Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

You come later on Fridays

Asked by Lj about 10 years ago

I can't say for sure if we come later on Fridays or not. It usually depends on the staffing and mail volume as to what time we deliver the mail. At the PO where I work, Friday is usually like most other weekdays for mail delivery time. On Saturday, the mail may come earlier because postal routes may have closed busineses so they can start the residential delivery sooner.

563 Votes

Is it okay to finish a route and take the half hour lunch at the end then drive back to office

Asked by JVitto about 10 years ago

I used to do this but was then told that I really should take the 30 minute lunch within 6 hours of my BT (begin tour) time. I now take lunch from approximately 1300-1330. The new scanners that we have tells the mgmt where we are so they can see if we are sitting for 30 minutes at the end of the day instead of our approved lunch period. If the management doesn't give you a hard time about it, I don't see why not but the union and managers technically should be enforcing the 6-hour rule for taking a lunch break. I've become used to it so it's no big deal to take lunch when I'm supposed to and not at the end of the delivery route.

563 Votes

to continue on the signature confirmations, its a hassle to have to deliver the package after the customer signs the 3849, sign in person or not sign in person is the question, now we have key in the 3849 on certifieds

Asked by jrv over 10 years ago

You should be able to scan the 3849 if you choose the attempted function. At least this is how it works on the older scanners. If the "delivered" function is chosen then the 3849 (reverse) is scanned. The only change I noticed recently was having to put the 3849 bar coded # in the scanner on the "attempted" function. This allows the recipient to just type in the 3849 # when requesting re delivery. It is an extra step but if you are a city carrier, time=money.

563 Votes

Hello, someone hit my mailbox while I was at work today, I didn't notice until 10 minutes ago and my finace and I are going out of town tomorrow morning and don't have time to fix it, what will happen when we don't have a box up tomorrow?

Asked by Tabitha about 10 years ago

I don't know what will happen if you don't fix the mailbox by tomorrow morning and go out of town. It's possible that the mail will still be delivered to your mailbox if it's on the ground near where it was before it got hit. Two other possibilities are that the mail will be held at the PO for a few days in hopes that you will repair it or the mail would be returned to the sender marked "No Mail Receptacle". The latter is very unlikely since it just happened today. If possible, contact your local PO and advise them what happened and that it will be fixed once you get back in town. Another option would be to go our website at www.usps.com and put in a hold request for your mail and that you will pick it up on your return. I know that may be difficult depending on your work schedule. I'm also not sure how far in advance a "hold mail request" must be submitted online. I can accept them via paper for the same day or next day. The reason I don't have a definite answer for this is because different POs and different employees handle each situation that's not always consistent with what should be done. I'm sorry about your mailbox being hit.

563 Votes

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Will a mail man come back afyer his route if there is a package to large for him to carry

Asked by logan over 10 years ago

I am not sure. If the letter carrier is using a postal delivery vehicle like a 2-ton truck or LLV (long-life vehicle), they will usually deliver a parcel before or after they deliver the mail and smaller parcels on that street or area. If they are a foot carrier with a walk-out route that means they don't drive a delivery vehicle and another postal employee, usually a Parcel Post carrier, would deliver the large parcel separately. Thanks for your question.

562 Votes

is it quicker mailing a letter at the post office versus dropping it in a local mailbox to get to the recipient?

Asked by BARB almost 11 years ago

It depends when you drop the letter in the blue collection box. If it is before the daily pickup time (which is usually posted on a label somewhere on the box) then it is likely going to be on the same dispatch truck as if you put the letter in a box at the PO. The truck then goes to a centralized mail processing facility. If you put the letter in a blue collection mailbox after the daily cutoff time posted on the mailbox, but the local PO is still open, you'd probably be better off bringing the letter there for mailing. At most POs you can probably bring in letter up until 1700 for same-day processing.

562 Votes

Is there a typical time frame to get hired as a carrier from the first steps of applying until one lands a job?

Asked by cdaws over 10 years ago

I don't know but my guess would be 6 months or less. I don't know if there is still a test that needs to be taken to be hired as a City Carrier Assistant and how frequently the test is given. Many years ago, this exam wasn't given too frequently. Now I hear nothing about it so maybe it's an ongoing hiring process, where they are continuously hiring and training. From what I hear anecdotally, and what I personally see in my workplace we defintitely could use some new hires. It seems the demand for letter carriers exists, but the hiring of qualified candidates who make it through probation isn't keeping pace with that demand. Good luck to you!

562 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

You come later on Fridays

Is it okay to finish a route and take the half hour lunch at the end then drive back to office

to continue on the signature confirmations, its a hassle to have to deliver the package after the customer signs the 3849, sign in person or not sign in person is the question, now we have key in the 3849 on certifieds

Hello, someone hit my mailbox while I was at work today, I didn't notice until 10 minutes ago and my finace and I are going out of town tomorrow morning and don't have time to fix it, what will happen when we don't have a box up tomorrow?

Also on Jobstr...

Will a mail man come back afyer his route if there is a package to large for him to carry

is it quicker mailing a letter at the post office versus dropping it in a local mailbox to get to the recipient?

Is there a typical time frame to get hired as a carrier from the first steps of applying until one lands a job?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

You come later on Fridays

Is it okay to finish a route and take the half hour lunch at the end then drive back to office

to continue on the signature confirmations, its a hassle to have to deliver the package after the customer signs the 3849, sign in person or not sign in person is the question, now we have key in the 3849 on certifieds

Hello, someone hit my mailbox while I was at work today, I didn't notice until 10 minutes ago and my finace and I are going out of town tomorrow morning and don't have time to fix it, what will happen when we don't have a box up tomorrow?

Also on Jobstr...

Will a mail man come back afyer his route if there is a package to large for him to carry

is it quicker mailing a letter at the post office versus dropping it in a local mailbox to get to the recipient?

Is there a typical time frame to get hired as a carrier from the first steps of applying until one lands a job?

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