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.
Yes, the mail should be delivered the next day. I don't personally remember ever skipping a house due another vehicle blocking access to the mailbox, but I'm sure it is a common occurrence for carriers who have routes where they deliver directly to a curbside mailbox (also known as a mounted route or rural mailbox). If it were to happen several days in a row, I don't know the time frame where the mail would eventually be returned to the sender as undeliverable due to blocked mailbox access. The same goes for if we are unable to get to a mailbox or street due to severe weather. In that case we also would attempt to deliver ALL the mail on the following delivery day.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20someone%20is%20blocking%20the%20mailbox%20and%20you%20skip%20that%20house%2C%20does%20the%20mail%20from%20that%20day%20get%20delivered%20the%20next%20day%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11493)
I think you mean in our carrier cases when we sort the mail in the post office, we use different color plastic tabs or colored bars to put in the case to indicate the status of certain addresses. Some carriers are better at using these than others and I don't think it's mandatory, but I think it is a great tool to help the carrier remember any changes on the route and to communicate that information for any substitute letter carrier.
The following is my understanding of the colors:
Red=I don't know
Green=Hold Mail
Yellow=Certain name at that address has/had a forwarding order on file (In our colored tabs, you can actually put a small tab of paper in there with the name of the family/individual/business that has a forwarding order on file)
Orange=Vacant Address-Do not deliver anymail here
White=Unknown
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20the%20six%20colors%20for%20case%20blocks%20mean%3F%0ARed%2C%20Blue%2C%20Green%2C%20Yellow%2C%20Orange%2C%20White.%0A%0AThanks.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11399)
Yes, before one is hired they are often given a drug test. I have not been tested since but imagine it is is possible that I could be given one at anytime.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Does%20the%20USPS%20do%20random%20drug%20testing%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10480)
I don't know the answer to this question. I do know that there are times we are required to finish delivery and return to the PO by a certain time and to call if we aren't going to make it back by a certain time. That is usually due to inclmement weather or high volume of mail delivery. I am not sure if 7PM is the actualy curfew for this.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20it%20legal%20for%20management%20to%20require%20the%20letter%20carrier%20to%20return%20your%20mail%20to%20the%20PO%20because%20s%2Fhe%20did%20not%20finish%20the%20route%20in%20time%20to%20return%20to%20the%20PO%20by%207pm%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10585)
Casino Marketer
What would be some less obvious ways someone could save money on a Vegas trip?
Antiques Dealer
How easy is it to forge a rare piece, and are fakes a big problem in the antiquing world?
Nurse Practitioner
Could a nurse practitioner do the job of a primary care physician?
I am not familiar with any rules that say you must empty your mailbox daily. I would let mail pile up in a mailbox until it may become full so no future mail can fit in a mailbox. It is not a common occurrrence where I deliver mail, but I am sure it does happen some places. If a mailbox came completely full, I may return any additional mail to the sender with a note saying "mailbox full."
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20I%20have%20to%20empty%20my%20mailbox%20everyday%3F%20%20Sometimes%20I%20am%20not%20in%20town%20overnight.%20%20Every%20time%20I%20do%20not%20get%20my%20mail%20for%20a%20day%2C%20the%20mailman%20takes%20the%20mail%20back%20to%20the%20main%20post%20office%20and%20leaves%20me%20a%20note%20saying%20%22You%20must%20remove%20mail%20every%20day%22....&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10124)
I think when the tracking number shows up on the USPS website, i think that means the item has arrived in the US. I don't know how long it takes to actually get delivered. It's also possible items are delayed in US Customs, but i dont know how common that is.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20my%20tracking%20number%20shows%20up%20when%20I%20use%20your%20website%2C%20does%20it%20mean%20you%20are%20delivering%20the%20package%20when%20it%20arrives%20to%20the%20US%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8494)
I am sorry that the letter never made it to you. the letter must have been mailed with some type of tracking on it for your friend to know it reached your area. I don't know how you would go about getting it. Does the tracking # say it was delivered anywhere? Possibly it was mis-delivered. Did the item need a signature for delivery?
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=he%20also%20tracked%20down%20the%20letter%20and%20it%20showed%20it%20arrived%20in%20my%20area%20but%20never%20stated%20that%20it%20reached%20my%20house.%20This%20letter%20contained%20something%20very%20important%2C%20what%20can%20I%20do%20to%20get%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9441)
-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
