Work Discussion
Not much to be happy about in this career, but let's list what makes us happy as carriers.
When large packages fit in curbside boxes
1a. When a customer has a large package, or multiple packages and they're already half way to your truck to grab them from you.
Customers not being able to sign, due to religious reasons so you just fill out a 49 and drive away.
When a pick up is either at the curbside, or in a curbside box.
When an entire CBU doesn't have mail so you can just keep driving.
4a. Parcel lockers!
The birth of my kid.
I'm closer to retirement then when I was hired.
When the front door of a house is 1 foot over the limit so you can leave them a 49 for any packages that don't fit in the box.
When a customer picks up their hold mail, instead of having us drop it off.
Heck yeah. I see all these UPS and FedEx guys on their blue tooths all day long talking like housewives to each other. That sounds absolutely awful to me. I enjoy my alone time. Not to mention we have like a million audiobooks/podcasts/songs at our disposal.
Yeah that's awesome too, but so few and far between recently. My favorite are the customers that hear the truck so they come out with water or just to talk. That's when being paid by the hour is awesome. "Customer connect" "did you give them the number?" "Oh they heard the cost of services and the lack of overtime we get and will not be a patron until it is ratified."
Being outside and looking at the trees, flowers, bugs and birds. I LOVE watching the clouds. I never have to worry about my paycheck. I never have to worry about finding another job or doing a dumbass interview or writing a stupid cover letter. I like that I get exercise daily. I love the silly goober dogs on my route. There's a lot of bullshit with this job, but what job doesn't? I'm happy with my decision to be here and I plan on retiring from here.
Edit: I forgot the squirrels! I love watching them do their weird squirrelly shit.
Recently learned that if you're using audible, checking the book out on Kindle DRASTICALLY lowers the audible price. Like, if it's on Kindle unlimited, you can get it for $3-5 on audible just by checking it out first.
Same. I've been both city and rural and would never go back to city. I'm paid 45 hours per week and am done at 11am most days (not counting the holidays or this insane political mail we've been getting recently).
Working pretty much every k day (day off) and helping on other routes. Still averaging about 30 hours per week. Six 4.5-5 hour days plus a couple hours of OT per pay period.
Yeah some religions they are not allowed to use electronic devices to sign on certain days. I found out when every week when I went to the door the customers would refuse to sign the device or the 49, I didn't feel comfortable to sign as their agent without their signature, so I left the 49.
If it’s just that they can’t use electronic devices, why don’t you still knock and get them to sign the back of the 3849 and you can scan in their signature yourself?
This kitty I'll never forget while training on my first day. There was something about her that seemed so endearing and welcoming. She let me pet her after the pic, but I never got to see her again as I started working at another office soon after.
My work cats. Best part of this job has always and will always be all these little stray idiots that after following me around for weeks on my relays I decided to go back and turn them from "work cats" to "home cats"
Happy I was healthy enough to work 44 years.Very happy with my CSRS OFFSET pensions and TSP account.It was the golden age of USPS in the 70s until about 2010.What happened?
Not sure when in the 70s you were employed, but if it was during the strike, I commend you brother and thank you for your sacrifice and service to our union.
Honestly I’m only nine months in as a PTF and I love this job. This sub can be so miserable, you’d think it’s the worst job in the world. But man, I get to be outside all day, working on my own, listening to cool podcasts and meeting cool cats. Every day is different enough to keep it interesting but samey enough to keep it easy. Honestly my only complaint is the hours (I am NOT as keen on all the overtime as some other folks, and I long to have Sundays off) but once I convert that won’t be an issue anymore (and everyday will feel so short!). So yeah, LOTS to love about it. I feel like I finally found my forever job (I’m a music major, so naturally I’ve spent the last twenty years or so bartending lol). Of course, I get to carry in beautiful neighborhoods in a cool city, and my soups are all pretty rad, so your mileage may vary.
When I clock out is the answer, but really working for the post office has afforded me way more than I had before working here. I’ve bought my first and later my second house (I live in a low cost of living area) and started a family. Was in a pretty dark place before starting here and I hope to be in an even better one when I leave.
I think it's important to remind people that the USPS is still a much better place to work with no education than most comparable jobs and in most areas it's pay is pretty decent and it's benefits are way better than average.
I recently bid a new route that’s tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. As someone who has always delivered off busy roads and high volume areas, I cannot wait to experience some peace for once.
Whenever someone writes "not at this address" on anything and you just circle " or current resident" and just pop it right back into the box. Happened to me once when the client was standing next to the box, arms crossed with a pissed off look on their face. Made eye contact while putting it in the box. Gave me goosebumps.
If a house is further than, I believe 500 yards, from the curbside box. Hasn't happened on my route, but when it does oh the joy. Particularly if that customer forgets #9.
Dang. So if someone was delivering to say a mcmansion area and the house is say half a mile from the road. They'd have to walk the packages to the door? We're not allowed to drive down private roads, this includes driveways. That doesn't seem accurate.
A McMansion would have a turn around in the driveway. But there is no set distance for city carriers. Rural carriers have I believe half mile from the box.
Wait which religion is #2? I haven't encountered that one. I refused to take the seatbelt pledge from a few months ago because I said I was a Jehovah's Witness. I always wear a seatbelt and tell everybody to do so but I just wanted to be a pain in the ass about their theatrics.
I get paid to go outside and play with dogs. I’m a rural carrier so I don’t have management breathing down my neck. I drive a pov so I’m in a safer vehicle than an LLV. As a rural regular there’s a lot of freedom in the job. I get to go home before 2-2:30 most days. I make almost an extra $900 every pay period just from the mileage alone.
When I had my P&L route I was in the best shape of my adult life. Walking 12+ miles a day was the free therapy I needed and wish I could get it back. A great neighborhood with friendly people helped me with my social skills too.
During my intake the person mentioned that I should expect to work 60 hrs/week but mentioned how the OT pay worked. I told her that I had been a teacher so I was familiar with the hours but very happy to finally get paid for working more than 40 hrs.
A mix of things. Being independent and on my own without someone breathing down my neck on route. Having a great route out in the boonies thats really pretty most the year. Most of the dogs (on my route) are happy friendly ones. I only have maybe 2 genuine Karens on the route, all my other customers are great.
Sirius XM radio was a lifesaver when it came along.Extended my career by years.I aso my had a tobacco farm I worked on the side.59 years in Social security.
Being paid to listen to audiobooks and podcasts and not being cooped up indoors to do it. Delivering mail and packages just seems like a side objective.
I’m so stressed out as a cca working 12 hour days 6 days a week and turns out I’m now being reassigned to a station that sucks. I’m hoping I can keep my Tuesdays off (only day I have off with my partner currently) does this job actually get decently better once you convert? I’m about a year in. I like friendly dogs and people that at genuinely nice and it helps me get through the day but the managers really do suck in this job
I have a few creative hobbies (that I hope one day could make me money) and enjoy that my job doesn’t suck up my creativity, and it’s a rather monotonous routine job. I know so many creatives who had to go the corporate route to make money, and are too burnt out from using their creativity for marketing a corporation, that their personal projects go by the wayside. I don’t have that problem and have made a documentary and short film the past 2 years, all after work.
That’s the next thing: when my work’s done, it’s done. I also know many people who still are expected to answer emails and calls after work. They never can truly “clock out.” It’s become normal in the corporate world. If my supervisor calls me after work, I don’t have to answer, and there’s nothing they can do about it. That’s a luxury not many jobs have.
I also enjoy the ample vacation and sick leave time (including not having to personally call my boss to tell them I’m sick), and a TSP. Plenty to be happy with in this job, but plenty of things that could be better.
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u/Chettarmstrong Rural Carrier 6h ago
I appreciate how I am outside by myself for most of the day.