So Tuesday there were posts all over the country about how insane the mail volume was. Today it’s happening again where I am. Parts of all our routes have been missing from the mail since Saturday. Even with the insane mail volume on Tuesday. Yesterday I had one tray and parts of the route were still missing. Today I have 4. A majority of the mail is political flyers. Are we being sabotaged? My office is pretty normally pure chaos but now it’s just a mess. It’s not getting caught up.

Great way to start the morning 👍

Until morale is improved

idk whats funnier, the video or the photos of this fur ball with black eyes and teeth. apparently can't post video on here :/

was my third day today on my own and it went well!! hope you all are having a good week

Farewell last year's shoes, you've served me well and held up longer than the last.

I do have to say at over 30k steps a day the Hokas have pretty much knocked out the knee pain.

At first I was concerned he got stuck in there, but quickly learned there's a little hole he can get out (because he was back inside the next day) and also both I and the homeowner are cool with it. Been there about a month!

Makes every day better!

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If you are a postmaster, how would you handle the situation? I quit before my 90 was up due to unforeseen mental health decline but my postmaster seemed extraordinarily helpful and willing to work with others, if a little absent-minded sometimes.

I’m wrapping up my second week as a cca and as promised in my previous post, I’m writing out my experience week to week as a resource for people who are curious about what it’s like.

First and foremost, I’m definitely enjoying it. I get to be outside, I walk 10-12 miles a day, and I sleep like a log. I’m a little sore but I really try to take care of myself (good shoes, inserts, blister bandaids, compression socks, etc)

A little bit about me that might give you insight as to why I’m enjoying the job:

First of all, I came from a senior level position in corporate America that was extremely stressful, toxic, and was killing me slowly. When I came home, work was all I could think about. It was like I became a different person. With that experience, having a job where I just show up to work on time, do what is asked of me, and don’t think about work when I’m home feels not stressful at all.

Second, prior to starting with usps, I loved to go on long hikes almost every weekend. With my corporate job I lost sight of that slowly over time. Being outside and moving around is something I genuinely love so getting paid to do that feels like a blessing to me.

Third, I love being by myself. Once I’m out on the route and it’s just me delivering mail, it really works for me. I don’t like having too much social interaction in my life in general, so for me this part of the job is great.

Something I have noticed is there are a lot of people at the post office who are very cynical. A few people saying to me “just give it a month you’ll hate it too.” On the other hand there are a handful of people who are happy to be there, say good morning, and have a sense of camaraderie with other carriers. Those are the people I try to talk to more than the cynical ones.

As of writing this post I think my best advice to anyone curious about it is to give it a shot. Worst case you absolutely hate it and you look for something else. Even jobs within usps, there are way more things to do than be a carrier.

My supervisor texted me today and asked me what I hit in the metris. I do drive it on my aux route. But others drive it also. It wasn’t me, Im very careful in it for 2 reasons mainly, I’ve only carried for a month so I’m on the slower side right now and the 2nd is I don’t wanna end up in a llv with no air or radio. Not to mention I’m a careful driver in daily life. I know this coulda been avoided by doing the check in the morning but literally no one at the office does it so I followed suit. I guess I’m just kinda caught off guard of being accused of it. Welcome to the PO as they say I suppose. I guess he just assumed it’s me because I’m new ?

Anyone have any suggestions on which to pick. Its so many options and I'm at a loss.

I dont have a primary dr currently, but I plan on getting one ans getting on top of any health related things.

I do wear glasses.

I usually get my teeth cleaned twice a year, and that's usually just it.

Shouldn't it just be double case or take time. In 10 hours?

Hello everyone! I was recently let go from my job of 14 years due to company restructuring, as my position was eliminated. While it’s tough to close that chapter, I’m looking at it as an opportunity to explore a new career.

I just applied for a CCA position and completed the Virtual Entry Assessment 474 exam. So now I'm just waiting to hear back to see what happens. In the meantime I've been doing some research, learning more of what it entails - Now I'm starting to second guess thinking this would be a good fit for me.

I love the outdoors, love rainy & snowy weather & l enjoy walking. So the delivering of the mail part sounds like something I would genuinely enjoy. But I've been reading a lot of bad stuff about management and unreal expectations, and that's something would most likely struggle with.

Should I go through with this if I hear back from them? Is it really as bad as some people make it sound?

Should I maybe go for a different position other than CCA?

Thanks for anyone that puts in their 2 cents! 🙏

So I’m currently a CCA that started a couple months ago. Upon starting everyone was saying to apply for PTF if available so my time will count instead of waiting 2 yrs. Well I saw an opening and applied for it at a different office, got and accepted it. More money, better benefits and my time will start to count when I start. I haven’t even finished my probationary period.

Now I have people telling I should’ve stayed CCA because I would’ve automatically converted over to career in 2 yrs and I could be PTF for longer than 2yrs depending on who retires or leaves or whatever. Mind you the office I’m currently at has so many CCA’s that’s been there for months and years ahead of me that I was sure they’ll get routes and move up before me. They told me now that my checks will decrease because I probably won’t see as many hrs and I will have so much taxes takin out and that everything will fall on me now. Idk if I’m being told this now because I got the PTF position and I’m basically new and they didn’t. I’m like y’all applied too so why is it a bad decision now that I got it!?

Did I make the right choice? Is PTF not a better opportunity than CCA? Should reject the offer? Please any advice or input would be helpful.

How are you handling your larger boxes too far away for a 2nd trip? My route just got full zip code Amazon and it’s been brutal. I just wanna know how you more seasoned people do it. I slip out the big ones, but 2 days of that and my small office starts piling up, and my customers are pissed because they “pay for prime” I’ve been doing 12 hours days for 4 weeks and I’m tired 😭

I've finally converted from a PTF to a regular carrier, and I have my own route! I know this route has a good amount of houses that have fences, but their mailboxes are mounted up on their house.

I personally do not like going into fenced yards, I've gotten attacked by a dog who bolted out of the house and came at me.

Am I allowed to start having people move their boxes up to the fence? Particularly ones that I know have dogs? Or is this a big no-no? I've heard that I can, but no one at this station has said to never enter fenced-in yards.

Am I at 34 hours towards the weekly limit, or 42?

Thank you for your service!

Hey, I’m kind of freaking out because I just chipped a tooth and apparently GEHA insurance only covers like $21 of that? This is a waste of money and I was wondering if any of you have better insurance options you’ve used for that.

Is writing "Return to sender" not a valid endorsement? I keep finding mail with that written on it in my DPS. I think the customers drop it off at the post office or in a blue collection box, and somehow it makes its way back. When I pick up mail with RTS on it from a customer's house, I'll add ANK to it.

Also, I have a customer who started leaving their mail sticking out of their front door's mail slot with "remove me from this list" written on each letter. The mail is addressed correctly to the people who live there. I guess they just don't want to receive it any longer. I pull it out, insert the day's new mail, and place the old one just like they left it. This cycle repeats for a few days. Either my T6 picks it up, or maybe they drop it off at the post office or at a collection box. I don't know. Anyway, this mail makes it back in my DPS. So I deliver it :) I'm sure it must drive them crazy that they can't get rid of this mail. This has been going on for a few months now. I would gladly explain to them what's going on, but I've never seen anyone there.