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

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I live in a big building with lots of tenants. The mailman has keys can open all of them at once. Is the mailman delivering regular letters different than the mailman delivering small packages with tracking that fits in the mailbox?

Asked by Lisa over 11 years ago

Lisa, I'm not sure who is delivering what to the apartment cluster mailbox, or NDCBU as it is sometimes called. Usually if the small package (regardless of whether or not it has tracking) can fit into the mailbox the regular letter carrier will be delivering it as well. When I deliver to an apt complex I bring all of the mail even if it is a larger parcel. In larger city environments, a parcel post route carrier may be delivering the larger parcels. I hope this helps answer your question and thanks for the inquiry.

My mailman was told I moved by a neighbor. However, I have not moved and have not received mail for two weeks. In a case like this what happens to my mail and how can I get my missed deliveries?

Asked by WillT over 11 years ago

I am appalled by this story and others I've heard on this message board about strange things happening to the mail which are set in motion by people who have no right to do so. I hope that you will start to receive your mail soon. I don't know what happened to the undelivered mail. It's possible that the letter carrier submitted a "Moved Left No Address" form which would have your mail returned to the sender. Once this MLNA is canceled no mail will be returned to the sender and service should resume normally. Why would your neighbor do this to you and have you approached them about this? I'm not sure if a neighbor told me someone moved I would take their word for it.

How often do mailman empty out the big blue usps boxes they have outside usually in every street in the neighborhood?

Asked by Leora over 11 years ago

Those are known as collection boxes and on the label which is usually inside the pull-down lid or outside the lid is a schedule of the pick-ups from the box. It is usually 1-2 times per day in the office where I work in suburban Long Island, NY. I've rarely seen it be more than that but in busier urban environments it could be more. Our app for iPhone has a "location" option where you can search for Blue Collection Boxes and the last collection time is posted.

Thanks for that answer! And while i'm here,also wondering how some VERY profitable tv preachers can mail with free postage under "non-profit organization"?

Asked by DwB44 over 11 years ago

Youre welcome. I try to give put proper information and not make up something if I don't know the answer (which I have learned on this website is actually many things.) The TV preachers don't get free postage at all, nor does any non-profit organization. These charities or organized religions register with the IRS as non-profits and then can mail with the USPS at a reduced rate. These mailings have to be prepared in a certain way and be in a certain quantity. Also, these mailings aren't given any preferential treatment as a first-class letter or magazine would be given. It is true that many non-profits (including the TV preachers you speak of) are known to make plent if money, have high cost structures and pay plenty of money to those at the top. The USPS doesn't judge that when issuing a non-profit mailing permit. They just look for the proper paperwork to be a non-profit and also make sure the mailings are prepared accordingly. Thank you for that thought-provoking question. 

Can I put outgoing mail in my mailbox with the flag up if there is still mail in it that hasn't been picked up? The people I share a mailbox with are slow to collect their mail but I feel it might be rude to remove it just so I can mail something!

Asked by beb over 11 years ago

I would think that it is fine to put outgoing mail in your mailbox with the flag up even though those who share the mailbox with you haven't picked up their mail. The suggestion I would have would be to push their uncollected mail towards the back and your outgoing mail clearly visible towards the front of the box so the letter carrier can easily tell the difference. Hopefully that will work out acceptably for everyone.

Will I be disqualified for employment if I don't have a valid drivers license when I take the exam

Asked by deedee about 11 years ago

Deedee, I don't know the minimum requirements for taking the USPS carrier exam, but I do think you will need one to actually get hired. I would look on the USPS employment website to see if there is any information on it as to when you need to have a driver license. All city carriers where I work drive postal vehicles and therefore need a driver license. Good luck and thanks for writing.

What would a mailman do if the owner of the parcel isn't at home.

Asked by Jasmine over 11 years ago

Jasmine, it depends on a few factors such as: the history of the area with regards to packages being safely left unattended, whether the sender asked for a signature of the recipient, and if the the sender asked for the parcel to be delivered even if there is no response. For example, the town where I deliver mail is very safe with regards to theft so I'll leave almost every parcel whether or not there is someone home to receive it. In other towns/cities this may. It be the case and the letter carrier would then leave a PS Form 3849 advising the recipient that we attempted delivery of a package and nobody was there to receive it. The 3849 says that the recipient can either sign for re delivery or pickup the package at the Post Office. We deliver packages sent by Amazon.com and they want their packages delivered even when nobody is home (at least where I work in Long Island, NY.)