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.
Sure, the letter should reach its destination as long as it has the proper address and ZIP code. The only issue could be if the letter would need to be returned to you for some reason and you no longer are at the motel and there is nowhere to send the letter to. You don't need to put a return address on the letter to begin with. It's your own choice.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=if%20i%20didn%27t%20put%20in%20a%20change%20of%20address%20at%20the%20post%20office%20where%20i%20used%20to%20live%20and%20then%20i%20send%20a%20letter%20to%20the%20irs%20using%20the%20address%20at%20a%20motel%20i%20am%20temporarily%20staying%20at%20will%20it%20still%20reach%20its%20destination&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13084)
I don't believe that UPS or FEDEX do any type of stamping on their envelopes or parcels like the USPS does when processing the mail. I do know that both companies have very good tracking services for each item so the recipient can tell what facilities the item went through before being delivered to them. When they receive what you sent to them, they can likely go online with the item tracking # and find out how the item traveled from you to them. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hello-%0AJust%20wondering%20about%20mailing%20UPS%20or%20FEDEX%2Cand%20if%20they%20still%20stamp%20the%20city%20name%20on%20the%20envelope%20before%20it%20is%20sent%20out%20like%20the%20regular%20mail%20is%20done%3F%20In%20case%20you%20wanted%20to%20mail%20someone%2Cbut%20not%20wanting%20them%20to%20know%20what%20city%20it%20is%20coming%20from%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12810)
Hello Joy. The area where you took the photo is probably serviced by a rural carrier or HCR (highway contract routr). These positions are different than the one I am employed as even though we all serve the same function. It makes sense to me that the barrel would be used for packages because I don't think carriers are required to deliver mail to a house that is more than a certain amt of feet from the road. The barrel is a convenient way for the customer to receive packages without having to drive to a post office which is many mlies away and has limited hours. It would also protect the package from damage in inclement weather. I can't confirm this is what the barrel is for.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20a%20photograph%20of%20mailboxes%20in%20a%20remote%20part%20of%20South%20Dakota.%20%20There%20is%20a%20large%20barrel%20next%20to%20the%20mailboxes.%20%20Is%20it%20used%20for%20packages%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13110)
I don't believe you would be hired without a driver license to be a letter carrier. It is great that you like to walk a lot which is very healthy, but many communities have mail delivery which uses a motor vehicle to go from house to house or at least uses a vehicle to get the letter carrier to their route. That vehicle is usually driven by the letter carrier themselves. In some urban environments (like some of NYC), there are "walk-out" routes where the letter carrier leaves the PO on foot with a mail satchel and/or cart and doesn't need to drive. The mail for parts of their routes are left by another carrier in a vehicle in what is called a "relay box". I dont know that this relieves the carrier from not having a driver license because when one is hired they need to be flexible in their work assignments which may include a route that has driving involved. My short answer to your question is no, but would need further research.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=i%20would%20love%20to%20be%20a%20letter%20carrier%21%20im%20in%20great%20shape%20for%20the%20work%20as%20i%20already%20walk%2015%20miles%2F%205%20days%20a%20week.%20the%20only%20thing%20is%20that%20i%20dont%20know%20how%20to%20drive%E2%80%A6could%20someone%20like%20me%20be%20a%20letter%20carrier%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13168)
Security / Bodyguard
Are you expected to take a bullet that's meant for someone you're guarding?
Wills and Estates Lawyer
Can I leave everything to my pets?
Antiques Dealer
Does a piece's value increase significantly if it has a cool "back-story" to go along with it?
Kathy, I can only guess that Ken was being followed by a supervisor in another USPS vehicle doing a route inspection. They are usually done about once per year on city carrier routes to see how long it takes a carrier to do their route and if they are doing it properly and safely. Sometimes they will ride in the same vehicle as the carrier and sometimes behind in another vehicle. If the mail volume has increased significantly then the carrier may be allowed more time to complete their route or may have some territory taken off the route to allow the assignment to stay within the normal window of an 8-hour work shift. There may have been another reason for Ken being followed though I'm not sure what it could be. (Possibly a mechanical issue where Ken asked someone to come out and rescue him if the truck broke down, though that call is usually made after the fact).
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Recently%20I%20came%20home%20during%20the%20time%20my%20mail%20was%20being%20delivered%20%28I%20am%20usually%20at%20work%29%2C%20and%20the%20mailman%20%28Ken%2C%20great%20guy%20for%20years%2C%20I%20order%20a%20lot%29%20jeep-type%20vehicle%20was%20being%20followed%20by%20a%20USPS%20small%20SUV%20with%20flashing%20lights.%20%20What%20does%20this%20mean%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13405)
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.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20often%20do%20mailman%20empty%20out%20the%20big%20blue%20usps%20boxes%20they%20have%20outside%20usually%20in%20every%20street%20in%20the%20neighborhood%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13745)
I don't know the answer to this question. In the PO where I work, the supervisors manage when bulk mail is distributed for delivery and we will deliver it on that day unless there is some extenuating circumstance why we can't. I notice that most bulk mail that comes to our PO is usually delivered within 3-4 days, often earlier. 10 days seems like an awfully long time for bulk mail to be sitting around no matter the time sensitivity or not. When your mailing is given to a BMEU (Bulk Mail Entry Unit), do they have any straight answer either? I agree that this is poor service if you can't get any range of time or reason why it's taking so long to be delivered. I do acknowledge that bulk mailings do get put to the bottom of the list as far as priority of which class of mail to deliver, but there isn't a huge amount of First-Class Mail and Periodical mail to go through that a bulk mailing should take so long. I'm just speaking from the perspective of where I work and can't really comment on the operations of another post office.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=How%20long%20does%20a%20postal%20carrier%20have%20to%20deliver%20bulk%20mail%3FWe%20mail%20a%20time%20sensitive%20local%20newspaper.%20It%20is%20taking%2010%20days%20before%20being%20delivered.there%20is%20no%20direct%20answer%20from%20local%20postmaster%20or%20carrier.%20How%20many%20days%20to%20deliver%20bulk%20mail%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13497)
-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
