Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Also what if that blue mailbox i mailed it to was out of service?Sorry about the double post should had put all in one.

Asked by victor almost 11 years ago

Victor, no worries at all regarding your double post. I am not familiar with the blue collection boxes being out of service but still being out in the street and available to be used. I know you didn't find the box when you used the website to look for mailboxes. The only suggestion I would have is to go to a PO that is located near that box or call them somehow to see if that blue collectionmailbox is in use. They might have the answer.

763 Votes

Is it legal for a postal driver to drive by residence without delivering package shipped express? If not, is it illegal to catch up to postal driver to obtain package, especially when its Veterans medication? Please answer both questions

Asked by Baffled over 11 years ago

If an item is mailed Express, the carrier at the destination Post Office should make an attempt to deliver the package on the day it is received. I don't think they should be driving by the residence and not attempting to deliver the Express Mail package unless there was some safety concern. As to whether it is legal or not, I have no knowledge on that matter. I wouldn't think it was illegal to catch up to the postal driver to obtain the package as long as you can prove you have a right to the item (it is addressed to you and you have corresponding identification). I'm also not sure how you would know if the carrier actually had the express package in their vehicle, but it wouldn't hurt to ask if you thought they might. Thank you for your questions.

763 Votes

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

Asked by David about 11 years ago

You're welcome David. It's my pleasure to try and assist where I can. It's just that I have so little confidence in the operation at times and how the management can resolve situations satisfactorily. I know it's not a good attitude, but if I worked for a company that focused on the customer and quality of work and one that treated its workers with greater respect, I'd give you a more optimistice answer. It's not that we are a horrible place by any means, but being a quasi-governmental orgnaization, I feel that it's just kind of "eh" at times. Some of us work hard and try our best, while others, it seems, work against the operation it seems. Fortunately it's more the former than the latter overall. Thanks again for writing and feel free to post your results on this Q and A site.

762 Votes

HI MailmanDave,its me again.The letter was to cuny for college admissions.I have recently checked my status in cunysite and it still says i didnt mail in my highschool transcript yet....

Asked by victor almost 11 years ago

Victor, I am not sure what to tell you about what happened to your HS transcript being mailed to CUNY. Either it has been lost somewhere or the CUNY bureaucracy is slow in updating their site, but I would hope that isn't the case when it comes to something as important as college admissions application. Mail does go missing and is misdeliveered sometimes but we are generally a good delivery service, just not perfect.

762 Votes

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Can you ask mail carrier to deliver a letter/envelope with affixed postage to an address that's on her route right down the road that same day? Or does it have to go all the way to the post office 100 miles away to get sorted? Thanks!

Asked by Gracie about 11 years ago

Gracie, you certainly can ask a letter carrier to do what you have mentioned. I don't know if they all would oblige and I don't know the rules concerning this. I have never had this requested of me, but if I did, I probably would do it because it is such a rare occurrence and wouldn't have any measurable impact on my day with regards to taking longer to deliver the route than normal. During my mail delivery I sometimes look at the outgoing mail and see that there are letters/cards going to addresses which are also on my route. This happens more commonly during the holiday season. I don't, however, segregate that mail out for any special handling. I let it all go to our mail processing plant which will usually run the mail through an automated system which will then put the mail in delivery order for the next day's delivery. This is called DPS (Delivery Point Sequencing) Mail and is fairly accurate in my opinion. Humans make plenty of mistakes and machines make mistakes so I wouldn't disparage the use of DPS machines because they really save on a lot of labor costs in sorting mail. To me it is am amazingly efficient technology when it comes to sorting letter-size mail and flats (magazines and catalogs). Thank you for your inquiry.

762 Votes

I have a fenced in front yard with a latched gate. On the gate is a permanent sign that reads "BEWARE OF DOG." My mail box is on the front porch. The carrier must enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail. If DOG is present should carrier enter

Asked by herding hollywood about 11 years ago

I would say that the letter carrier shouldn't enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail if a dog is present. We often have service talks that are aimed at preventing dog bites. One point that is made is to not go into an area where a dog is loose. To be honest, though, many of us are comfortable around dogs and won't follow that rule all the time. If I encounter what looks like a dog that could cause me harm I avoid that house/area and bring any undelivered mail back to the post office. In my career I don't remember not being able to deliver mail due to a loose dog. The bottom line is that a carrier shouldn't put themselves in a situation where they are at risk for an unwanted encounter with a canine.

762 Votes

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

Asked by jadrian over 11 years ago

I don't believe that the tests matter at all by state, but when you take the test it is usually given by a certain district which is hiring. It has been many years since I've taken a hiring exam so I don't know if the process has changed. Furthermore, I don't know how long the grades are on file once the exam is taken. Good luck to you Jadrian.

761 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Also what if that blue mailbox i mailed it to was out of service?Sorry about the double post should had put all in one.

Is it legal for a postal driver to drive by residence without delivering package shipped express? If not, is it illegal to catch up to postal driver to obtain package, especially when its Veterans medication? Please answer both questions

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

HI MailmanDave,its me again.The letter was to cuny for college admissions.I have recently checked my status in cunysite and it still says i didnt mail in my highschool transcript yet....

Also on Jobstr...

Can you ask mail carrier to deliver a letter/envelope with affixed postage to an address that's on her route right down the road that same day? Or does it have to go all the way to the post office 100 miles away to get sorted? Thanks!

I have a fenced in front yard with a latched gate. On the gate is a permanent sign that reads "BEWARE OF DOG." My mail box is on the front porch. The carrier must enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail. If DOG is present should carrier enter

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Also what if that blue mailbox i mailed it to was out of service?Sorry about the double post should had put all in one.

Is it legal for a postal driver to drive by residence without delivering package shipped express? If not, is it illegal to catch up to postal driver to obtain package, especially when its Veterans medication? Please answer both questions

Thanks for your reply. I was a carrier with the USPS back in the day. This is a relatively new mailbox, and the carrier definitely broke it as a result of how he opened it each day over the last few years. We'll see what the USPS does for me. Thanks.

HI MailmanDave,its me again.The letter was to cuny for college admissions.I have recently checked my status in cunysite and it still says i didnt mail in my highschool transcript yet....

Also on Jobstr...

Can you ask mail carrier to deliver a letter/envelope with affixed postage to an address that's on her route right down the road that same day? Or does it have to go all the way to the post office 100 miles away to get sorted? Thanks!

I have a fenced in front yard with a latched gate. On the gate is a permanent sign that reads "BEWARE OF DOG." My mail box is on the front porch. The carrier must enter the fenced in zone to deliver the mail. If DOG is present should carrier enter

Also, are the mail carrier tests good throughout the U.S. or are they required to be retaken in each individual state? How long are they good for on file once taken?

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