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.
Generally, if we had a postal route where we drive a USPS vehicle (as opposed to urban routes where carriers may just walk out from the local post office and pick up mail from relay boxes along the way), we should have no problem handling multiple packages in one day even if they are different sizes. It's common for a recipient to get large and small items in the same day. I generally put them all together and leave them on the ground near the front door or mailbox. I would treat this situation just like I would getting lots of packages domestically. The items may have a tracking bar code that I'd scan as delivered once I delivered the items. I hope your experience is just as I've described.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%2C%20I%20ordered%20a%20bunch%20of%20stuff%20online%20on%20the%20same%20day%20from%20various%20online%20shops%20from%20the%20same%20country%20overseas.%20There%20will%20be%20many%20packages%20of%20different%20sizes.%20Can%20you%20tell%20me%20how%20a%20mailman%20may%20handle%20the%20packages%20if%20they%20all%20arrived%20on%20the%20same%20day%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17301)
The letter carrier shouldn't be putting your former neighbors mail in your mailbox just because they moved out without putting in a forwarding request. After all, it's not your mail and you have nothing to do with it. After awhile, the letter carrier should empty the mailbox, discard any standard mail (advertising mail of a certain class) and return any first and second class mail as "unable to forward" to the sender. At the PO, that address or unit should be marked as "vacant" so no mail is left there unless a new tenant or homeowner moves in. We shouldn't be delivering mail to addresses known to be vacant. You may leave a note note mailbox saying something to the effect "please don't leave any mail for (insert your neighbors name and/or address) in my mailbox. Thank you." If that doesn't work, you may contact your post office and mention this to a manager or delivery supervisor. From what you've described , the letter carrier(s) serving your area is quite unprofessional and doesn't care to address the issue of the mailbox overflowing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=My%20neighbor%27s%20moved%20and%20did%20not%20forward%20their%20mail.%20%20%20Now%20that%20their%20mailbox%20is%20full%20the%20postman%20delivers%20it%20to%20my%20mailbox.%20Is%20this%20wrong%3F%20The%20mail%20is%20piling%20up%20and%20spilling%20out%20all%20over%20the%20street.%20The%20mailbox%20won%27t%20even%20close%20anymore.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17312)
I don't know much about the DDC. If I took it at the USPS, I don't remember. There could be a quiz but it's probably not too difficult especially if you've taken a DDC before outside the USPS. Important things are to always wear a seatbelt, don't drive distracted, keep a safe following distance, only back up when necessary, and always turn off the vehicle when getting out of it. I'd imagine there would be some videos. There is an entire procedure to follow each time you leave the USPS delivery vehicle which should be taught to you eventually. It is vital to follow that for safety reasons and stopping preventable accidents. Good luck!
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20am%20scheduled%20to%20take%20the%20Defensive%20Driving%20Course...%20any%20advice%20or%20explanation%20on%20what%20this%20entails%3F%20My%20research%20and%20instructors%20have%20given%20me%20reason%20to%20believe%20there%20will%20be%20a%20video%20and%2For%20an%20online%20test.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17396)
You virtually answered your own question with the "but do you". Every morning we are given 5 minutes before our break to inspect our postal delivery vehicles. Most of us at least turn on the engine to make sure it will start. We are supposed to do a walk around and look for any body damage, flat/low tires, leaks, and more. I mostly just turn the engine on and look at the fuel gauge to see if I need to stop at a gas station on the way to the route. At the end of the day, I empty out all of the contents of the vehicle and park and lock it. I don't do any further inspection at the end of the day. I know I don't do the full inspection walk around that we are supposed to, but so far it hasn't come back to hurt me. I use the same vehicle almost every day. If I were to use a different vehicle I may do a more thorough check to see if all of the signals and lights work.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Thanks%20again%20MailmanDave%21%20One%20more%20question%20for%20now%2C%20do%20you%20fully%20inspect%20your%20truck%20before%20and%20after%20your%20route%3F%20I%20know%20you%20are%20supposed%20to...%20but%20do%20you&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17401)
Personal Injury Lawyer
What's the most frivolous case you’ve handled?
Sr. Software Engineer
Are those $12,000 "learn to program" bootcamps a rip-off?
Stand-Up Comedian
What's your worst bombing story?
During the winter I wear whatever brand clothing makes the USPS uniforms that I purchased. We have only a few choices about the brand of clothing we buy from authorized uniform vendors. I wear whatever will keep me warm and dry from head to toe. I've found that it's best to dress in layers and bring more warm clothes than you may need so you're not caught outside freezing or wet.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20brand%20winter.%20It%27s%20do%20you%20wear%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17598)
As long as you've passed the 90-day probationary period, you'd be eligible to become a career employee once a position becomes available. They usually convert CCA to Regular "career" employees in the order which the CCAs were hired. Depending on how quickly older workers retire or other workers transfer or leave the USPS will often decide how long it takes to be converted. Where I work, it has been usually less than 18 months to be converted but your mileage may vary greatly. It is very good to become a career employee because you have guaranteed number of hours you'll work each week, plus you get health insurance coverage.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=When%20being%20converted%20to%20a%20%22Career%22%20employee%2C%20what%20are%20the%20requirements%3F%20Is%20there%20going%20to%20be%20another%20probationary%20period%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17394)
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)
-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
