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.
I agree with you that as long as you don't have a mailbox up, then NOTHING should be delivered at all. We would discard any Standard Mail (usually circulars or donation solicitations). Any first class mail should be marked "No Mail Receptacle" and returned to sender. One option would be to put your mail on hold while you are away. You can do that online or by going into any PO and filling out an "authorization to hold mail" form.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20have%20removed%20the%20mailbox%20from%20my%20house%20because%20travel%20often.%20%20I%20have%20a%20PO%20box.%20%20Every%20time%20i%20return%20I%20find%20junk%20mail%20stuffed%20into%20the%20screen%20door.%20%20I%20have%20complained%20to%20the%20local%20Post%20Office%20but%20nothing%20gets%20done.%20%20What%20are%20my%20options%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8983)
Great question. Since it has been many years since I have been trained to be a letter carrier, I don't remember if I was trained to make sure the box is closed. Personally, it is just common sense to close any mailbox if you can. What I mean is that sometimes the mail is too "tall" and would prevent a lid from closing completely, but I would still close the lid as much as I can. To be honest, I don't think training is that thorough when it comes to being a letter carrier. I have seen carriers just put the mail on the ground in front of a house (not even rubber-banded) because they couldn't find a mailbox or doorslot. I have also seen the mail delivered but hanging out of the mailbox in a very messy fashion when there was clearly enough room to fit it all in. Granted some mailboxes are quite small and it is impossible to fit the mail entirely inside, but I've never heard a customer complain about the mail hanging out of those small boxes. My suggestion would be either to call the PO and speak to a delivery supervisor about this or put a note on the mailbox saying "please close lid after delivering the mail". By the way, I am presuming that your mailbox is deep enough to fit even catalogs and magazines. If this isn't the case, then I do understand the mailbox lid not being closed.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20was%20wondering%20if%20letter%20carriers%20are%20trained%20to%20close%20the%20hinged%20lids%20on%20vertical%20wall%20mounted%20mailboxes%3F%20I%27ve%20had%20many%20carriers%20over%20the%20years%20and%20none%20of%20them%20has%20ever%20closed%20the%20lid.%20As%20a%20result%2C%20whenever%20it%20rains%20my%20mail%20gets%20drenched.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12316)
I sometimes listen to an iPod while walking but not driving. While walking I usually only cover one ear for safety reasons. You aren't permitted to listen with earphones while driving, but maybe a portable radio or CD player is allowed when driving. Your local post office should advise you of any rules regarding this. Safety is very very important. I don't remember the driving test too well. Keep to the speed limit, buckle up, both hands on steering wheel, use turn signals,and use your mirrors as necessary. On Ice, just go very slowly. Same with rain and use the windshield wipers and headlights. Ice and Snow are the most difficult conditions for the LLVs. Rain isn't too bad as long as you drive cautiously.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20you%20listen%20to%20music%20or%20CDs%20in%20the%20postal%20truck.%20How%20about%20while%20you%20are%20walking.%20Can%20you%20listen%20to%20music%20or%20CDs%20while%20you%20are%20walking%3F%20Also%20what%20is%20the%20driving%20test%20lke%3F%20What%20is%20the%20best%20way%20to%20drive%20on%20ice%20or%20heavy%20rain%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/8760)
Cynthia, that is a good question and I don't know the legal requirements (if any) to return any mail that is errantly delivered to your address, whether it is for a former resident or just delivered by mistake to the wrong address. Anyone who tells you otherwise I would question where they get that information. Most people I know aren't versed in the law when it comes to the US Mail. I do read that tampering with the US Mail is a federal offense but I don't interpret that discarding mail that was errantly given to you to be tampering with it. On the flip side, as much as that person has been a sore spot to you, would it be so hard to just write on the outside of the mail "person doesn't live here" and leave it in the mailbox for the letter carrier to have sent back to the sender? In theory, the letter may find its way back to the sender who may update their records and you won't get any mail from them anymore addressed to the former tenant. Just a thought. Thanks for writing.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20are%20my%20legal%20%28legal%20not%20ethical%29%20obligations%20when%20the%20mailman%20delivers%20mail%20to%20my%20address%20that%20the%20person%20no%20longer%20%28and%20has%20not%20for%20years%29%20lives%20here%3F%20The%20person%20is%20a%20real%20sore%20spot%20and%20was%20evicted%20so%20the%20less%20I%20have%20to%20do...the%20better.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/12107)
Personal Stylist & Life Coach
What's the difference between a life coach and a therapist?
iPhone & iPad Technician
What brand do you think has the poorest quality / workmanship?
Chef
Has anyone ever found anything gross in their food on your watch?
Alex, you can certainly ask the letter carrier to do whatever you want with your mail. If he/she is following proper protocol, they won't follow your request. We are instructed to deliver all mail to its address because someone has paid us to do so. We will not go through the mail for a certain recipient and then discard some of it. The recipient should be going through the mail themselves and discarding/recycling what they don't want. I do realize there is such a high percentage of mail delivered on a daily basis that a customer doesn't want, but as the letter carrier we shouldn't be getting involved in their mail.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20I%20ask%20a%20mail%20man%20to%20discard%20certain%20mail%20for%20a%20certain%20amount%20of%20days%20when%20he%20delivers%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/13155)
I am not sure of the the regulations as to whether or not the mail should be delivered without proper lighting. It is difficult to deliver mail if one can't read the addresses clearly enough or if it isn't safe to do so. Is it possible the complex mgmt can install a light over the boxes that can be switched on or off as needed. In general if mailboxes are set up so that delivery can be effected from inside a postal vehicle, the carrier shouldn't have to get out to deliver the mail. That said, I'm sure there are many occasions that it's easier to just deliver the mail than having to bring it back to the PO for delivery at a later date. I'm sorry I can't give you any more specific info.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Can%20a%20mail%20carrier%20decide%20to%20not%20deliver%20mail%20to%20an%20apartment%20complex%20because%20he%20says%20he%20should%20not%20have%20to%20get%20out%20of%20his%20vehicle%20to%20put%20the%20mail%20in%20the%20boxes%20and%20there%20should%20be%20a%20light%20over%20the%20boxes.%20My%20carrier%20did%20not%20deliver%20my%20mail%20for%203%20days&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9885)
I am sorry that the letter never made it to you. the letter must have been mailed with some type of tracking on it for your friend to know it reached your area. I don't know how you would go about getting it. Does the tracking # say it was delivered anywhere? Possibly it was mis-delivered. Did the item need a signature for delivery?
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=he%20also%20tracked%20down%20the%20letter%20and%20it%20showed%20it%20arrived%20in%20my%20area%20but%20never%20stated%20that%20it%20reached%20my%20house.%20This%20letter%20contained%20something%20very%20important%2C%20what%20can%20I%20do%20to%20get%20it%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/9441)
-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
