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.
Do you mean that the marking was "insufficient postage", not "insufficient packaging". If it was "insufficient postage", I'm pretty sure you would just have to pay the difference between the Parcel Select rate and the Priority Mail rate. What I'm not sure about is how you get credit for an already purchased postage label, if that's even possible. If you took this to the PO for some type of resolution, I question whether all of the clerks would know how to adjust the rate properly as the ability, care, and training of the SSAs (sales and service associates) seems to vary widely. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20sent%20an%20item%20in%20a%20Priority%20Mailing%20envelope%2C%20but%20the%20label%20I%20purchased%20online%20via%20PayPal%20was%20for%20Parcel%20Select.%20%20It%20was%20returned%20to%20me%20as%20%22insufficient%20packaging%22.%20%20Does%20this%20mean%20I%20have%20to%20pay%20all%20that%20postage%20again%3F%20%20Thanks%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13103)
I'm glad you like this blog. It's my pleasure to help where I can and I have a great appreciation for those who do podcasts or other websites just for fun. Their time commitments are impressive given the work it takes to maintain a blog or a website. Since I have no experience with the CCA hiring process, I can't give you any hard facts about how long the process takes. Congratulations on getting an interview. There will likely be a drug test and medical exam if you haven't gone through that process already. I imagine it would only be 1-2 months after that to be notified if you will be hired. There are about 6 CCAs in the office where I work but there is a solid turnover among them. It's not the job for everyone. It's physically demanding, pay for CCAs isn't great ($16.50/hr Apprx) and you aren't always treated that well. I still recommend it if you get hired because long-term it has proven to be a great career for me. I wish you well and have a positive attitude.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hey%20mailman%2C%20thank%20you%20for%20this%20blog%21%20I%20am%20going%20for%20my%20interview%20for%20CCA.%20What%20comes%20after%20the%20interview%20and%20how%20long%20is%20the%20process%3F%20I%20am%20in%20NY%20as%20well.%20Thanks&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14259)
I don't believe that UPS or FEDEX do any type of stamping on their envelopes or parcels like the USPS does when processing the mail. I do know that both companies have very good tracking services for each item so the recipient can tell what facilities the item went through before being delivered to them. When they receive what you sent to them, they can likely go online with the item tracking # and find out how the item traveled from you to them. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hello-%0AJust%20wondering%20about%20mailing%20UPS%20or%20FEDEX%2Cand%20if%20they%20still%20stamp%20the%20city%20name%20on%20the%20envelope%20before%20it%20is%20sent%20out%20like%20the%20regular%20mail%20is%20done%3F%20In%20case%20you%20wanted%20to%20mail%20someone%2Cbut%20not%20wanting%20them%20to%20know%20what%20city%20it%20is%20coming%20from%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12810)
Funny, I had never noticed that to be the case! Just kidding. There is a very important reason the steering wheel is on the right hand side (as one is facing forward). I drive one of these vehicles. They are commonly known as LLV (long life vehicles), Jeeps, or other names. The reason for this configuration is because many mail routes have mailboxes at the street end of a driveway where a mail vehicle can drive right up to it and the letter carrier can put the mail in the box without having to leave his seat. They can just stick their right arm out of the window. On the left side of the letter carrier (where a regular vehicle would have the steering wheel) is a large metal tray where the letter carrier organizes the mail for delivery. This method of delivery is found more commonly in suburban or rural environments. I drive an LLV, and even though the route I deliver has no mailboxes at the end of a driveway (they are mostly by a front door or garage), it is safer for me to exit the vehicle on the right side instead of what is possibly moving traffic. It only took a short time to get used to driving this configuration and it seems none of my co-workers have much of a problem either. You just have to be careful of blind spots and when backing up, not unlike any conventional vehicle. You asked a great question and I may have given you more than you asked for but I hoped it helped Jeff.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Why%20is%20the%20steering%20wheel%20for%20the%20mail%20truck%20on%20the%20other%20side%20aka%20the%20passenger%20side%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12575)
Stand-Up Comedian
Did your career blow up after you performed on the Tonight Show / Conan?
Social Security Employee
How do you check to see whether someone claiming disability is actually disabled?
Antiques Dealer
Do you think today's "stuff" will one day be collected as valuable antiques?
Kathy, I can only guess that Ken was being followed by a supervisor in another USPS vehicle doing a route inspection. They are usually done about once per year on city carrier routes to see how long it takes a carrier to do their route and if they are doing it properly and safely. Sometimes they will ride in the same vehicle as the carrier and sometimes behind in another vehicle. If the mail volume has increased significantly then the carrier may be allowed more time to complete their route or may have some territory taken off the route to allow the assignment to stay within the normal window of an 8-hour work shift. There may have been another reason for Ken being followed though I'm not sure what it could be. (Possibly a mechanical issue where Ken asked someone to come out and rescue him if the truck broke down, though that call is usually made after the fact).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Recently%20I%20came%20home%20during%20the%20time%20my%20mail%20was%20being%20delivered%20%28I%20am%20usually%20at%20work%29%2C%20and%20the%20mailman%20%28Ken%2C%20great%20guy%20for%20years%2C%20I%20order%20a%20lot%29%20jeep-type%20vehicle%20was%20being%20followed%20by%20a%20USPS%20small%20SUV%20with%20flashing%20lights.%20%20What%20does%20this%20mean%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13405)
I am a full-time regular city carrier so I usually work 40 hrs/wk. This is comprised of 5 8-hour days. We are off my on Sundays and then one day during the week or Saturday. There is ample opportunity to work overtime in the office where I am assigned. We usually have the option to accept it or refuse the overtime, except during periods of short staffing when extra work is sometimes mandated by management.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=how%20many%20hours%20do%20u%20worked%20per%20week&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13549)
Matt, I am not familar with any real details about where a mailbox has to be with regards to steps. I just know that the box needs to be accessible to the letter carrier. I have never heard anything about steps being an issue. You may call the post office to ask if there is any regulation about the placement of a mailbox or mail slot. If they give you an answer that seems like it is made up, you may ask to see where this regulation is in writing or ask for the number to the regional or area office that oversees your local post office. Without having any more information than what you provided me, I'd say that the request by the mailman is invalid, but I just want to reiterate that I'm no authority on all of the rules on this subject. Thank you for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Good%20Morning.%0AMy%20mail%20box%20is%20a%20slot%20in%20front%20door.%20%20Up%20until%203%20months%20ago%2C%20there%20was%20never%20a%20problem%20with%20delivering%20my%20mail%20there.%20%20Now%20my%20mailman%20has%20told%20me%20I%20have%20to%20have%20my%20mail%20box%20in%20the%20back%2C%20so%20that%20he%20doesn%27t%20have%20to%20walk%20up%20my%20steps.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12561)
-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
