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.
It doesn't make sense why a USPS letter carrier would put a question mark on one of the envelopes that is identical to the first one. It's common for people to get multiple letters from the same company. I would only put a question mark on the envelope if I wasn't sure if the name on the envelope was correct for the address it is to be delivered to. In your example, I don't think I'd put a question mark on either piece of mail. Also, if other mail to your address has your name on it, I don't see any reason for the question mark. If it only happens once or twice I wouldn't think about it. If it happens each month and it concerns you, you could cal the local PO and talk to the delivery supervisor to see if they have any insight.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20get%20two%20letters%20from%20the%20same%20company%20a%20month.%20They%20arrive%20together%20on%20the%20same%20day%2C%20why%20would%20the%20usps%20of%20postman%20put%20a%20question%20mark%20on%20the%20second%20envelope%3F%20Everything%20is%20exactly%20the%20same%20as%20far%20as%20the%20printing%20of%20address%20for%20example.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14961)
Mike, I believe it takes several months before your probation is over and you receive a uniform allowance. I don't know for sure what the uniform regulations are, but the CCAs in my office where jeans and t-shirts mainly. They should tell you at orientation what is acceptable and not acceptable. The shoes must not be open-toed. I may have worn sneakers during my probationary period. The shoes that are purchased with the uniform allowance can easily cost $80 and up. Good luck to you and work safely.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Im%20a%20new%20CCA%20and%20im%20wondering%20what%20the%20uniform%20regulations%20are%20if%20we%20dont%20have%20an%20offical%20uniform%20yet.%20Do%20i%20wear%20board%20shorts%2C%20collared%20shirt%20or%20what%3F%20How%20about%20shoes%3F%20Leather%20shoes%20are%20expensive%2C%20what%20can%20i%20wear%20instead%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14743)
That is true Sergio. When a letter carrier is delivering from their truck and they can't access the mailbox due to a vehicle in the way or garbage cans blocking the mailbox, they can opt not to deliver the mail. I don't think they can just leave the mail on the windshield of the car impeding access to the mailbox. If there is a note on file saying explicitly that they can do this,maybe it would be allowed, but I wouldn't count on it. Generally, however, mail must be delivered to a mailbox or doorslot.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20read%20a%20lot%20of%20comments%20over%20mail%20men%20not%20delivering%20if%20there%20is%20obstruction%20impeding%20safe%20delivery%20without%20getting%20off%20the%20truck.%20But%20can%20the%20mailman%20leave%20my%20mail%20on%20the%20windshield%20of%20the%20car%20impeding%20access%20to%20my%20mailbox%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13791)
Two good questions that are easy to answer. 1) there is no radio in the LLV which I drive. It's possible some postal vehicles have radios but not the one I use. Some carriers bring a portable radio with them or listen on their mobile devices to music or podcasts. I listen to podcasts while delivering the mail. I have one ear with the earphone in it and the other left open so I can hear any traffic or people looking to get my attention. We are probably not supposed to work with both ears covered.
2) I get both a pension and a 401(K) type program since I'm employed by a quasi-governmental organization. The pension is called FERS (federal employees retirement system) and the 401(K)-type program is called the Thrift Savings Plan. Along with Social Security, they make up the 3 "legs" of the retirement system under which I'm covered. The TSP offers a lot of potential growth because you can contribute a lot of your earnings plus the USPS matches some of your contributions. You choose how aggressive of an investor you want to be with your TSP contributions. Thanks for your questions and asking something I actually know about. Many of the questions here I can only answer by my experience not necessarily what the rules may be or how different people would act in a situation.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Actually%20had%20two%20questions%20for%20you%3F%0A%0A1.%20Is%20there%20radio%20in%20the%20mail%20delivery%20truck%20that%20you%20can%20listen%20to%20when%20driving%3F%0A%0A2.%20Do%20you%20get%20a%20pension%20or%20a%20401k%20since%20you%20work%20for%20a%20company%20ran%20by%20the%20government%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16119)
Casting Director
Are the melt-down auditions on American Idol staged?
Help Desk Technician
Are people appreciative when you help them or do they just treat you like a support monkey?
TV Meteorologist
Is having a weatherman really better than just throwing to a 5-day forecast screen?
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=is%20it%20quicker%20mailing%20a%20letter%20at%20the%20post%20office%20versus%20dropping%20it%20in%20a%20local%20mailbox%20to%20get%20to%20the%20recipient%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14179)
If it is truly a registered letter, a letter carrier will usually not sign for it even if you have given them written authorization because registered mail can sometimes be very valuable and individual custody is tracked along the way. If you mean a certified letter (which is often confused with registered mail) many letter carriers will deliver it and sign for you if you've given them authorization. I know that I would in this situation. Does your PO have Saturday retail hours? If so, you can pick up the item then unless that is also when you aren't home. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hello%20I%20live%20in%20a%20townhouse%20and%20%20I%27m%20receiving%20Registered%20Mail%20soon.%20where%20we%20live%20we%20have%20a%20common%20area%20where%20there%20are%20a%20bunch%20of%20postal%20boxes%20and%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20I%20leave%20a%20note%20to%20authorize%20mailman%20to%20sign%20will%20they%3F%20I%27m%20never%20home%20what%20do%20I%20do&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14004)
If you don't have an auto-forward in effect for mail to go from the house you own to another address, then it shouldn't be a problem. I do think that leaving a note for the letter carrier is a great idea. If there is a forward on file then the letter carrier may not even see the letter before it is forwarded. The forwarding is often an automated system called PARS that redirects the mail prior to the original letter carrier seeing any mail to be forwarded. I hope this helps and thank your for the question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20am%20expecting%20some%20mail%20in%20next%20few%20months%20at%20a%20house%20I%20own%20%26%20rent%20to%20tenants.%20%20How%20can%20I%20ensure%20USPS%20will%20deliver%20it%20to%20that%20address%3F%20%20I%20do%20not%20wish%20to%20have%20it%20auto-forwarded%20to%20another%20address.%20Should%20I%20just%20leave%20a%20note%20for%20the%20mailman%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14261)
-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
