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.
Hello Joy. The area where you took the photo is probably serviced by a rural carrier or HCR (highway contract routr). These positions are different than the one I am employed as even though we all serve the same function. It makes sense to me that the barrel would be used for packages because I don't think carriers are required to deliver mail to a house that is more than a certain amt of feet from the road. The barrel is a convenient way for the customer to receive packages without having to drive to a post office which is many mlies away and has limited hours. It would also protect the package from damage in inclement weather. I can't confirm this is what the barrel is for.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20a%20photograph%20of%20mailboxes%20in%20a%20very%20remote%20part%20of%20South%20Dakota.%20%20Next%20to%20the%20mailboxes%20is%20a%20large%20barrel.%20%20Is%20this%20where%20the%20mailman%20would%20leave%20packages%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13111)
It is very kind of the customers to give you tips and or boxed presents for the holiday season. I believe we aren't supposed to accept any gift valued at more than $20 at any one time and it's supposed to be non-cash. I would venture to say that most employees don't follow this rule and it is rare that you'd get in trouble for accepting it. For those that give you gifts, I'd recommend replying with a thank you note or card that you can deliver with the mail the next time you are at their office or residence. I do realize you are a CCA and may be doing different assignments daily unless you have a hold down. Another recommendation is to not discuss any amounts or gifts you receive with your fellow co-workers. It's better to just be modest and quiet about it IMO. I hope this helped you. Please also remember that we are paid to do our job and nobody should expect a tip for doing their job at the USPS. It is unethical to expect any gratuity, but I, like most, will gladly accept it when offered.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27ve%20been%20a%20CCA%20for%20almost%20three%20months%20now%20and%20since%20we%27re%20so%20close%20to%20Chritmas%20I%27ve%20had%20several%20customers%20slip%20me%20tips%20during%20a%20postage%20due%20or%20even%20leave%20entire%20boxed%20presents%20addressed%20to%20me%20as%20gifts.%20How%20do%20you%20handle%20these%20situations%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14169)
Nizu, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by your question, but I will take a guess. I believe you are a letter carrier who doesnt yet have a uniform or uniform allowance. I'm pretty sure that not long after you pass the 90-day probationary period the USPS should be sending you information on how to purchase uniforms plus a spending card which can be used at authorized vendors to make purchases of authorized uniform components. This is for city letter carriers and CCAs. I don't know anything about rural carriers and a uniform allowance. Have you asked your supervisor if they know anything about the process? Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20can%20I%20write%20a%20letter%20to%20manager%20for%20collect%20my%20uniform&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12932)
I don't know the answer to this officially. It would definitely be helpful to put your name on your mailbox, but if a letter were dressed accurately with the correct apt. #, I'm not sure why it would be returned to the sender. If I were delivering to an apt. complex, I wouldn't require this to be done. I live in an apt. building and do put my name on the mailbox, but I don't know that it is required.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20got%20a%20strange%20note%20from%20the%20mailman%20today%20that%20I%20have%20to%20put%20my%20name%20on%20our%20apt%20mailbox%20or%20it%20will%20be%20returned%20to%20sender.%20I%20had%20lots%20of%20instances%20that%20my%20mail%20has%20been%20misdirected%20with%20the%20correct%20address.%20My%20question%20is%20am%20I%20required%20to%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10390)
Subway Store Manager
Does Subway have a secret menu?
Professional Reseller
What was your most valuable find in a thrift store?
CPR Trainer
Are you supposed to perform CPR differently on a man vs. a woman?
Bradan, I feel your pain. It is a horrible feeling to be out in the elements, being cold and uncomfortable with hours to go in your deliveries. I haven't by any means mastered this problem. The uniform vendors that sell for the USPS offer fingerless gloves (the upper 1/3 or 1/2 of your fingers are exposed) but they aren't terribly useful. Some gloves offered have raised dots that can help you finger the mail. I use them sometimes. Try and keep the rest of your body as warm as possible with layering including thermal underwear. Definitely wear a hat, two if necessary. Even if your fingertips are exposed, you may want to invest in a box of single-use handwarmers (sometimes called hot hands) which are little packets that you shake to activate and then can put inside your gloves or in your pants pockets or glove pockets which you will keep you warm. My girlfriend just bought a box of 40 hand warmers for $12.99 at Costco.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27m%20a%20month%20old%20CCA%20now%20and%20I%20live%20in%20Ohio.%20It%27s%20getting%20cold%20so%20I%20need%20a%20good%20pair%20of%20gloves%20to%20keep%20my%20hands%20dry%2Fwarm%20and%20still%20be%20able%20to%20finger%20the%20mail.%20What%20would%20you%20recommend%3F%20Also%20what%20do%20you%20recommend%20for%20the%20winter%20months%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13618)
I don't think you should be doomed if you were unable to complete such a large route. Usually the management would request that you call the post office if you require any extra time or assistance in completing a route that you are unfamiliar with. I would hope there would be no discipline in the situation that you just described.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Mailman%20Dave%0A%0AI%20am%20a%20cca%204%20month%20now%2C%20called%20in%20on%20my%20day%20off%20which%20i%20often%20am%20and%20am%20fine%20with%20that%20but%20was%20sent%20on%20a%20nightmare%20route%20that%20i%20was%20un%20familiar%20with%20and%20was%20unable%20to%20complete%2C%20am%20i%20doomed%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10038)
I am not really sure about the policy of delivering to a multi-suite building, but here is the way I see it: If your mail is specifically addressed to your suite and you are a different business than the suite/tenant on the first floor, it should be delivered directly to you. The suite on the first floor shouldn't be getting your mail. I would consider your suite a separate delivery. Again, I don't know the rules but I would treat it like an apartment building where you wouldn't be delivering your mail to a neighbor or vice versa. We are given time to sort the mail in a multi-unit building if a suite has a separate address so I don't necessarily buy the excuse of not having time to sort the world's mail. With regards to the parking, that doesn't seem to appropriate either. I have parked in No Parking Fire Zones in front of buildings if I'll just be 5 minutes or less delivering the mail. I don't think I would park in a handicapped spot. Since the supervisor doesn't care, you could speak with the Postmaster or whoever is next up on the chain of command to see if they can assist at all. As I've posted in other comments, we have a real mixed bag of employees at the USPS so your responses could vary.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Mailman%20says%20he%20doesn%27t%20have%20time%20to%20sort%20the%20world%27s%20mail%2C%20so%20he%20delivers%20ours%20to%20another%20suite%20everyday%20so%20he%20doesn%27t%20have%20to%20come%20to%20second%20floor.%20He%20parks%20in%20handicapped%20everyday.%20Supervisor%20doesn%27t%20care.%20What%20can%20we%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14207)
-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
