A Guide to Mail Carrier Rules and Regulations

As a mail carrier, you're expected to follow strict rules and regulations to ensure safe and efficient delivery of mail and packages. You can't deliver mail to a post office box or a mailbox that's not designated for mail delivery.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has specific rules for mail carriers, including requirements for uniform dress and identification. Mail carriers must wear a USPS-issued uniform and display their name tag and ID badge at all times.

Mail carriers are also prohibited from using their personal vehicles for mail delivery, unless they have a special permit from the USPS. This is to ensure that mail is delivered in a timely and secure manner.

Additional reading: Usps Mail Carriers Tentative Contract

The USPS has established procedures and regulations that conform to Federal laws on mail delivery, which each carrier and postal employee must follow.

Mail addressed to more than one person may be delivered to any of them, but mail bearing a joint address does not give either party the right to control mail addressed jointly or to a spouse.

Addressees may refuse mail at the time of delivery or within a reasonable time as long as the mail is unopened. They can also issue a written request to the postmaster asking that any foreign mail displaying a stated name or address not be delivered to them.

The request can not be for a period of time greater than two years. Parcels that are not insured may only be left outside of the mailbox if the postmaster has received a written statement from the recipient.

Parcels to be picked up at the post office must be claimed within 10 days. The USPS has a large workforce of more than 640,000 civil service employees, making it one of the nation's largest civilian employers.

The labor costs represent nearly three-quarters of USPS's total operating expenses.

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Mail addressed to more than one person can be delivered to any of them, but joint addresses don't give either party control over the mail.

Addressees can refuse mail at delivery or within a reasonable time if it's unopened. They can also request that foreign mail with a specific name or address not be delivered to them, but this request can't be for more than two years.

Parcels that aren't insured can only be left outside the mailbox if the postmaster has a written statement from the recipient or if the sender added the "Carrier-Leave If No Response" endorsement.

Business customers don't need a mail receptacle if they're open during delivery and have someone available to accept the mail.

The U.S. Postal Service is one of the nation's largest civilian employers, with a workforce of more than 640,000 civil service employees.

Laws impacting the postal workforce can have a significant impact on the daily lives of mail carriers. This is because labor costs represent nearly three-quarters of USPS's total operating expenses.

The Postal Service has a complex regulatory framework that governs its operations. The regulations of the Postal Service are outlined in § 211.2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Consider reading: Railway Mail Service

These regulations include the resolutions of the Governors and the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service and the bylaws of the Board of Governors. They take precedence over all regulations issued by other authority.

The Postal Service's regulations also include the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, and other manuals that govern various aspects of postal operations.

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The Postal Service is one of the nation's largest civilian employers, with a workforce of over 640,000 civil service employees.

These employees make up nearly three-quarters of the Postal Service's total operating expenses, with labor costs being a significant factor in the organization's overall expenses.

Having such a large workforce comes with its own set of challenges, but it also means that the Postal Service has a significant impact on the economy and the communities it serves.

As one of the largest civilian employers, the Postal Service plays a vital role in providing jobs and economic opportunities for millions of Americans.

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Negotiated Service Agreements allow the Postal Service to negotiate a contract with a mailer regarding customer-specific rates, fees, or terms of service.

These agreements must be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for review. The PRC determines whether a proposed NSA would improve the USPS's net financial position and/or enhance its operational performance.

The Postal Service can negotiate NSAs with mailers, giving them more flexibility in their business dealings.

For your interest: Express Mail Service

Collective Bargaining Agreements play a significant role in determining pay increases and working conditions for unionized employees.

USPS employees are unionized, which means they have collective bargaining agreements that dictate pay increases and cost of living adjustments.

Unlike private sector employees, USPS workers are not allowed to go on strike.

Instead, the PRA established a binding arbitration process for resolving contract disputes.

Negotiated Service Agreements allow the Postal Service to negotiate contracts with mailers regarding customer-specific rates, fees, or terms of service. These agreements must be submitted to the PRC for review.

The Postal Service can negotiate NSAs with mailers, but it must be approved by the PRC. The PRC reviews the proposed NSA to determine whether it would improve the Postal Service's net financial position and/or enhance its operational performance.

The Postal Service is allowed to borrow money from the Federal Financing Bank by issuing debt obligations to the Treasury Department, giving it access to a lower interest rate than the private debt market. This is a unique benefit for the Postal Service compared to private sector competitors.

Unlike private sector competitors, the Postal Service has caps on its debt obligations when it borrows from the Federal Financing Bank. This limits the amount of debt the Postal Service can take on.

As a mail carrier, you'll need to follow specific rules for acquiring and protecting mail. You're allowed to open mail that's addressed to you, but you must not open mail addressed to someone else.

To protect mail, you're required to deliver it to the correct address and ensure it's delivered within a reasonable time frame. This means delivering mail to the correct address, even if the recipient is not home.

Mail carriers are also responsible for handling and storing mail in a secure manner to prevent loss or damage. This includes keeping mail in a locked area when not in transit.

Additional reading: Home Mailing Address

As a federal entity, USPS must follow procurement laws that aren't applicable to private sector carriers. This includes hiring trucking companies that offer fringe benefits and pay above set-wage rates, as required by the Service Contract Act of 1965.

USPS contracts trucking companies and air carriers to move mail, which is a significant part of its operations.

Before seeking proposals from foreign air carriers, USPS must first seek proposals from certified air carriers, as mandated by the U.S. Code.

Since 2016, the OIG has identified USPS's inherent tension between its public sector responsibilities and its private sector operations as a top management challenge.

This tension is largely due to the rise in retirement liabilities, decline in mail volumes, and increase in package-market competition, which are all straining the agency's financial viability.

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To protect yourself from shipping mishaps, it's essential to be informed about what can and can't be mailed. Learn more about hazardous, non-mailable, prohibited, and restrictive materials by reading the United States Postal Service's Publication 52.

Be honest about the contents of your package when shipping. If a Postal employee asks about specific hazardous items, let them know if you're shipping something on the list.

If you're unsure about what can be mailed, don't risk it. Check with your local Post Office location to get the facts straight.

Here are some key things to keep in mind: