Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

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.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

While competing for a CCA position I tested positive for marijuana and didn't contest.

Will this prevent me from being considered for DOT jobs like city bus driver? Do I have to disclose the failed test to other employers?

Asked by green pee over 11 years ago

I don't know the answer for sure green pee (clever name BTW). Do you think you could reapply for a USPS job in the future? I would think so after a certain amount of time has passed and are then retested. As far as jobs go with other agencies or employers I don't know. It may depend how they ask you about it on their applications. I haven't heard of any type of central database that potential employers could check to see if you have failed a drug test. This is a very interesting topic as well since marijuana use is now legal in 2 states and I think it will be an upward trend in other states legalizing it as well. I don't think this means an employer has to tolerate it and when the job involves operating a motor vehicle I can see them being more careful in who is hired. So maybe it will be a good idea to lay off the weed for ahwile if it means the difference between getting a job and not.

to continue on the signature confirmations, its a hassle to have to deliver the package after the customer signs the 3849, sign in person or not sign in person is the question, now we have key in the 3849 on certifieds

Asked by jrv over 11 years ago

You should be able to scan the 3849 if you choose the attempted function. At least this is how it works on the older scanners. If the "delivered" function is chosen then the 3849 (reverse) is scanned. The only change I noticed recently was having to put the 3849 bar coded # in the scanner on the "attempted" function. This allows the recipient to just type in the 3849 # when requesting re delivery. It is an extra step but if you are a city carrier, time=money.

Can a mailman refuse to deliver mail to a rural box if the box is open?

Asked by Collette about 11 years ago

I'm not sure why a mailman would want to refuse delivery to a rural mailbox if the lid is open. Most of the ones I see just have flip down lids which aren't secure or they have no lids at all and may have broken off over the years. I don't know the exact rules of what condition a rural mailbox must be in to receive mail. I suppose if the carrier felt the mail wasn't secure they could refuse delivery until the condition of the rural mailbox is rectified. I've never refused to deliver mail due to an open mailbox, but then again, I'd rather deliver the mail then have to bring it back to the PO and re-attempt delivery on a subsequent day. Thanks for your question.

Is it okay to finish a route and take the half hour lunch at the end then drive back to office

Asked by JVitto over 10 years ago

I used to do this but was then told that I really should take the 30 minute lunch within 6 hours of my BT (begin tour) time. I now take lunch from approximately 1300-1330. The new scanners that we have tells the mgmt where we are so they can see if we are sitting for 30 minutes at the end of the day instead of our approved lunch period. If the management doesn't give you a hard time about it, I don't see why not but the union and managers technically should be enforcing the 6-hour rule for taking a lunch break. I've become used to it so it's no big deal to take lunch when I'm supposed to and not at the end of the delivery route.

i live in pearsal tx does mail pass new years

Asked by victor over 11 years ago

There is no regular mail delivery on New Year's Day.

Hi. I was wondering about if there is a way to get my mail early. I need to leave for holiday travel tomorrow and my mailman doesn't come till almost 5 pm. Do you have any suggestions?

Asked by mcmjuly over 11 years ago

I don't know if this would work and I generally don't like customers doing this but you could possibly find your letter carrier on their route earlier in the day and ask for it. Please understand that your mail could be somewhere not easily accessible in the delivery vehicle and the letter carrier may not want to make the effort to get it out for you. I rarely have anybody ask me for their mail early so I can't tell you how I would handle it. Is your mail that important that you can't wait until you return from holiday travel to retrieve it? Many people go days without taking in their mail from the mailbox. My recommendation would be to not ask for your mail early but it wouldn't hurt to try if it is that important to you. Happy Thanksgiving and travel safely.

What time do mailmen deliver mail in the summer ?

Asked by Jessie almost 11 years ago

It depends on each Post Office and how soon their mail is sorted and the letter carriers can load their delivery vehicles and start delivery. At the PO where I work mail is delivered as early as 9:15 AM and as late as 6:30 PM. The evening time can be even later if we are short-staffed. I've heard stories about letter carriers at other offices delivering later than that due to staffing shortages. If I were to work a regular schedule and everything went according to plan, I'd be delivering between 09:40 AM and 3:30 PM.