Ask a Mailman (City Letter Carrier) anything

1237 Questions

Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Hi Dave, Thanks for this opportunity to address a contentious mail-related issue my wife and I have been struggling with for years. She works from home and relies on the mail to communicate with her customers. Timeliness of mail delivery is crucial to her business. Most of her mail comprises USPS envelopes with prepaid postage. She maintains that her mail will arrive at its continental US destination sooner if it is handed to a clerk at our Kettering OH post office (our servicing office) rather than simply placed in our residential mailbox which is serviced daily (save for Sundays and holidays of course). She continues to believe this despite my being told by said clerk that all mail is gathered from all USPS/residential/commercial boxes and taken to the post office where it is sent to Columbus OH for sorting and dispatch. Which method is faster? And, is mail placed in a residential mailbox guaranteed to be post marked on the same day it is picked up (excluding Sundays and holidays of course)? Thanks again.

Asked by Roger N. almost 8 years ago

This is a very thorough question and i don’t know that I can give you an absolute answer, but I can try. I can assure you that any mail given to a clerk at PO or out in a collection box (blue box) or picked up by a letter carrier from your residence will go the same day to the mail processing plant in Columbus, OH. I guess an exception would be is if the letter carrier picked up the mail so late in the day due to our staffing shortages that the mail may not be dispatched from your local post office to the regional processing center. I haven’t seen this happen too often but I can’t speak for any office other than the one I work with. Another thing to point out is that there is possibly more than one truck per day that takes outgoing mail from your PO to the Columbus mail processing facility. I’m not sure about your office. I still don’t think for the most part it would make a difference if the mail was dropped off at the PO or picked up at your house. Thanks for your question, Roger.

481 Votes

What do you do with mail that is sent to an address that doesn't have a mailbox

Asked by Jerry about 7 years ago

Some letter carriers may handle it differently than others. This is my comment in most situations as to “what would we be done if....”We can rubber band the mail and leave it on the ground or on a bench by a door. Technically, the mail should be endorsed “NMR” which means No Mail Receptacle and returned to the sender, if applicable. Certain classes of mail would just get discarded at the PO and maybe sent out for recycling.

481 Votes

Do peopleReally send the bombs to people via mail?!

Asked by Jane Stew about 7 years ago

It is very unlikely someone would mail a bomb, but Im sure it has happened. Recently, a man sent quite a few inactive devices that looked like explosives ito famous people or politicians. I’m sure that there have been some explosives detonated at their destination or possibly before, but I don’t know the details. We are sometimes told to be on the lookout for suspicious packages, but, to be honest, it’s never really on my mind. Keep in mind I tend to look through rose-colored glasses and think that kind of thing doesn’t happen here.

477 Votes

What do you do if you get in a wreck?

Asked by Jamss about 7 years ago

Let’s just hope I don’t! That wasn’t the answer you’re looking for. I’ve never been in a wreck yet, but have had plenty of close calls and it’s possible one day my luck will run out. If we get into a wreck, we are directed to call a supervisor and also call the police dept if a report needs to be filed or if there are any injuries. A supervisor will then report to the scene and take some photos and information. A tow truck will be called if the vehicle is not driveable. After that is taken care of, the letter carrier is usually not allowed to drive a postal vehicle until they go for a multi-hour driver training course. I’ve noticed they try to have that course scheduled pretty quickly to get the carrier back to their normal duties. While their driving privileges are suspended, the carrier will often be given office duties or be driven around and then walk a route if that’s the method of delivery. The bottom line is drive defensively and hope to not get into an accident.

476 Votes

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Is it possible for a regular carrier to get weekends off every week? I know the standard is Sunday’s off & the 2nd day off rotates. I’m just curious if weekends off is even possible for a regular...

Asked by Dee almost 8 years ago

You can get weekends off as a regular carrier depending on the office you work in and the bid assignments available. In our office, there is one delivery route which consists mostly of office buildings and that carrier is off each Saturday and Sunday (unless they want to work OT on Saturday.). The other assignment is a parcel post collection route which is also off on Saturday and Sunday. Furthermore, some post offices have fixed days off for all assignments. I don’t know how those offices determined that is what they will do. I work in an office that has rotating days off. I like this schedule so I can sometimes schedule appointments or events during a weekday. The flipside, of course, is not often having two days off in a row. In summary, it’s generally not too easy to get both Saturday and Sunday off.

476 Votes

Yo for real just a few days ago he was answering questions and then boom just says he’s off slaying dragons and shit

Asked by Jdjd over 6 years ago

I guess that happens sometimes on these kind of sites.

475 Votes

Why have I never seen a mailman take a break?

Asked by Leon74 almost 8 years ago

That’s funny. Some people would say why don’t I ever see the mailman working. We definitely take breaks during our delivery day. Contractually we are entitled to 30 minute lunch (unpaid) and two paid 10-minute breaks. Some assignments are allowed a one-hr lunch but it is still unpaid. We are also allowed as many bathroom breaks as needed. To answer your question, I’m not sure why you don’t need see them on a break. I am on one right now answering your question. To maximize the time I have for a break/lunch, I generally just sit in my postal vehicle and eat or use the Internet. Some letter carriers meet for lunch and buy food. If your letter carrier is a rural carrier, you may not see them take a break because they can go home as soon as their deliveries are finished. City carriers (which is what I am) are “on the clock” so we generally take our authorized breaks.

474 Votes