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 am not too familiar with the outgoing mail gray business boxes. Was it inside a business that was on your run? It's not against any laws to mail a letter from an outgoing business gray box. As long as there is sufficient postage on the letter I don't see why you can't mail that from anywhere. It should be no problem at all. I just wouldn't know the schedule as to when the mail was picked up. If the letter carrier had already taken the mail for the day from the business gray box, it will likely get picked up the following delivery day.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20it%20against%20the%20law%20to%20mail%20a%20letter%20from%20a%20business%20outgoing%20box%3F%20I%20went%20on%20a%20run%20thinking%20that%20I%20would%20find%20a%20Blue%20box%20and%20all%20I%20found%20was%20an%20outgoing%20business%20gray%20box.%20I%20put%20it%20in%20there%20not%20thinking%20anything%20of%20it%2C%20now%20I%27m%20worried.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16451)
I don't believe that is normal or allowed in a USPS vehicle. I wouldn't risk taking a civilian (non-USPS employee) in the USPS vehicle. I can't quote any rules on this but I can't imagine the USPS would take any responsibility should the non-employee get hurt while in that vehicle. It sounds even more suspicious that this friend is bringing a bully breed dog along. I once had my nephews and parents walk with me along the postal route for approximately 45 minutes to show them what my job is like. I didn't receive approval from my supervisor to do this and, after the fact, I realize it may not have been proper to have them accompany me while delivering mail. My nephews were very young at the the time and I carefully watched as they put the mail in the mailbox on several occasions. It's up to you whether or not you want to report this to your local post office that the letter carrier works out of. I don't know if the supervisor would care or do anything but I can't imagine that this is allowed or condoned. If the friend just came along and didn't go into the USPS vehicle, it may not be as clear whether or not that is allowed, but it certainly seems inappropriate. In my work environment, I just stick to the rules as much as I can without drawing attention to myself and stay out of trouble. Thanks for the interesting question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=The%20mail%20lady%20at%20my%20apartment%20building%20has%20been%20bringing%20a%20friend%20with%20her%20when%20delivering%20mail%2C%20just%20hanging%20out.%20He%20also%20has%20a%20bully%20breed%20dog.%20Is%20this%20normal%3F%20Are%20civilians%20allowed%20in%20USPS%20vehicles%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15751)
If I were in motion, I'd safely pull over, put on my four-way flashers, and then get out to investigate. It's possible that my gas cap is hanging out the side of the LLV, the back gate isn't secure, or maybe I'm dragging something. It could also be something that I haven't thought of. If the motorist is still around I'd ask them what they are pointing out.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=While%20driving%20the%20vehicle%20to%20make%20a%20delivery%2C%20another%20motorist%20points%20towards%20the%20back%20of%20your%20vehicle%20as%20if%20something%20is%20wrong.%20What%20do%20you%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16012)
As long as you addressed the letter properly and affixed the correct postage the letter should make it to London correctly. When letter carriers pick up outgoing mail we generally just put it in a basket with all of the other outgoing mail and a processing facility sorts the mail based on where it is going to. If you still have the letter, please put the country of destination (UK or England) on the very bottom line of the address. I'm sure the Royal Post is reliable just like the USPS is.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Well%20i%20wrote%20a%20letter%20and%20wanted%20it%20to%20be%20sent%20in%20london%20and%20im%20in%20usa%20.%20Will%20the%20mail%20carrier%20make%20sure%20that%20it%20will%20be%20sent%20.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15565)
Antiques Dealer
If you buy an item that turns out to be stolen, do you have to turn it over to the police?
CBP Officer
How cooperative are Mexican authorities re: US immigration and border control?
Waitress
Are you instructed to "push" certain menu items that are at risk of going bad?
I don't like to quote too many rules here on jobstr with regards to what a letter carrier can and can't do. One of the main reasons is that many rules are barely told to us, if at all, and the enforcement of any rules seem so inconsistent even within a particular office. In our office we are told not to have both ears plugged with earphones while delivering mail (driving or walking). I use earphones but only have one ear plugged in. I wouldn't be surprised if some of my co-workers have them both plugged in, because "rules" are for other people, not them. I also think we are allowed to play a radio in our vehicles, but it shouldn't be that loud where you can't hear what's going on around you. That is rude and a safety concern as far as I see it. I'm glad that no threats were made and nobody was touched. I won't stick up for my fellow employees who have any type of bad attitude or poor work ethic or don't follow some basic courtesy rules.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=thank%20you.%20%20that%27s%20what%20i%20hoped.%20%20i%20said%20some%20things%20after%20i%20walked%20away%28about%2020%20feet%29.%20%20no%20threats%20were%20made%20and%20nobody%20was%20touched.%20%20are%20you%20allowed%20to%20have%20phone%20plugs%20in%20your%20ears%20and%20the%20radio%20going%20in%20your%20truck%20where%20you%20can%27t%20hear%20people%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15736)
If the mail arrives at the PO for delivery on the Saturday and the recipient's office or building is closed, we hold the mail at the PO until the following delivery day (usually Monday) and deliver it then. We will do the same thing if a business or institution is closed any other day of the week. We will hold the mail until the next delivery day that they are open. On some occasions the facility will have a door slot or mailbox. In that case we can deliver the mail anytime since there is no need for the facility/office to be open to receive mail delivery. Thanks for your inquiry.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=So%20I%20do%20a%20lot%20of%20business%20postcards%20for%20my%20online%20business.%20And%20I%20send%20them%20to%20churches%2C%20schools%20etc.%20what%20happens%20if%20it%27s%20a%20Saturday%20and%20the%20school%20or%20church%20or%20insurance%20office%20is%20closed.%20How%20do%20you%20deliver%20that%20Mail%20to%20them%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14205)
It's odd for someone to say "it's on the truck" when the tracking seems very non-specific and sounds like it hasn't been updated. 8 days is too long for a certified letter to reach you unless the item was missorted en route and was either misdelivered or is sitting at a PO and nothing is being done with it. I don't know what to tell you to do except to wait a few more days. After that, you could contact the sender and say you never received the letter though they would have the same information as the online tracking.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=A%20certified%20letter%20was%20sent%20out%20to%20me%20on%20Jan%2013%20and%20it%27s%20the%2021st.%20Still%20have%20not%20received%20it%20and%20when%20I%20try%20to%20track%20it%20all%20it%20says%20it%27s%20in%20transit.%20Desnt%20say%20where%20it%20is.%20I%20called%20local%20post%20office%20and%20all%20they%20say%20is%20its%20on%20the%20truck.%20%20What%20do%20I%20d&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16328)
-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
