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

Best Rated

My co-workers and I have different opinions, I think the majority of routes in suburban areas are curbside(where the mailman drives to each mailbox and drops the mail) would you say this is true?

Asked by Mark over 12 years ago

In my opinion, the majority of suburban mailboxes are curbside so the letter carrier can deliver the mail without having to get out of his/her truck. Where I work Is fairly mixed between curbside delivery and door delivery but I would suggest that all new construction would have either curbside (mounted) delivery or a centralized cluster box unit method of delivery. This answer is mainly my opinion and not based on scientific research.

Does the USPS do random drug testing?

Asked by Molly over 12 years ago

Yes, before one is hired they are often given a drug test. I have not been tested since but imagine it is is possible that  I could be given one at anytime. 

If my tracking number shows up when I use your website, does it mean you are delivering the package when it arrives to the US?

Asked by MrPlaneDick almost 13 years ago

I think when the tracking number shows up on the USPS website, i think that means the item has arrived in the US. I don't know how long it takes to actually get delivered. It's also possible items are delayed in US Customs, but i dont know how common that is. 

he also tracked down the letter and it showed it arrived in my area but never stated that it reached my house. This letter contained something very important, what can I do to get it?

Asked by bryana over 12 years ago

I am sorry that the letter never made it to you. the letter must have been mailed with some type of tracking on it for your friend to know it reached your area. I don't know how you would go about getting it. Does the tracking # say it was delivered anywhere? Possibly it was mis-delivered.  Did the item need a signature for delivery?

How long does it usually take to mail a letter, dropped off in a blue collection box, across the states?

Asked by BWras over 12 years ago

If the letter is dropped in the blue collection box before the pickup time, then it is 1-3 days for a letter to be delivered across the states. Maybe AK and HI would be longer, but that is for the 48 contiguous states. 

my best friend was an rca for 10 yrs she died 3 weeks ago while on the job can she recieve any kind of benefits from the goverment she had a heart attack.

Asked by julie over 12 years ago

I don't know the answer to this question. I am sorry to hear about the passing of your friend who was an RCA. My suggestion would be to have her next of kin (or maybe you) contact the district office where she was employed.

my HOA just notified us that the postal carrier "monitors the mail received and notifies [building] management if mail addressed to an unfamiliar name is received". Don't I have a reasonable expectation of privacy? Is this legal?

Asked by ewawa about 12 years ago

I have never heard of this happening and wouldn't think that a carrier should be doing that. I think a unit owner should be allowed to accept mail at their address for whomever they want. I have no legal education in this matter so I can't tell you if i's legal or not, just that it comes across to me as inappropriate. I just have very little faith  how far you would get in a complaint about this to the letter carrier, your HOA, or building management or your local PO.