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

Hi. When forwarding requests are no longer active, is there anything at the sorting case/facility that automatically designates the mail as UTF? Also, how are letters with "return service requested" endorsements handled by letter carriers or PO?

Asked by Old Address Follow Up over 12 years ago

I don't think there is any automation involved after 18 months from when a forwarding order started. At the sorting case, a carrier has pink cards with stickers on them which can say when a particular forwarding order started. I keep those cards for about 2-3 years and once the forwarding order has expired (18 months), I put a line through the sticker and maybe a little marker at the address in the carrier case indicating UTF. "Return service requested" AFAIK means that if the letter was going to be forwarded to a new addrees, the sender would like the letter returned to them with the new address info. The carriers handle them just as they would any forward and the CFS (Computerized Forwarding System) will know that the sender wanted the letter returned. The sender does pay an extra fee for this service.

Can a mailman rubber band mail to a door knob?

Asked by Wayne about 12 years ago

I dont know if they are officially allowed to do this, but I'd do that if it were a once-in-awhile siituation where access to a door slot or mailbox was blocked. I know I prefer to deliver the mail rather than bring it back to the PO. If a customer wanted to complain that this was being done, they certainly could speak to a delivery supervisor and voice a comment about this.  if a mailbox can't be accessed or doesn't exist, a carrier can return the mail to the sender marked NMR which stands for "No Mail Receptacle"

if you were sending mail to someone, and you spelled their street address wrong by one letter (ex. Hamptons but spelled as Hampton) and everything else correct, will it mail to the correct house?

Asked by Aya about 11 years ago

If the mail is addressed correctly otherwise and only off by one letter, it should be delivered to the correct house. It would maybe a problem if there was another street in the same town which had a similar name or suffix (like the town had a 3rd St and a 3rd Av). The most important things in an address would be the # and ZIP code. If the street is spelled somewhat close, you'd likely have the item delivered to the correct house. Thank you for writing.

got offered the city carrier assistant position but just found out my license is suspended... will they work with me until i get it? what can i do, been unemployed for over a year and i REALLY need this job!!!

Asked by mary over 12 years ago

I am not sure what will happen re :your license being suspended and being offered a CCA Position. How long do you think it will be before you get your license back? I don't believe it is legal to have you driving a USPS vehicle with a suspended driver license.

How can I write a letter to manager for collect my uniform

Asked by Nizu over 11 years ago

Nizu, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by your question, but I will take a guess. I believe you are a letter carrier who doesnt yet have a uniform or uniform allowance. I'm pretty sure that not long after you pass the 90-day probationary period the USPS should be sending you information on how to purchase uniforms plus a spending card which can be used at authorized vendors to make purchases of authorized uniform components. This is for city letter carriers and CCAs. I don't know anything about rural carriers and a uniform allowance. Have you asked your supervisor if they know anything about the process? Thanks for writing.

Is it possible to go to the post office to ask for my package before it is delivered via postman?

Asked by Carly about 12 years ago

I believe you generally can't pick up a package before it is delivered because it is possible that the carrier has already left the PO with it and is out on his or her route or the retail window isn't open yet. Even if the retail window was open, I'm not sure that the retail sales associates would want to search through the parcel area or ask the carrier to assist in searching through the parcel area for a specific parcel. The bottom line is I don't know the rule regarding your question if there is a rule on this to give you an accurate answer. It's possible that it is just a personal decision on the part of an employee.

Are there any special USPS requirements for installing a residential mailbox?

Asked by ch over 12 years ago

It depends if it is a curbside mailbox or a mailbox at the door to your house. If it is a curbside mailbox that the letter carrier must access from their postal vehicle then there are specific height rqmts and distance from the curb that the box must be. I don't have these specs here, but I imagine it can be found online by doing a search of "curbside residential mailbox requirements"