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.
When I first applied to the USPS, it was paper applications (1998). I rcvd notices where to appear for the exams and interview and physical exam. Regarding the qs I rcv here, you make a great point. I am no expert in most of the nuances of shipping, tracking, and regulations. They can call the 800# and hopefully get a satisfactory answer. It doesnt bother me to rcv those q's but as you can tell, I don't always know the answer.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Many%20of%20the%20questions%20submitted%20to%20you%20seem%20to%20be%20customer%20service%20related%20that%20anybody%20could%20and%20should%20just%20call%201-800-ASK-USPS%20directly.%20%20Does%20this%20bother%20you%3F%20Also%2C%20what%20was%20it%20like%20when%20your%20first%20applied%20for%20the%20job%3F%20It%27s%20all%20on-line%20now.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9456)
Alex, you can certainly ask the letter carrier to do whatever you want with your mail. If he/she is following proper protocol, they won't follow your request. We are instructed to deliver all mail to its address because someone has paid us to do so. We will not go through the mail for a certain recipient and then discard some of it. The recipient should be going through the mail themselves and discarding/recycling what they don't want. I do realize there is such a high percentage of mail delivered on a daily basis that a customer doesn't want, but as the letter carrier we shouldn't be getting involved in their mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20I%20ask%20a%20mail%20man%20to%20discard%20certain%20mail%20for%20a%20certain%20amount%20of%20days%20when%20he%20delivers%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13155)
When you address an envelope, there are basically 3 sections. In the upper left hand corner of the envelope, you would write your address. That is called the return address in case the letter is undeliverable. In the center of the envelope (centered top to bottom and right to left), clearly write the address of the person you are sending the letter to. Please make sure that information is correct. In the upper right hand corner is where the postage is affixed. The current rate for a one oz. letter/greeting card is .49 . The stamp will usually have the word for "Forever" on it which is sufficient to cover the current one oz. letter rate.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=how%20do%20i%20address%20a%20greeting%20cards%20envelope&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13803)
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)
Bodybuilder
How prevalent is steroid use in pro bodybuilding?
Stand-Up Comedian
Did your career blow up after you performed on the Tonight Show / Conan?
CPR Trainer
Are men better at CPR than women because they're generally stronger?
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)
You should be getting delivery mail every regular delivery day if there are items addressed to you. The tracking website which indicated your specific item was still at the PO doesn't mean you will get iat the same day, especially if the package arrived later in the day at the PO. It is possible that your mailman was just late.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Today%20my%20mail%20did%20not%20arrive%20at%20its%20usual%20time%20and%20i%20was%20expecting%20a%20package.%20I%20checked%20the%20tracking%20website%20and%20it%20said%20my%20mail%20was%20at%20the%20post%20office%20does%20this%20mean%20the%20mailman%20went%20to%20get%20it%3F%20or%20is%20he%20late%3F%20or%20will%20he%20not%20arrive%20at%20all%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9235)
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)
-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
