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.
If I had the mail somewhat accessible in an easy manner and if I knew who they were (which I usually do since I dsliver the same route daily) then I would hand them their mail. This doesn't happen very often though. If their house is later in the route and their mail isn't quickly accessible, I don't go out of my way to give them their mail that far ahead of time. I may make an exception if it is asked once in awhile, but not on a regular basis.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20do%20you%20do%20if%20somebody%20on%20your%20route%20walks%20up%20and%20asks%20you%20if%20you%20would%20hand%20them%20their%20mail%20instead%20of%20putting%20it%20in%20the%20box%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10280)
I think it is wrong for a letter carrier to make any type of judgment whether or not a piece of mail is important or not. They shouldn't be involving a neighbor since the neighbor may or may not have any type of relationship with the customer and shouldn't be privy to any of the type or content of mail received by you. When a customer puts their mail on hold, I treat all mail the same way no matter if it looks like a check, biill, automobile advertisement, donation request, etc. It is definitely not our job to judge anything about the mail and I would suggest it is very much against the rules even though your carrier meant well. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20a%20vacation%20hold%20on%20my%20mail%2C%20but%20my%20carrier%20decides%20to%20take%20one%20piece%20out%20and%20give%20it%20to%20my%20neighbor%20with%20the%20request%20that%20she%20contact%20me%20as%20the%20carrier%20%22thinks%22%20the%20piece%20of%20mail%20might%20be%20%22important.%22%20%20Is%20this%20against%20USPS%20rules%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12434)
Congratulations on getting hired as a CCA! I don't know how many hours you will get in your particular office as each office is unique. Usually, a CCA fills in for a regular carrier when they are out sick or on vacation to deliver their route. They are also given "pieces" or "splits" on routes when a regular carrier may not finish their route within 8 hours and they don't want to work overtime or when management doesn't authorize overtime for the regular city letter carrier. CCAs may also work on Sundays to deliver Amazon.com parcels. They don't do this in every office so I don't know if yours is included in that service. In the office I work at, the CCAs all get plenty of hours due to a bit of short staffing. I am not sure of the minimum hrs/shift or minimum hours/week that a CCA is guaranteed. If you go to www.nalc.org, or more specifically http://www.nalc.org/workplace-issues/city-delivery/cca-contractual-issues, they have details about being a CCA. It may be a bit technical, but it's a good reference. Good luck, be on time for work, and work safely. Try not to get involved with any office drama.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hey%20Dave%21%20Just%20wanted%20to%20share%20because%20I%27ve%20seen%20your%20page.%20I%27m%20currently%20in%20central%20ny%20about%20to%20undergo%20my%20first%20day%20of%20carrier%20academy.%20I%20will%20be%20a%20Cca%20in%20a%20small%20city%20in%20upstate%20New%20York.%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20you%20know%20as%20a%20Cca%20i%20would%20get%20lots%20hrs%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13722)
I don't know that I completely understand your question, but I'll give it a try. Most houses have an official mailing address which should often correspond with the physical location of the house. I can see if it is a corner house it may be a bit confusing. You may want to contact the PO to tell them that this may be happening, and, for further reference, please advise those who mail you items of your correct mailing address and clarify with your PO as to what address should be used. This is a very important subject matter to make sure items get to where they are intended to go, especially with a lot more automated processing of the mail and substitute letter carriers who may not be familiar with all of the names are on a certain route.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=We%20recently%20just%20moved%20to%20a%20corner%20house%20and%20one%20of%20my%20friends%20sent%20me%20a%20package%20with%20the%20street%20address%20where%20the%20house%20is%20in%20but%20our%20mailing%20address%20is%20the%20same%20house%20%23%20but%20with%20the%20main%20ave%20next%20to%20it.%20Will%20it%20still%20come%3F%20Or%20will%20it%20get%20lost%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10260)
Private Detective
What's the best Sherlock-Holmes-worthy detective work you've ever done?
Sr. Software Engineer
Is it basically impossible for a skilled programmer to be out of work these days?
Swim Instructor
What are the physical traits that make for the "ideal swimmer's body"?
I don't know what is common or not for a mailman to do in that amt. of snow. It seems strange that they would do it for some customers and not others. That said, if a carrier feels they can't safely approach a mailbox due to snow, then they may refuse. I think it all comes down to a judgment call by the letter carrier if there is any doubt for their safety in approaching a mailbox. As to the inconsistency of doing one house as opposed to another house which seem similarly cleared or not cleared, I don't know why that decision is made.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=It%20is%20unusual%20for%20a%20mailman%20to%20refuse%20to%20deliver%20in%201%20to%203%20inches%20of%20snow%20if%20it%20was%20not%20cleared%3F%20%20He%20is%20walking%20across%20the%20same%20amount%20of%20snow%20in%20neighboring%20yards%20after%20leaving%20their%20porch.%20%20He%20grabbed%20and%20threw%20my%20snow%20shovel%20out%20in%20my%20yard%20today.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/10267)
Bradan, I feel your pain. It is a horrible feeling to be out in the elements, being cold and uncomfortable with hours to go in your deliveries. I haven't by any means mastered this problem. The uniform vendors that sell for the USPS offer fingerless gloves (the upper 1/3 or 1/2 of your fingers are exposed) but they aren't terribly useful. Some gloves offered have raised dots that can help you finger the mail. I use them sometimes. Try and keep the rest of your body as warm as possible with layering including thermal underwear. Definitely wear a hat, two if necessary. Even if your fingertips are exposed, you may want to invest in a box of single-use handwarmers (sometimes called hot hands) which are little packets that you shake to activate and then can put inside your gloves or in your pants pockets or glove pockets which you will keep you warm. My girlfriend just bought a box of 40 hand warmers for $12.99 at Costco.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%27m%20a%20month%20old%20CCA%20now%20and%20I%20live%20in%20Ohio.%20It%27s%20getting%20cold%20so%20I%20need%20a%20good%20pair%20of%20gloves%20to%20keep%20my%20hands%20dry%2Fwarm%20and%20still%20be%20able%20to%20finger%20the%20mail.%20What%20would%20you%20recommend%3F%20Also%20what%20do%20you%20recommend%20for%20the%20winter%20months%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13618)
I am not sure exactly what you mean regarding taking an envelope with an old date. If you mean a postage meter date, I imagine most letter carriers don't look at the date and if the envelope doesn't appear to have been used before, they would take it. I believe that a postage meter date should reflect the date of mailing. If an envelope has a postage meter with an old date and looks to have been reused, I would refuse to take it and possibly write on it "invalid meter date or reuse of postage." I don't think I've ever encountered that situation. If an evnvelope has postage stamps and has been postmarked already, that would mean that the stamps are used and can't be used for mailing. Again, most letter carriers don't look at the date of an envelope when accepting it for mailing. Thanks for writing in with your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Does%20the%20mail%20man%20take%20a%20envelope%20with%20a%20old%20date&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12881)
-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
