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.
Funny, I had never noticed that to be the case! Just kidding. There is a very important reason the steering wheel is on the right hand side (as one is facing forward). I drive one of these vehicles. They are commonly known as LLV (long life vehicles), Jeeps, or other names. The reason for this configuration is because many mail routes have mailboxes at the street end of a driveway where a mail vehicle can drive right up to it and the letter carrier can put the mail in the box without having to leave his seat. They can just stick their right arm out of the window. On the left side of the letter carrier (where a regular vehicle would have the steering wheel) is a large metal tray where the letter carrier organizes the mail for delivery. This method of delivery is found more commonly in suburban or rural environments. I drive an LLV, and even though the route I deliver has no mailboxes at the end of a driveway (they are mostly by a front door or garage), it is safer for me to exit the vehicle on the right side instead of what is possibly moving traffic. It only took a short time to get used to driving this configuration and it seems none of my co-workers have much of a problem either. You just have to be careful of blind spots and when backing up, not unlike any conventional vehicle. You asked a great question and I may have given you more than you asked for but I hoped it helped Jeff.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Why%20is%20the%20steering%20wheel%20for%20the%20mail%20truck%20on%20the%20other%20side%20aka%20the%20passenger%20side%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12575)
I don't know anything about the orientation process and how long it takes to get an orientation email. I do hope you get something soon. Good luck to you!
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20long%20does%20it%20take%20to%20receive%20an%20orientation%20email%3F%20I%27ve%20completed%20all%20steps%20and%20was%20told%20that%20it%20take%207-14%20days.%20I%20am%20now%20on%2014%20days%20and%20I%20am%20still%20waiting%20on%20email%20for%20orientation.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11308)
Bre, there is an excellent chance you will receive the package before the new year. Our operations are pretty much 24/7 when it comes to moving the mail through our delivery network. This time of year with heavy mail volume I think that most packages will arrive within 1-5 days from where they are shipped. Our service is quite reliable in my opinion. Happy New Year!
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Do%20u%20guys%20run%20next%20week%20at%20all%20cause%20I%20have%20a%20package%20being%20sent%20out%20tomorrow%20and%20I%20was%20wondering%20if%20I%27m%20going%20to%20get%20it%20before%20the%20new%20year&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14162)
I know I have sort of answered this question already, but I will again. I would say that a letter carrier shouldn't enter a yard where a barking dog is visible and not on a leash and could physically come in contact with the letter carrier. If the owner isn't present to accept the mail, the carrier is best advised to bring the mail back to the post office and notify the supervisor why the mail couldn't be delivered. The USPS wants to reduce the number of dog bites because it is dangerous to the letter carrier and costly to the USPS because of any time off required and any medical treatment needed. Fortunately where I work I don't hear of too many dog/carrier incidents, but I do realize other areas may not be as safe.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20DOG%20is%20barking%20in%20fenced%20in%20front%20yard%2C%20should%20the%20mail%20carrier%20still%20enter%20when%20sign%20on%20gate%20warns%20of%20the%20dog%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12518)
Dry Cleaner
Why do dry cleaners have autographed pictures on their walls?
Casino Marketer
What's the most unethical thing you've seen casinos do to "part you from your dollars?"
Movie Theater Employee
Why is movie theater food so overpriced?
I drive an LLV each day. Our office has 3 types of vehicles. We have Ford Windstars, LLVs, and 2-ton Trucks (which are boxy cargo type looking trucks). The LLVs are the only ones with the steering wheel on the right hand side. I think most mailmen drive the LLVs (Long Life Vehicles), or whatever the newer version of it is called. Our PO doesn't have them yet so I don't know what they are called, but they are similar.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=hello%2C%20how%20do%20u%20normally%20drive%20everyday%3F%20on%20average%20what%20do%20you%20think%20every%20mailman%20drives%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/11657)
I am not sure that they will do this. It probably depends on how helpful the person who answers the phone wants to be. Unfortunately, that is my answer with many questions that requires interaction from personnel at the PO. To give a more practical answer, it is sometimes hard to give a time of expected delivery if there are staffing shortages at an office and a route is broken up into several "pieces" and not delivered as a whole route by 1 person. If one person is delivering an entire route then they usually follow a prescribed delivery order so it would be approximately the same time each day (usually within a 1 hour time frame.) For example, if I were to deliver my entire route, the deliveries are usually made between 1000 and 1545. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%2C%20if%20I%20call%20the%20post%20office%20can%20they%20tell%20me%20what%20time%20the%20mail%20is%20delivers%20in%20my%20area&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12760)
I am not sure why the authorization to hold mail form would show up in your mailbox unless it was put there by error. Normally we wouldn't deliver a signed form like that until it is time to resume delivery of mail after the hold period which was authorized has expired. Postal Customers use that form (or can complete it at www.usps.gov) to have their mail held at the post office if they will be away for a period of time between 3 and 30 days. At the end of the authorized time period, a letter carrier will either deliver all of the mail that was held at the PO or the postal customer can pick up the mail at the Post Office. If the form you recevied has been completed (or even if not), you may put a post-it note or attach a note to it and leave it in your mailbox explaining to the letter carrier that you don't want your mail held at all and that you didn't authorize it. Another option is to take the card to your local post office that delivers the mail and tell them you don't want your mail held. My guess is that somebody has made an error in delivering the form to you OR something shady is going on, but I think it is more likely the former. Thank you for your inquiry.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20just%20checked%20my%20mailbox%20n%20received%20a%20authorization%20to%20hold%20mail%20form.%20I%20did%20not%20request%20this%20n%20is%20signed%20by%20an%20unknown%20person.%20what%20does%20this%20mean%20%26%20how%20do%20I%20fix%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12173)
-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
