A mail carrier's day starts as early as 4 a.m., at the post office, where he sorts the mail for delivery. The introduction of automated equipment has decreased the time needed to spend on this task, allowing postal carriers more time for deliveries. Other duties include answering customer queries and supplying clients with postal forms. They also pick up fees for postage-due and cash-on-delivery mail, and receipts for registered, certified and insured mail. Mail carriers may travel by foot, vehicle or both, on a designated route. Mail carriers in the city may have specific duties, such as only dispatching parcels or retrieving mail from collection boxes, while those in rural areas sell stamps and money orders, and complete registration, certification and insurance for mail.
Mail carriers have to work in all kinds of weather, and sometimes have to cope with extreme conditions. Wet or icy roads and sidewalks are not the only causes of serious injuries for mail carriers, as the job also involves continuous lifting and bending. Because of this, postal clerks may suffer from repetitive stress injuries in joints and muscles.
Those wishing to become mail carriers must first pass an exam measuring their speed and precision at confirming names and numbers, and their memory for procedures. However, it can take a further 1 to 2 years before they are hired, due to the high number of applicants. Mail carriers may have to show that they are capable of carrying 70 pound mail sacks, and must be able to speak English well. Personal skills include courtesy when working with the public, and responding to questions and complaints. Training on the job consists of classroom instruction on safety and defensive driving.
The U.S. Postal service reported a total of 343,300 mail carriers in 2008, mostly employed in cities and suburbs. Not all work full-time, for example, casual workers are contracted for 90-day periods during peak times or to cover other employees' vacations. Part-time flexible employees don't have set work hours, but are called when they are needed. Part-time regular employees work less than the 40 hours of a full-time employee.
Mail carriers earned a median annual wage of $49,800 in May 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They receive benefits like those of other Federal Government workers. Due to an increase in the use of automated systems and centralized mail delivery, the employment prediction for mail workers is a drop of 1% by 2018.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Postal Service Mail Carriers
Laura Holton - UK writer living in Mexico City. Has been writing online since 2010 on a variety of subjects, specializing in education, cultures and ...
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