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.
Most of the mail that we take out is sorted ahead of time into trays, but there is always some "residual mail" that has to be hand sorted and sometimes collated in with the mail that has already been sorted. It is rare that these trays would be more than 20 lbs. in my estimation. Some offices have more automation than others meaning some offices still have to do a lot of manual sorting. While there are sometimes heavy packages to lift, I think the max. Is 70 lbs. and i don't see a parcel that heavy too often. The mail that I mentioned earlier comes sorted into trays is done by automated sorting machines located at a larger processing facility.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20was%20reading%20articles%20about%20mailmen%20and%20one%20person%20said%20he%20lifted%2075%20pound%20trays%20to%20take%20mail%20from%20%28for%20sorting%20into%20bins%20or%20trays%29%20before%20he%20goes%20out%20on%20his%20route.%20%20Do%20you%20do%20that%3F%20or%20is%20your%20mail%20already%20sorted%20for%20you%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9678)
Jordan, first of all, thank you for writing in to this Q and A board. I don't know the rules as far as sending back mail because you haven't emptied your box for a week or two and your box is not full. If I were the letter carrier, I would just continue to deliver mail until the box is full and then probably return any future mail endorsed "box full" to the senders (or discard the mail if it is unendorsed Standard Class mail.) I don't recall ever coming across this situation in my postal career, but if it came about I'd probably ask my supervisor for direction. It is not in my nature to leave any notes (esp. threatening ones) for the most part.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20I%20don%27t%20empty%20my%20mailbox%20for%20a%20week%20or%20two%2C%20but%20it%20is%20not%20full%2C%20is%20my%20postal%20carrier%20allowed%20to%20post%20notes%20on%20my%20door%20demanding%20I%20empty%20it%20and%20threatening%20to%20send%20it%20back%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12730)
You can give a mailman any package that has the postage paid on it either via a computer printed label (such as Click 'N Ship) or a label where the recipient will pay the return postage. In the latter case, the label will clearly say "No Postage Necessary If Mailed Within The United States". Every letter carrier should accept the package no questions asked. The exception to this would be a city letter carrier who may not have a USPS vehicle which they are operating from and are unable to bring the package back to the Post Office. In that case I believe you can go to www.usps.com to schedule a package pickup. The mailman usually won't take a package back to a specific address until it is processed through our mail distribution system. Most of the time we just accept any package or mail along our delivery routes and bring back to the post office where we work from and it gets dispatched to a mail distribution center for processing. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=can%20i%20give%20my%20package%20to%20the%20mailman%20to%20ship%20off%20or%20take%20back%20to%20that%20specific%20location&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12601)
I can't quote you the regulations, but as long as the box is accessible to the letter carrier without a hazard that is usually sufficient for attaching a box to your house.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20would%20like%20to%20know%20the%20regulations%20for%20attaching%20it%20to%20my%20house&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9836)
Sushi Chef
How do sushi chefs tell when a fish has gone bad? Is it just the smell?
Claims Adjuster
What happens when NEITHER driver is at fault?
Personal Stylist & Life Coach
What makes someone qualified to life-coach someone else?
I would generally say no, but it wouldn't hurt to try. In our office, I don't believe they usually allow this.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20I%20ask%20the%20Post%20Office%20to%20hold%20a%20piece%20of%20registered%20mail%20I%20am%20expecting%20tomorrow%20%28Monday%29%20so%20I%20can%20pick%20it%20up%20there%20instead%20of%20waiting%20for%20my%20usual%20delivery%20at%205pm&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8704)
In my experience it isn't too common for anyone to get terminated for anything. I mean people are given a letter of removal but the union often will appeal that and the carrier is reinstated. If it isn't the first time something happened that was the carrier's fault it may be more difficult to appeal successfully. If you are a CCA it is probably easier to fire you if you get in an at-fault accident. I don't recall any letter carriers at my office ever being terminated for an at-fault MVA. I can't speak for any of the other thousands of offices nationwide. Drive carefully, defensively and don't be distracted.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=In%20your%20experience%2C%20when%20a%20CCA%20or%20a%20Letter%20Carrier%20gets%20into%20an%20accident%20while%20on%20the%20job%20and%20it%20is%20his%20or%20her%20fault%2C%20would%20they%20still%20be%20kept%20on%20the%20job%20or%20terminated%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14801)
Thy mailman has instructions (called forwarding orders) on what mail to send to the central forwarding system. If your mail is being sent to another address for no reason, you may want to tell your letter carrier or delivery supervisor that you haven't moved and that your mail should be delivered as addressed.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Is%20it%20up%20to%20the%20mailman%20to%20decide%20whose%20mail%20needs%20to%20be%20forwarded%20back%20to%20the%20sender%20or%20is%20it%20the%20post%20office%27s%20duty%3F%20Recently%20my%20mail%20hasn%27t%20been%20delivered%20to%20me%20because%20my%20mailman%20thought%20we%20moved%2C%20for%20no%20reason.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9601)
-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
