new with all the Ebay mailing. I won't go there anymore, he made me feel terrible, embarrassed I understand why there is never anyone in that post office.

Asked by FeelViolated about 12 years ago

From what I've seen, most employees will just accept you at your word if you say it's a book/CD/music which you are mailing. The exception would be if it felt like something obviously different like a t-shirt or handbag. I am sorry that you are having a bad experience there, but I guess that is also why Media Mail is usually much cheaper than Priority Mail or Standard Parcel rates. 

I got a mail from USCIS on 3rd in my mailbox (I didn't know about it) A new mailman took my letters from my mailbox on 11th, he said my mail box was full so he took it and returned it to USCIS on 11th. He took my name off the box too can he do tht

Asked by ANUJ over 12 years ago

I have no idea if he was allowed to Do that. If a mailbox is full and the mail is unclaimed, I am not sure I'd automatically send it back or take a name out of the box (not that we have names in the box where I deliver mail---single family homes). I'm sorry that i don't have much more insight into your problem. know that dealing with USCIS for a replacement letter may not be that easy Either being a government bureaucracy. 

Hi. I ordered some nootropics from a certain website, a bunch, and two days later wanna order from a different source. Will frequent EMS packages cause any suspicion? It's just supplements, but still.

Thanks

Asked by Beck over 11 years ago

I don't believe that ordering the supplements from different sources will arouse any suspicion. I know I wouldn't think twice if anybody rcvd express mail in a few consecutive days or even a few days apart nor would I think Postal Inspectors would have any suspicion either. 

In reference to the above question, I HONESTLY did make that mistake. I know it sounds fishy and the local PO won't believe me.. Hahaha. But I usually do ship priority and reuse my boxes. I just happen to be shipping first class international!

Asked by Kristie about 12 years ago

If a few days go by and you don't get the package back for additional postage I wouldn't worry about it. If it is sent back for more postage, nobody is going to be mad at you. You just might have to make up the difference between 1st cl International and Priority Mail International.