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 think so. The request has never been made of me but generally once mail has been delivered it would seem to be in the possession of the recipient even if they haven't actually retrieved the item from their mailbox. I've also never heard of anybody else having this requested so my advice for the future is be careful what you mail because it is almost definitely a one-way trip.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=can%20a%20postman%20retrieve%20mail%20i%20sent%20if%20it%27s%20still%20in%20the%20recievers%20mailbox%20if%20i%20request%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16177)
I don't know anything about Federal Law when it comes to this subject. I'd suggest that the letter carriers may not want you that close to them while they are sorting the mail because you might be able to view what mail other residents are getting which might violate some privacy rules. I've never heard of what the MHP mgr is claiming to be true. Also, I don't see why you couldn't access your mailbox once the letter carrier has locked your section and moved on to an adjacent section of centralized boxes. When I deliver to a centralized box unit, it can be a little annoying when residents come out to chat and want their mail, but I don't experience that behavior often. If I do, I'm generally pleasant with them, give them their mail if they request it (since I don't work in an area where mail theft is not common whatsoever) and move on. I should also clarify I don't regularly deliver to centralized boxes and it's only when I fill in on another route than my own do I do that. Mail is becoming less and less important to most people that some residents don't even collect their mail for days at a time. It sounds like someone is making up a story to exercise some authority that they don't have. I don't like to hear that at all.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20live%20in%20a%20M.H%20park.The%20mailboxes%20are%20grouped%20together.Can%20I%20wait%20by%20the%20mailbox%20until%20the%20mail%20has%20been%20delivered.%20Then%20get%20my%20mail%20while%20carrier%20is%20at%20the%20next%20section%3F%20Mgrs%20at%20park%20say%20its%20a%20Fed.%20law%20u%20cant%20wait%20while%20the%20carrier%20is%20still%20present&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16442)
I'm generally satisfied with the uniforms that we wear at the USPS and they haven't changed much since I've been working there. The only issue that I have with our uniforms that I can think of is that they are difficult to keep clean. I wear a satchel over my shoulder and carry mail in my arms so the shirt tends to get very dirty. The shoulder strap makes a mark on the uniform shirt where it rests. I admit that I don't wash the shirts as often as I should but they are hard to keep looking crisp nonetheless. I like the fact that we wear uniforms so there isn't much to think about wearing each day to work except the layering to keep me warm in the winter. Thank you for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20you%20could%20change%20anything%20about%20your%20uniform%20what%20would%20it%20be%3F%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17523)
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/16011)
Professional Poker Player
Are you worried that online poker is rigged?
Fashion Forecaster
What country is the most fashion-forward?
Firefighter
What kind of shape do firefighters need to be in?
Will, I am not a rural carrier so I'm not sure how much my tips would help because as city carriers, we are paid for whatever time we work. There is almost an incentive not to work as quickly, but I think most city carrier's give a fair shake and not try to make their day longer. At least I don't do that because I enjoy my free time. My main tip would try to be very organized both in the office and on the route. Work efficiently, but safely, especially when driving. I load my parcels in the order of delivery or close to it. Being more organized does initially take more time, but you should come back with a pretty empty truck not having forgotten anything to deliver. Do you case your DPS letter size mail? If not, you can take it to the street and go through it as you deliver and not waste time in the PO casing it. City Letter carriers generally don't see the DPS letter mail until we finger through it at the delivery point. Along the route and in the office, try not to waste time talking to too many people.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20am%20an%20RCA%20.%20I%20have%20been%20carrying%207%20months.%20I%20work%20a%20different%20route%20every%20day.%20I%20can%20typically%20get%20done%20right%20at%20my%20evaluated%20time%20but%20I%20can%27t%20seem%20to%20get%20done%20before.%20On%20real%20heavy%20days%2C%20forget%20it.%20I%27m%20out%20there%20until%206.%20Any%20tips%20to%20speed%20up%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15555)
I don't think you will be in trouble. Lisa, in my experience your mail should be processed normally so you need not worry. I don't often collect mail from the blue boxes as part of my assignment but if I saw regular mail in the Express Priority Blue Box I'd just put it with other outgoing mail in my postal vehicle and it'd be treated normally. I've never heard of outgoing mail being delayed by this. Thank you for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=put%20my%20company%27s%20mail%20in%20the%20Priority%20Express%20blue%20box%20instead%20of%20the%20regular%20one.%20Will%20these%20important%20documents%20be%20sorted%20correctly%20and%20reach%20their%20destination%3E%20Also%20will%20they%20be%20delayed%20severely%20because%20of%20this%20or%20arrive%20in%20a%20reasonable%20time%3F%20TNX&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17138)
Susie, I won't be able to answer this question as I don't know anything about eReassign. There may be minimum times where you have to stay at a certain work location before being approved to another work location more of your preference. As for who to ask, I could say your union representative or HRSSC, but they may not know either. My guess, and all this is would be a guess, would be one year at a current location before being able to be reassigned.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20just%20transferred%20stations%20via%20eReassign.%20%20How%20long%20to%20I%20have%20to%20stay%20in%20my%20current%20assignment%20before%20bidding%20on%20job%20closer%20to%20my%20home%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16777)
-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
