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.
No gift is necessary for a letter carrier, but if you'd like to give one I'm sure it will be gladly accepted. Most postal routes have the same person deliver it 5 out of the 6 delivery days per week and then someone else fills in on the regular carrier's day off. If there is a staffing shortage some routes may not have the same mailman each day. Anyhow, 2 common gifts I receive for the holidays are cash (average $20) or a gift card to a coffee chan like Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks. Thanks for asking about this.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20gift%20should%20I%20get%20my%20mailman%2C%20also%20will%20I%20have%20the%20same%20mailman%20every%20day%20or%20do%20mail%20deliverers%20do%20it%20on%20certain%20days%20and%20take%20turns%21&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17850)
It takes about 12.4 years of being a regular carrier to reach the top pay which (as of 12/2016) is apprx $60K per annum. Your pay should go up a little when you are a regular carrier. Please do a web search for "NALC paychart" or "USPS city letter carrier pay chart". I am currently at the top salary for a level 1 city carrier which, as I said before, is just shy of $60K per annum. When you get converted to a regular carrier, the CC 2/Step A salary is apprx $38K per annum. This is about $18.06 per hour. It seems that you may work a lot of OT so your earnings may wind up being much higher. The time you are working as a CCA doesn't count towards service for calculating salary Step increases.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Question%20%232%3A%20%0AOnce%20converted%20to%20a%20regular%20letter%20carrier%2C%20how%20much%20will%20my%20pay%20increase%3F%20will%20it%20increase%3F%20the%20reason%20i%20ask%20is%20because%20i%27m%20looking%20to%20make%2050-60G%20per%20year.%20So%20a%20better%20question%20i%20guess%20would%20be%2C%20how%20long%20until%20I%20earn%20that%20salary%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17884)
Re: your orientation, it's good to know its for 5 days. I don't know whether or not that included the driving course. I can't tell you how much things have changed in 17 years. There is a lot more automation of mail and less manual sorting than in the past. Working in Brooklyn I don't know which vehicles are driven. I imagine there are mostly walking routes with a satchel or pushcart, but it will still be necessary to be trained on driving postal vehicles. It usually takes one day or part of one day for driver training and evaluation. I find a lot of negativity among some coworkers and try to steer clear of them as I am a generally positive attitude person. Also, please don't believe all that you hear. People like to spread garbage rumors which could be true but you never know.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Cool%20enough%2C%20we%20are%20both%20from%20Long%20Island.%20So%20your%20answering%20from%20your%20experience%20is%20probably%20good%20for%20me.%20This%20orientation%20for%20me%20will%20be%20in%20Brooklyn%20%26%20for%205%20days.%20Two%20more%20questions%20currently%20on%20my%20mind..%201.%20When%20does%20one%20take%20the%20driving%20course%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17371)
I do understand what you mean. Your question is "If a carrier takes the 'shortcut' to your mailbox vs taking the stairs at the far end based on his direction of travel are you liable for any injury. I don't know the answer to this for sure but I'd hope not. We are covered by workers' compensation insurance through our employer (the USPS) and I don't know that the USPS or the letter carrier (individually) could file a successful liability claim against you as the homeowner. I can see if you were very negligent as a homeowner and maybe caused some type of tripping hazard to be left unattended perhaps there could be some liability, but I have really no insight on this.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20thought%20of%201%20more%20%3F%2C%20sorry.%20If%20%20a%20carrier%20jumps%20onto%20my%20porch%20where%20there%20are%20no%20stairs%20and%20gets%20injured%20doing%20that%2C%20am%20I%20liable%3F%20To%20get%20to%20the%20stairs%2C%20one%20must%20cross%20my%20small%20yard%20%26%20enter%20at%20far%20end%2C%20based%20on%20the%20direction%20he%20travels%20on%20his%20route.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18948)
Antiques Dealer
What's the most profit you've ever made from a single item?
Emergency Room Manager
What's the best time to arrive at an ER to avoid waits?
Peace Corps Volunteer
Are Peace Corps volunteers just a bunch of "hippie freaks?"
You're not supposed to wear your own shoes while you're a letter carrier. As part of your yearly uniform allowance you may order USPS-approved SR/USA shoes. They are almost always black in color and are slip-resistant. I'm not sure how strictly it is enforced but I always wear the approved shoes. If you were to fall while delivering mail one of the first things that will be looked at is whether or not you were wearing the proper footwear. I don't take very good care of my footwear and I deliver mail on a walking route so my shoes tend to wear out quickly. I pay apprx $110/pair for the USPS-approved work shoes. On a yearly basis we are allotted apprx $450 for our uniform purchases.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20you%20wear%20your%20own%20shoes%20during%20work&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18578)
I'm not sure why the letter carrier would do that without some type of notification that you and your mother don't live there anymore. I don't think the letter carrier should have done that. I guess you could write a note next to the other note with you and your mother's name as well. If that doesn't work, you could also contact the postmaster or delivery supervisor and explain that you still live there. I hope that helps because we shouldn't be deciding whether or not someone lives at a certain address or not. In truth, somebody doesn't have to live at an address there just to have mail accepted there.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20the%20mailman%20decide%20whether%20or%20not%20you%20live%20at%20an%20address%20he%20is%20stop%20delivering%20mail%20to%20both%20me%20and%20my%20mother%20but%20still%20delivers%20to%20our%20roommate.%20as%20far%20as%20to%20write%20a%20note%20with%20side%20the%20mailbox%20with%20the%20roommates%20last%20name%20and%20%22%20only%20%22next%20to%20it.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/18100)
Rose, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this question. If you would like to give a gift to a particular letter carrier, I'm sure it'd be appreciated. During this time of year (December holiday season), many people who I deliver mail to will give me a cash gratuity or gift of sweets or wine for example. It is never expected by me to receive a gratuity or gift but I follow up with a thank you card to the customer. If you're not sure when your particular letter carrier is working you may just have to wait until you see them to present them with the gift or leave it in your mailbox and hope they will get it. Please ask a follow up question of me if I haven't explained my answer clearly.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=gift%20for%20particular%20mailman%20instead%20of%20temp&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/17874)
-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
