Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1236 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Hey Dave, I recently took the drug screen about 2 1/2 weeks ago for a job with the usps and have still not yet got a response or further instructions as to what's next. Do you think this is normal? Is it because the years almost up? What's it opinion

Asked by Matt E almost 11 years ago

Hello. I wish you well in your pursuit of a career with the USPS. I don't have any specific insight on how long it should take to get a reply after taking a drug screen, but 2.5 weeks doesn't seem like an overly long period of time to have elapsed so far without hearing a reply. I don't think the fact that the year is almost us has anything to do with the fact that you haven't heard a reply yet. At least I don't think that would have any great impact on the reply time.

889 Votes

if you don't have 2 year documented driving experience. is there any problem for job cca 1 usps job.

Asked by ani over 11 years ago

I don't know the answer to this question., but here are some thoughts. It is very important to have a safe driving record since safety is often talked about at work. Being injured on the job is very costly to the USPS, and if one is injured during their early employment with the USPS, they could be terminated. If the requirement is to have a 2-year documented driving experience, I don't know any way around that rule. It is there for a reason..safety!

889 Votes

I was just hired as a RCA today. How do the raises work? Do I even get raises or benefits as an RCA?

Asked by Donald over 11 years ago

From what I understand RCA get certain types of leave (maybe sick or annual), an hourly wage and i dont think any other benefits. The hourly wage might be converted to the rate for the amt. of hours a rural route is evaluated for. An example would be that you get $120 for the day no matter how long (or short) it takes to complete the route. A good source on this might be the NRLCA, the bargaining unit that negotiates contracts with the USPS. you can look them up on the web. Good Luck!!

889 Votes

Thanks Dave for all your helpful information! I read your blog frequently and learn a lot. Are you happy in your profession? If you roll back time would u? What do you like most/least? If your child was thinking about becoming a CCA what do u say?

Asked by Dustin about 11 years ago

Dustin, I appreciate your kind words and am surprised by the number of q's being asked about being a letter carrier. as to whether or not I am happy with my profession isn't an easy answer.i generally like it and get along with most of my co-workers (though you may only see the, 2+ hours per day in the office) and am fortunate to work in a fairly affluent and safe community. There are times where I doubt that I can do this an entire career and other timsay where I know this is one of the higher paid jobs (and stable) without having a skilled trade. I have been out sick for much of this year and hope to return to work soon. Not once during that time was I concerned about my job being in jeopardy. If I could roll back time, I am not sure what job I would do. Nothing pops into my head right now that I'd rather be doing for a similar wage. I enjoy the independence of delivering mail and not having much office drama. I also like some of my co-workers and occasionally socialize off work. I don't know that I have a least favorite part. The management can sometimes be irrational in their demands but I try to not let it bother me and do the best I can. I would recommend being a CCA as long as they knew the pros and cons of the job. Once you are a CCA, you may eventually become a regular letter carrier which provides higher pay, paid holidays, health insurance options, and sick/annual leave. As a CCA, I believe you get only a little (if any) of the above benefits. Thanks for your thorough question. Feel free to keep asking.

888 Votes

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I heard recently that there was no longer overnight shipping and it could take up to 2 days. Is that true? or is there still overnight option?

Asked by anagain about 11 years ago

Depending on the destination and originating office, it is possible that overnight shipping may not be available. I don't think this has changed much except that the name of Express Mail is now called Priority Mail express. The overnight shipping option is still very much an available product.

885 Votes

I just shipped a package (USPS Priority w/tracking #) & realized (2 late 2 intercept @ my post office) that I wrote 1 digit in the house # incorrectly on address label.
How can I notify the receiving post office? Don't want wrong person to get it

Asked by Elizabeth over 11 years ago

I would call 1800AskUSPS to see if you can get the phone # to the destination PO or at least get the message to them about the errant address. It is possible that the letter carrier who sees the package at the receiving PO knows where it's supposed to go and will deliver it accordingly. That depends on the carrier's familiarity with the names on their route and/or if they even receive the errantly addressed package at all. That would occur if one street is broken up into 2 or more carriers which is common based on the route layout and size of the street. I hope it works out for you

885 Votes

Hi
If I have tracking on a package and the recipient refuses delivery, does USPS still provide tracking information until it gets returned to the sender?

Asked by dhflannagan about 10 years ago

I believe that the tracking should be for the entire time that the package is in transport whether it is going to the recipient or back to the sender. I have rarely come across this situation, but if I saw a package being returned to the sender who lived on my route I would make sure to scan it on delivery back at the sender's house. But like everything that I comment on here, I use the word "should" because I come across many inconsistencies in when items are scanned. The management is fairly vocal in my office in making sure we scan all items with a tracking barcode (which is a good thing), but I lack confidence in the USPS as a whole in doing things correctly and consistently. Thanks for the question.

884 Votes

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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hey Dave, I recently took the drug screen about 2 1/2 weeks ago for a job with the usps and have still not yet got a response or further instructions as to what's next. Do you think this is normal? Is it because the years almost up? What's it opinion

if you don't have 2 year documented driving experience. is there any problem for job cca 1 usps job.

I was just hired as a RCA today. How do the raises work? Do I even get raises or benefits as an RCA?

Thanks Dave for all your helpful information! I read your blog frequently and learn a lot. Are you happy in your profession? If you roll back time would u? What do you like most/least? If your child was thinking about becoming a CCA what do u say?

Also on Jobstr...

I heard recently that there was no longer overnight shipping and it could take up to 2 days. Is that true? or is there still overnight option?

I just shipped a package (USPS Priority w/tracking #) & realized (2 late 2 intercept @ my post office) that I wrote 1 digit in the house # incorrectly on address label.
How can I notify the receiving post office? Don't want wrong person to get it

Hi
If I have tracking on a package and the recipient refuses delivery, does USPS still provide tracking information until it gets returned to the sender?

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Hey Dave, I recently took the drug screen about 2 1/2 weeks ago for a job with the usps and have still not yet got a response or further instructions as to what's next. Do you think this is normal? Is it because the years almost up? What's it opinion

if you don't have 2 year documented driving experience. is there any problem for job cca 1 usps job.

I was just hired as a RCA today. How do the raises work? Do I even get raises or benefits as an RCA?

Thanks Dave for all your helpful information! I read your blog frequently and learn a lot. Are you happy in your profession? If you roll back time would u? What do you like most/least? If your child was thinking about becoming a CCA what do u say?

Also on Jobstr...

I heard recently that there was no longer overnight shipping and it could take up to 2 days. Is that true? or is there still overnight option?

I just shipped a package (USPS Priority w/tracking #) & realized (2 late 2 intercept @ my post office) that I wrote 1 digit in the house # incorrectly on address label. How can I notify the receiving post office? Don't want wrong person to get it

HiIf I have tracking on a package and the recipient refuses delivery, does USPS still provide tracking information until it gets returned to the sender?

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I just shipped a package (USPS Priority w/tracking #) & realized (2 late 2 intercept @ my post office) that I wrote 1 digit in the house # incorrectly on address label.
How can I notify the receiving post office? Don't want wrong person to get it

Hi
If I have tracking on a package and the recipient refuses delivery, does USPS still provide tracking information until it gets returned to the sender?