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.
I don't have an answer as to what the procedure is if the carrier can't deliver the mail because someone is parked in the loading zone of a building. I agree that the carrier should not be harassing anybody re: this. As far as I know they do have the right to not deliver the mail if there is no safe place for them to park their delivery vehicle. They could mention to the tenants or bldng/office managers as to the reason there may not have been delivery on a previous day, but I believe this can be done in a civil/professional manner. Is the building staff not enforcing the loading zone policy? I rarely deliver mail to an office building but I can see how it may be aggravating when a designated loading zone or short term parking policy isn't adhered to. Either way, nobody deserves harassment in my opinion.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Does%20USPS%20have%20a%20procedure%20that%20a%20carrier%20should%20adhere%20to%20when%20they%20can%27t%20deliver%20mail%20because%20people%20are%20parked%20in%20the%20loading%20zone%3F%20Sympathetic%20to%20his%20problem%2C%20but%20it%27s%20not%20right%20when%20he%20harasses%20building%20tenants.%20What%20does%20USPS%20say%20he%20should%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14812)
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)
I have no idea why your aunt would take your packages to your uncle's house and he would open them? That sounds illegal to me unless you have some sort of relationship with them to allow this. I'm assuming you don't live together and aren't happy about this. Your aunt must also live nearby. Was anything missing from the packages? You could start by asking your aunt why she did this and tell her not to. You could also mention it to a delivery supervisor at the USPS where she works. I don't know what kind of family tension you want to cause but if something is actually stolen you could call the police to file a complaint. I also have no idea how far that would go. Whatever you do, it sounds like a real sleazy thing for your aunt and uncle to do and I would never imagine doing this.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20usps%20delivery%20woman%2C%20who%20is%20my%20aunt%2C%20took%20my%20packages%20to%20her%20house%20and%20gave%20them%20to%20my%20uncle%20so%20they%20could%20go%20through%20them.%20My%20uncle%20brought%20my%20packages%20and%20shortly%20after%20she%20deliver%20my%20paper%20mail%20to%20my%20mailbox.%20How%20illegal%20is%20this%3F%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13837)
I don't know what is technically the protocol for a carrier reminding themselves that a house is on hold. You make a good point. Most of our carriers have hold notes or cards they sequence in with the mail nearby so when they arrive at the house on hold, they would know to skip it. The note or card is then brought back to the PO for use the next day. I just memorize it from when I prepare the mail in the PO in the AM, but I would usually have no more than 10-15 houses at once who are on hold and their mail usually is left behind at the PO so there would be nothing to deliver even if I forgot the house was on hold.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Our%20carriers%20%28town%20of%207k%29%20leave%20%22HOLD%22%20notes%20in%20our%20home%20box%20when%20we%20request%20our%20mail%20held.%20Anyone%20can%20figure%20out%20which%20houses%20are%20easy%20targets%20for%20theft%20with%20that%20info.%20Is%20that%20protocol%3FThey%20say%20they%20can%27t%20remember%20not%20to%20leave%20it%20otherwise.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14133)
Fashion Model
What's the most lucrative type of gig models can book?
Las Vegas Cab Driver
Do people ever ask you to keep your meter off in exchange for a cheaper fare?
Auto Mechanic
What car brands are most/least likely to end up in the shop?
Sure you can keep your uniforms as far as I know, some carriers donate uniforms to other carriers, especially if it is unused or if it's outerwear. A carrier who just retired from my PO gave me a rain jacket. Some Union branches or offices have uniform closets for items no longer needed by ole tyre carriers. The choice is yours. I just don't know where you would wear most of the items that have the USPS insignia if you aren't employed there anymore.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=When%20I%20quit%20the%20post%20office%20do%20I%20keep%20my%20uniforms&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14534)
I don't know about this. You can request anything of the USPS, but it's probably a matter of policy or your individual letter carrier as to whether or not they will do that for you. We usually refrain from allowing people to pickup mail on any regular basis at the PO unless you go away on vacation, put your mail on "hold" and then pick up the mail at a future date (and that can be done just once per "hold" request). If your landlord would just be away for a few days, I'd deliver the mail to your personal home temporarily, but this has rarely come up for me and I can't comment for sure how others would respond to a similar request.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20you%20lost%20your%20mail%20key%2C%20and%20your%20landlord%20is%20on%20vacation%2C%20can%20you%20request%20it%20delivered%20to%20your%20personal%20home%20or%20for%20pick%20up%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14206)
Amy, it's been awhile since I've worked in extreme heat (mid-90s and above would be my unscientific definition), but I'll just give you some generic advice. The suggestions I have are: 1) Keep hydrated. Even if you aren't thirsty just keep drinking. Many liquids are lost through perspiration, and if you need to take more bathroom breaks, you just do so. It is rare I get a headache from the extreme heat and I credit that to drinking water or other non-diuretic liquids. 2) Wear as light as clothing as possible. 3) Keep your head covered with a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sunlight. I've found this to be more comfortable then not wearing a hat. 4) Don't exert yourself too much. The pressures of the job have some letter carriers rushing through their routes, but that could tire you out quickly if it is very hot outside. I keep a moderate, rational, pace, and if anyone ever questioned why it took longer to deliver a mail route (not common to be questioned especially in weather extremes), I'd just say it was for health and safety reasons. As an aside, the heat never bothered me compared to very cold conditions. I realize that you can cover yourself sufficiently when it's extremely cold, but my extremities still hurt when exposed. It's difficult for me to feel the mail if my fingers aren't touching the mail directly. I hope this helps. Basically, it comes down to preparation and hydration.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20do%20you%20survive%20the%20extreme%20heat%3F%20Also%20after%20a%20long%20hot%20day%20do%20you%20get%20a%20headache%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15240)
-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
