Delivering the Mail
Module 11
Objectives
2
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
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Apply all safety procedures to prevent
hazards or accidents
Adhere to policies and procedures when
preparing and delivering the mail
Maintain security of the mail and all
Postal equipment
Comply with all designated scan point
requirements
Delivering the Mail
3
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Primary cause of misdelivery is failure to verify the
address prior to delivery
Fingering and verifying the mail before placing in
mailbox is critical to the success of a carrier
Carriers are Postal ambassadors and may be the
only contact customers have with the organization
JSA – Carrier Walker Delivery
4
JSA – Curbside Mounted Delivery
5
Principles of Ergonomics
6
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As a city carrier, understand proper safety
procedures while performing street duties to avoid
injuries
Proper lifting and loading procedures assist in
preventing injuries
Avoid standing, in back of a LLV or FFV to the extent
possible
Slips, Trips, and Falls
7

Be aware to avoid potential slips, trips or falls:
•
Children’s toys, hoses, rakes, cracks in sidewalks or
depressions in the lawn often present challenges
•
Weather related hazards (leaves, ice and snow, etc.) are
additional hazards that could lead to slips, trips, and falls
•
During inclement weather, painted porches and loose stones
become slippery
•
Use handrails when available
Attacks by Dogs and Other Animals
8

Consider all dogs as potentially hazardous:
•
Use dog warning cards assist in identifying problem dogs
•
Take dog repellent when delivering mail
•
Use satchel as protection from an attacking dog
•
Be alert to signs that a loose dog may be present
•
Dogs near children may be unusually aggressive
•
Never feed or attempt to pet a dog
•
When delivering to a mail slot, refrain from sticking
fingers through the mail slot
Dog Warning Card
9
JSA – Dog Attack
10
Other Hazards
11
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Contact with insects that could sting or bite
like; bees, hornets, wasps and spiders;
could be a potential hazard
Carriers who are allergic to insect bites
should always carry medication
Preventing Rollaway/Runaways
12

To prevent rollaway or runaway
accidents:
•
Place vehicle in park
•
Set hand brake
•
Curb wheels
•
Turn off ignition and remove keys
•
Use wheel chocks where locally
required
Prevent Backing Accidents
13
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
To prevent accidents when backing a Postal vehicle:
•
Avoid backing unless absolutely necessary
•
Park vehicle to eliminate backing, use pull through method
whenever possible
•
Follow local policies regarding backing procedures
Report Injuries
•
Report incidents as soon as the employee becomes aware
of a resultant injury
Exercise
14
Discuss the question and record answers on a rip
chart.
 What other types of accidents can occur when
delivering the mail?
Security of the Mail and Equipment
15

Ensure mail and equipment are secured at all times
•

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Do not place mail in your pockets or clothing, lockers or
desks, or in parcels, handgrips, lunch containers or other
luggage
Delivery may be made to a customer on the street if
customer is known or proper identification is provided
and if it does not delay the carrier unreasonably
Always be aware of your surroundings
Mail and Equipment Security
16

Park at established park points in the route book

Notify your supervisor of any security problems

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Information about mail contents or customer’s physical
address may not be shared
Do not endanger yourself in the event of threat,
assault or robbery
•
•
•
Do not anger or harass the attacker
Pay attention to details or identifying marks for later
Report robbery ASAP
Vehicle Security
17
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Turn off engine and remove key
Keep all doors secured
when out of sight or too far
away to safeguard the mail
Lock any sliding doors
between truck body and cab
Always keep rear door and/or tailgate of vehicle
locked, except when loading or unloading vehicle
Preparing Mail for Delivery
18
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Finger mail at all times during delivery except:
•
While driving (come to a complete stop
prior to fingering mail and placing in box)
•
When walking up or down stairs or steps
•
While stepping to or from curbs
•
While crossing any street
•
When it would create a safety hazard to
carrier or public
When delivering on foot, carrier performs this operation
between deliveries
Delivering the Mail
19

Carriers may cross lawns while making deliveries if:
•
•
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Customers do not object
No hazard to carrier
Collect outgoing mail before placing mail into the
receptacle
Prior to putting the mail into a mailbox, mail must be
combined into one bundle
•
•
Allows for one motion when putting mail into receptacle
For centralized delivery, carrier may perform more than one
motion
Parcel Delivery Instructions
20
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If parcel does not fit in mail receptacle or parcel
locker, ring doorbell and knock at the door
Absent of any special instructions for leaving parcel:
•
Complete applicable sections of PS Form 3849
•
Endorse package with notice left and date
Parcel Delivery Instructions
21
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If customer is normally available:
•
•
•
•
•

Special instructions for leaving parcels:
•
•

Not necessary to complete PS Form 3849
May bring parcel for delivery the next delivery day
Write date, initials, and route number near the address
Stage parcel in accordance to local procedures
If not available after second attempt, leave delivery notice
PS Form 1564-B (carrier route book)
Mailer instruction on parcel
Do not leave parcels in unprotected location
Delivering Foot Routes
22
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Unstrap the first bundle
Verify street, block, and street number with street sign
and number on first house
Mail is normally carried in hand and satchel;
•
•
•
•
•
Option to carry mail on arm unless instructed not to
Have all mail ready for deposit when reaching delivery
point and to avoid backtracking
Safety is a prime consideration
Place all mail into receptacle
Do not place letter or flat mail on steps, porches, or in
unauthorized locations
Delivering Motorized Routes
23

Place mail on vehicle tray facing driver

Verify address before placing mail in receptacle

Seatbelts must be worn at all times vehicle is in motion
•

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Exception for (LLVs) and Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)
Traveling in intervals of 500 ft or less, at speeds not
exceeding 15 MPH between delivery stops, the door on
the driver’s side may be left open
Close all external vehicle doors when entering or crossing
intersecting roadways
Motorized Routes
24
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If mailbox is blocked, delivery must be attempted by dismounting
where it is safe to do so
Before leaving vehicle for dismount deliveries, put vehicle in park,
set hand brake, curb wheels, turn off the ignition, and remove key

Use wheel chocks where locally required

For curbside delivery:
•
•
On level streets or roads; place vehicle in neutral, place foot firmly on brake
peddle while collecting mail or placing mail in mailbox
On hills; place vehicle in park, place foot firmly on the brake peddle while
collecting mail or placing mail in the mailbox
Park and Loop Routes
25
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Vehicle is used as a moveable relay box:
•

For large or heavy parcels on park and loop routes:
•

Carrier withdraws mail, placing mail into satchel before
beginning each relay
Begin the loop at point of parcel delivery or bypass stop
until loop is complete, then drive to delivery point with mail
and parcel
When traveling between park and relay points, and
when entering or crossing intersecting roadways, all
external vehicle doors must be closed
Designated Scan Points
26
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MSP scan may be required at first delivery
Additional MSP locations
throughout route; local
practice will determine
how to find MSPs
Scan all MSP barcodes as
encountered on route
Upon return to office, notify supervisor of any MSP
barcodes that were not able to scan
Collection Box Scan
27
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Do not collect mail from any
collection box before
scheduled time
Collection time will be at or after the scheduled time
indicated on Label 55-B, Collection Times,
posted on collection box
Upon return to office, notify
supervisor of any collection MSP
barcodes that you were not able
scan
Review
28
1.
2.
What are some the most frequent accidents that
happen to letter carriers?
Slips, trips, and falls
Under what circumstances may a carrier provide a
customer with their mail on the street?
If it does not delay the carrier unreasonably and
presented to the addressee only
3.
mail is
What are signs that a loose dog may be present?
A feeding dish, open gate, broken chain, or empty dog lead
Review
29
4.
What is fingering the mail?
Final verification of address before delivery
5.
6.
What action should a carrier perform after
fingering the mail and before placing mail into
Collect outgoing mail
the receptacle?
What may the carrier encounter at the first
delivery on the route? An MSP scan point
Summary
30
In this module, we discussed:




Applying all safety procedures to prevent hazards or
accidents
Adhering to policies and procedures when preparing
and delivering the mail
Maintaining security of the mail and all Postal
equipment
Complying with all designated scan point
requirements