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

I delivred my documents to the post office late yesterday would like to return it back before the truck come to tack it at what time the truck come to the post office to take the things

Asked by thuria over 12 years ago

I know this reply is probably too late to help you retrieve the documents from the post office. I don't know what time the trucks leave the following day with outgoing mail but I would think that it is fairly early in the AM, if not around 6-6:30PM the day before. I am also not sure if they would allow you to look for (or if they'd look for) items you dropped off for mailing. I know at out post office that any items accepted at the retail counter, or in a collection box BEFORE the latest time posted on that box must be dispatched the same day.

So my significant other is in the military and she sent two letters on the same day, one to her mother who lives one street over was received, mine however i have yet to get and its been 4 days since her mother got hers? Is this common?

Asked by shawn over 12 years ago

Shawn, I'd say that this isn't common. Even if "one street over" meant a different town it still shouldn't differ by more of a day in my opinion. It's likely that the letter was missorted somewhere along the way or missdelivered, both which aren't rare. Hopefully the letter will arrive soon. Thank you to your S/O for her service to the country.

We just moved into a new home and we continue to get mail for the former resident. If I write on their mail a forwarding address will a letter carrier deliver it to their new home address?

Asked by Care almost 13 years ago

Usually mail won't be forwarded unless there is a forwarding order on file by the former residents. You can try putting the new address on the mail and putting it out for the letter carrier but I don't know that it will get to the new address. Another option is to mark the mail "no longer at this address" and put it out for the letter carrier to take. Thank you for your email question..

I dropped a letter in a blue USPS collection box before noticing the box was no longer labeled to display pick up times or other information. This box location is not showing up on the USPS locator either. Does this mean my letter won't get mailed?

Asked by milliemo over 12 years ago

I am not sure about this. If I had to guess, I'd hope that the collection box is still in use  if it would allow you to deposit mail into it. I would suggest contacting the local post office nearest that collection box and see if they could provide you any further information. 

I work in a building that has designated mailboxes for each company. Is it legal for the mailman to drop mail for my company on the floor in front of the mailbox if it all doesn't fit? He comes to our company with certified mail only.

Asked by shelley about 13 years ago

I don't know the legalities of the carrier just leaving the "overflow" of mail on the floor. I would personally bring it to your suite/office. If the carrier feels it is safe to leave it on the floor near the mailboxes, I suppose that is okay.  I realize that you don't control the size of your mailbox. You could call post office to see if this can be rectified, though I don't really know the rules on this. 

The USPS advertises starting as a carrier at $21 per hr. But, everything that I've seen suggests that you have to start as a CCA (roughly $15). Is it possible to start out higher. And if so, how?

Asked by Jeremy over 12 years ago

he starting salary for a Transitional Employee was $21/hr, but due to a recent arbitration decision in 2013, new hires are considered CCAs (city carrier assistants) who will usually start at $15/hr, a little bit more if they were previously a TE. Carriers who were TEs and then got changed to CCAs did take a significant pay cut as part of this arbitration decision.

I'm researching and studying to be a mail carrier. But, I've heard nothing but horror stories about management. Are power trips really that common? I don't have a problem with authority. But, I don't want to be anyone's...you know.

Asked by Jeremy over 12 years ago

I can't speak for all of management, only from my limited experience in a couple of offices and from a few changes in mgmt. I can only say is that the power trips seem spread out among mgmt. Some are very cooperative with their subordinates and others are very dictatorial. It helps to have strong union representation in case you feel you are treated unfairly. I know my answer is quite vague, but that is because there is no clear cut answer. Fortunately most of the work day as a letter carrier is spent out delivering mail so you aren't being constantly watched by a supervisor or postmaster.