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.
It’s not likely that the PO it arrives at will be able or willing to help you. To my knowledge, any letters that would come to your house (if it’s important it would likely be first class or Priority Mail) only arrive at the delivery Post office the morning of the day it is delivered. Even if the letter arrived the same day it was to be delivered and you went to the PO they may not be able to find it or be willing to look for it. As a letter carrier it’s very often that the first time I see a letter or handle it is when I’m about to deliver it to an address. Most sorting is done by automation at a Processing and Distribution Center. You could always go to the PO and try to get the letter, but my guess is that there are very low odds you will be successful in doing so.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20am%20expecting%20an%20important%20letter%20in%20the%20mail%20and%20I%20know%20which%20post%20office%20it%20arrives%20at%20%2Ccan%20I%20go%20the%20post%20office%20and%20request%20this%20letter%20instead%20of%20waiting%20for%20the%20postman%20to%20deliver%20it%20to%20my%20house%20two%20%2Fthree%20days%20later&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20187)
Some letter carriers may handle it differently than others. This is my comment in most situations as to “what would we be done if....”We can rubber band the mail and leave it on the ground or on a bench by a door. Technically, the mail should be endorsed “NMR” which means No Mail Receptacle and returned to the sender, if applicable. Certain classes of mail would just get discarded at the PO and maybe sent out for recycling.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20do%20with%20mail%20that%20is%20sent%20to%20an%20address%20that%20doesn%27t%20have%20a%20mailbox&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20721)
Thanks for the info and sharing videos in a previous question/posting.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=It%E2%80%99s%20not%20of%20USPS%20btw%20but%20the%20other%20delivery%20guy%20evidently%20does%20not%20anwser%20questions%20anymore&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/21499)
Yes. I’ve never had an issue using the restroom at any business that I deliver mail to if I have to use their facilities. I work near a gas station and public library so those are my “go to” spots. Furthermore, there are sometimes construction sites on the postal route and I may use their portable toilet if necessary. As inappropriate as it may sound, if I’m in a rural area and there are no restrooms nearby I may just urinate (discreetly) in a wooded area. It would be embarrassing if I ever was caught but so far it’s not been an issue.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20you%20use%20the%20restrooms%20at%20businesses%20on%20your%20route%20if%20you%20have%20to%20go&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20467)
Fashion Model
What's the most lucrative type of gig models can book?
Sr. Software Engineer
Are those $12,000 "learn to program" bootcamps a rip-off?
Private Detective
What's the best Sherlock-Holmes-worthy detective work you've ever done?
Jeffrey, I don’t know the official answer to this question. In the post office where I work, the carriers who collect mail front the blue collection boxes generally aren’t delivering mail on any specific postal route. They probably aren’t even looking at the destination address when they collect the mail. I’m pretty sure most mail that is collected from the blue mailboxes gets sent to the a processing and distribution center. Very little, if any, local mail is intercepted and delivered without it ever leaving our local PO. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for participating in the Q and A ?
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=As%20a%20mail%20carrier%20if%20you%20pick%20up%20a%20small%20package%20at%20one%20of%20those%20blue%20boxes%20can%20you%20deliver%20it%20to%20a%20local%20business%20with%20out%20taking%20it%20back%20to%20the%20postal%20hub.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20051)
I have yet to see that happen, though I wish the quality of service was focused on. If a customer were to complain about chronic misdeliveries, a supervisor will likely mention it to the letter carrier and ask them to be more careful. If the problem persisted, the supervisor may ask to verify the mail each day for the customer who complained about misdeliveries
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20you%20get%20in%20trouble%20for%20giving%20the%20wrong%20mail%20to%20the%20wrong%20house%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20646)
These are 2 good questions which, as always, don’t have definitive answers.
1) On the subject of backing into parking spaces it has been so many years since I was trained on driving a postal vehicle but I do think that is what I was taught. I do this almost always when driving a postal vehicle or personal vehicle. While it is definitely refrained on by management to back up the vehicle, it is recommended to park this way so when we leave the parking space, it’s much easier to see the situation. When we back in we often will know the current situation so can back in more safely to a space. Most of our vehicles don’t have backup cameras so there are some more difficult areas to see when the vehicle is in reverse. I think it’s a great idea to back in as often as possible as long as you aren’t delaying traffic behind you. I often use my hazard flashers when I want a car to pass me so I can put the vehicle in reverse.
2) in general, if you strike an object or get into an accident, you won’t lose your job. I’ve never seen a letter carrier fired for this reason unless they were in their first 90 days (the probationary period). Most of the time, you are prohibited from driving a USPS vehicle until you get some remedial training or watch some safety videos. I suppose if you had multiple motor vehicle accidents or were find to be willfully negligent with the operation of the vehicle, you could be terminated. We are represented by a union so most terminations would be challenged via grievance procedure. If one were found to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while driving a postal vehicle, that may also lead to termination.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20heard%20you%20guys%20are%20supposed%20to%20back%20into%20parking%20spaces%20is%20that%20true.%20Is%20it%20also%20true%20that%20if%20you%20hit%20something%20that%20could%20be%20it%20for%20your%20job&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/20731)
-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
