Being a mail carrier

Factual Questions
1

Although I can find out all these answers myself, it would require me to take a day off of work, and I really want to save my vacation time if possible, so I’m hoping some answers here will help me determine if I should take time off or not and go to the interview.

I am eligible to interview for a mail carrier position. Of course, starting out, it would be part-time flexible.
Now I know that some answers vary from city to city so nobody will probably be able to address my specifics, but just a probability or educated guess of what to expect will be fine.

About a month ago, I went to a group interview for a different position which I decided against since I would more than likely be working swing or grave with hours anywhere from 25 hours a week, to 60 or more, probably 6 days a week.

Now, mail carriers start in the morning and work till mid afternoon, right?
So I wouldn’t have to worry about working at nights?
The other position could have you working Sundays and holidays, but if I interviewed for, and got this position, I would have those days off, right?

If you are, have been, or know any part-time flexible hours mail carrier, what are the average number of hours usually worked?
The starting pay is a little bit over time and a half where I work now (I.E. Working at the Post Office would pay me slightly more than overtime pay where I work now) and I’ve figured that working 26 hours a week for the Post Office would pay me about the same as working 40 hours a week where I work now.
Could I expect to work at least 26 hours?

Does the Post Office have someone show you the rout to drive, or do they give you some sort of map, or do they just tell you which streets and you are expected to just know your way around?

And finally, since it requires an excellent driving record, about two and a half months ago, or more, I can’t remember exactly, I got a ticket for failure to yield right of way. I was coming out of my work’s parking lot, it was foggy, and I almost hit a cop car because they didn’t have their lights on, but, when anything happens between a civilian and a cop, the cop is always right. I thought about fighting it, but then, figuring it’s my work against two cops, I just pleaded guilty with an explanation. Will this automatically disqualify me?

Thanks.

2

I can’t help, but I can’t imagine that anyone other than the interviewer would be able to answer these questions. If it’s a job that pays ~ 150% of what you make now, I’d use that vacation day.

3

Well, like I said, I know I won’t be able to get specifics, but even just some generalities would be nice.

4

Okay, I was a carrier in Vermont for a while. Almost seven years. I started as a casual for $6.50/hr (1993), became a “transitional” (doesn’t exist anymore, I don’t think), then was able to take the CSE and became a PTF, then a full-time carrier.

40 hour week? I don’t recall ever working less than that until I became FT and was able to opt off the overtime list. PTFs get treated like pack mules. You will pick up everyone else’s slack and get temporary assignments that nobody else wants. You’ll likely do a different route every day or small parts of several routes. This can actually be to your advantage as it never gets boring. Even after I had enough seniority to bid my own route I remained an unassigned regular and had first dibs on the “sweet” routes as their owners went on holiday.

Working nights? No. Start times vary with the office, I think we started arount 8:30 and worked until 4:00 (in theory). Unfortuantely, in winter this meant delivering in the dark, a source of contention between labor and management. I’ve been out until 7:30 with a flashlight, but it wasn’t common.

As far as showing you the ropes, there will likely be (there had dang well better be) a two-week orientation where they show you films on dog bites, stealing from the mail (a warning against, not a how-to), work safety, etc. You’ll probably be taken out with one of the older hands for some street training, both in the vehicle and on foot. Once you are turned loose, you’ll be given a sheet of paper with the route sequence on it. Assuming it’s a mounted route, you drive to the start point, park the truck, throw the first “relay” bundles in your satchel, and “follow the mail”. When you run out of mail, you’ll either be back at the truck or at a relay box that has your next bundle in it.

I can’t say if your citation will automatically disqualify you. I can say BE HONEST ABOUT IT. If you can in the meantime, find out the date of the citation and how many points were assessed and take this info with you.

Was it a good job? Yes and no. I made really good money for what is basically low-skilled labor. Just got an email from an old co-worker who started after I did; her base salary is up to $44,000 a year (converted to New Zealand dollars, that’s more than I’ll make in two years). I met some really neat people, and worked with some great people and a couple of human stains who thought the world owed them everything. I was in better physical shape than I’d ever been or have been since. I did develop some slight wrist troubles from the constant gripping and bending.

You won’t HAVE to join the union, but trust me, your life will be easier if you do. See my comment about human stains. I ended up having to wear headphones for the two hours we spent in the morning sorting mail to block out a few key individuals.

I walked off the job after being verbally assaulted by a co-worker and handed in my resignation the same day. I had 23 more years to go until retirement and had had enough. Would I take the job again knowing what I know now? Probably. Despite a few bad experiences, it was a good mix of indoors and outdoors, physical work and mental work (lots of memorization), and some good times.

Good luck!
capn

5

Sounds interesting, thank you. Given all that, I just might go see what they have to say 12 days from now (the interview is on the 28th).