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 think you would like having your own route. It's a lot more relaxing than having to deal with 5 different carriers and their personalities. As far as pay goes, you are correct. It does decrease when you have your own route. It's not a significant decrease IMO. If you do a web search for City Carrier Pay Chart or Pay Scale, that should help. Also, you may go to www.nalc.org where the pay chart is available. You would look at City Carrier Level 1 and the table based on when you were hired. The yearly difference between a floater and someone with their own route probably never gets to be more than $1600, but the pay chart would show it more clearly.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20was%20a%20floater%20who%20just%20got%20a%20route.%20Does%20my%20salary%20go%20down%20with%20getting%20a%20route%20in%20office%20as%20opposed%20to%205%20different%20routes&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16517)
I don't know how this works in all offices, but I can tell you what happens in the office where I deliver mail in Long Island, NY. This may not be a nationwide policy. When a letter carrier (usually an unassigned regular or CCA) opts, or holds down, an assignment they get that assignments day off. Our office has mostly rotating days off so that won't change. What may change is the "days off" group that carrier falls into. This is usually a low impact issue when a carrier opts for a group since almost all of us have rotating days off. Only 2 assignments at the PO where I work has 2 assignments with fixed days off (Saturday). The remaining 40 (approximately) assignments have rotating days off. Thank you for the question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=When%20a%20mail%20carrier%20oppts%20for%20a%20specific%20route%20does%20he%20get%20that%20routes%20day%20off%3F%20Or%20will%20hes%20day%20off%20keep%20rotating%20as%20usually%20scheduled%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17241)
I don't know the answer to this question but I would generally think we can't do profiling based on what we see and then refer that to the USPSIS. There may be a branch of the USPS that does legally do such observation and data collecting but I know nothing about it nor have ever been approached about being involved in such activity. What you're asking about seems somewhat discriminatory so I would likely never want to be involved in any type of racial profiling.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20mailmen%20refer%20mail%20for%20inspection%20because%20of%20a%20person%27s%20attire%2C%20religious%20garb%2C%20or%20what%20he%20subjectively%20perceives%20as%20being%20odd%20behavior%3F%20%20Can%20he%20collect%20data%20about%20the%20sender%20%28identifying%20data%2C%20license%20%23s%2C%20etc.%29%20on%20the%20basis%20of%20such%20profiling%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17088)
I don't know if there is a way to do this for sure. We generally frown upon this at the PO as it takes time for the letter carrier to gather up the mail for someone before leaving for delivery. The reason is that in many offices the mail is automated so the carrier doesn't have your mail easily accessible. It may be in trays that the carrier doesn't access until they leave for delivery. The only way to do this is to go to the retail counter and ask the sales and service associate if you could get your mail. They may flat out say that they don't do this. I have rarely been asked to get a person's mail while still at the PO so I think we don't even allow it at our office, Basically, what I'm saying is that it can't hurt to try but don't be surprised if the answer is no.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20there%20a%20way%20i%20could%20gwt%20my%20mail%20early%20from%20the%20post%20office%20before%20courier%20leaves%20for%20route%3F%20If%20so%20what%20woyld%20be%20the%20best%20way%20to%20do%20so.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/16382)
Sr. Software Engineer
Is it basically impossible for a skilled programmer to be out of work these days?
Casino Dealer
How do you prove that someone is card-counting?
Programmer
What lessons can you share about past and present start-ups you've worked with?
Dee, it has been so many years since I was hired so I can't say for sure what the drug testing policy is. I can, however, give you my experience. As far as I've ever heard or seen, you are drug tested once and that is pre-hiring. I have never heard of a random drug test being administered to letter carriers during their career. I'll just state the obvious and say keep clean and you'll have nothing to be concerned about. Good luck to you in your job/career with USPS.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Newly%20hired%20CCA.%20Orientation%20next%20week.%20Will%20I%20be%20drug%20tested%20further%3F%20How%20often%20will%20I%20be%20tested%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17360)
I think it would be great if you scored well on any exams you take for employment with the USPS. Many new hires today are hired as CCA (city carrier assistant) which is a letter carrier position. I think you apply for certain positions so you may have a choice to be a CCA or PSE (Postal Support Employee). A PSE is a position where you generally work inside doing mail processing, distribution, or retail sales and service. Most, if not all, of the letter carriers who I work with were hired as carriers first. I don't, however, have any more insight to the hiring practices except what I posted here. I know I'd always like to see motivated and competent individuals hired by the USPS.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Lets%20pretend%20someone%20takes%20all%20the%20required%20test%20and%20performs%20phenomenally.%20Now%2C%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20it%27%20possible%20to%20get%20a%20job%20as%20a%20mail%20carrier%20as%20a%20first%20job%3F%20Do%20you%20know%20if%20that%20would%20be%20an%20automatic%20%22No-No%22%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17181)
A letter mailed on a Monday from CA to GA should be received in about 3 days. If there is severe weather or other transportation issues that keep the mail from moving, its possible it could take longer. I wouldn't be too concerned that the Easter Card hasn't arrived. I hope it will arrive in a couple of more days.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20sent%20an%20easter%20card%20from%20Sacramento%20CA%20to%20Eatonton%20GA%20Monday%20April%203%20and%20it%20has%20not%20arrived%20yet.%20Should%20I%20worry%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18462)
-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
