My local Postmaster tells me that our carrier can't back in or out of our driveway . Is that a true statement? I have filled out a form for hardship to have my mailbox moved to the end of our drive from the other side of the road. My wife has very bad arthritis and has trouble walking. Please advise if the Postmaster is following some written rules for Rural deliveries. Thanks
Backing out or into driveway on rural route.
- Thread starter Ed D
- Start date
DB.Cooper
Well-known member
You might need to set up some sort of turn around arrangement for your carrier... they are extremely anti-backing on carriers at the PO.... a lot of the mail vehicles have poor vision to the rear, and there have been too many backing related incidents and accidents.... honestly, they're doing it to avoid some sort of tragedy from happening at your house... but I know it does seem like a hassle.... try to work with them, and hopefully they'll reciprocate with you.... good luck....
I think I know what you're talking about. Unfortunately your PM is severely hampered and controlled by regulations.
For your end result to satisfy you, you are going to have to state without hesitation that you cannot drive at all, ever. You can't walk very far, ever. You are a hardship, and have no other recourse than to have your mail brought right up to the house, so help you God.
Any other admissions will keep your mail down at the road. Tell them the carrier can drive right over the lawn, and get out.
For your end result to satisfy you, you are going to have to state without hesitation that you cannot drive at all, ever. You can't walk very far, ever. You are a hardship, and have no other recourse than to have your mail brought right up to the house, so help you God.
Any other admissions will keep your mail down at the road. Tell them the carrier can drive right over the lawn, and get out.
DB.Cooper
Well-known member
And.... if you really are in danger or unable to get to the mailbox.... try to get it handled at the PO, then if that doesn't work call or write your Congress person and explain your hardship.... which is btw what they'll call this... a hardship delivery.... they usually don't give them out easily, but people do get them when there's a legit reason....
Dont ya think pm stooge is going to inquire as to whether another person or persons is capable to get the mail ? Then again pm might be your typical dumba$$ mgt person.
Shannonboy
Well-known member
Well...we know this obvious, or this nice person wouldn't be here asking for advice. Sir....all of the advice above is exactly what you need to do. Hardship dismounts are not difficult to get. Go to post office, ask for Hardship dismount paperwork, go to your Doctor, explain the issues, have him sign it, then return to po, and hand it directly to post master. Ask how long til it can be implemented. Get contact number of post master, and stay in touch. Paperwork, signatures, and communication is what you need to get this done. My best to you Sir. A 21 year veteran of the Postal Service.
Shannonboy
stillfirstclass
Well-known member
if any resident is capable, able, doesn't have to be willing, just capable/able (sounds like your wife is disadvantaged not you?) no hardship approval
Unclewolverine
Well-known member
This is the correct answer. Also adding that even if both were disabled, but had someone who regularly checks on you, still no hardship approval.
Yup it’s pretty hard without a doctor filling out proper paperwork and even then it can be hard.
For the OP with 2 residents one unable even with doctor filling out form. By the sounds you are able to get mail it can be denied on that basis alone.
Tired carrier
Well-known member
The postal service has a strict no backing policy. Also if there is a person living in the home that’s physically able to get the mail other than her then your hardship can be declined.
gotstamps
Well-known member
We do NOT drive “right over the lawn”. If the Carrier gets stuck on a bad weather day or runs over something that was left out in the yard, the Carrier would get blamed. Lay down a gravel path & then issue is fixed.
Ed D -- "My local Postmaster tells me that our carrier can't back in or out of our driveway . Is that a true statement?"
-- It sure is! Backing up anywhere is highly frowned upon by the USPS.
"I have filled out a form for hardship to have my mailbox moved to the end of our drive from the other side of the road."
-- I'm not familiar with the carrier's line of travel ( LOT ), but that should not be a problem - aside from the carrier having to move your address in his case. In most cases, a hardship request requires the moving of the mailbox from the street or end of the driveway to a porch or actually on the home. In those cases, the carrier needs a place to park and or turn around in. In your situation, there should not even be a need for a dismount delivery - unless there are parcels too big for the mailbox.
-- Should the local postmaster deny your request, the request has to go up the "chain" to District to be reviewed.
-- If the approval process seems to be going s-l-o-w, contact your congressional representative and / or the local news citing the potential hazard to both of you in crossing the road to get your mail. ( of course, the great unknown is the amount of traffic along the roadway where your mailbox is located. )
-- Good luck.
-- It sure is! Backing up anywhere is highly frowned upon by the USPS.
"I have filled out a form for hardship to have my mailbox moved to the end of our drive from the other side of the road."
-- I'm not familiar with the carrier's line of travel ( LOT ), but that should not be a problem - aside from the carrier having to move your address in his case. In most cases, a hardship request requires the moving of the mailbox from the street or end of the driveway to a porch or actually on the home. In those cases, the carrier needs a place to park and or turn around in. In your situation, there should not even be a need for a dismount delivery - unless there are parcels too big for the mailbox.
-- Should the local postmaster deny your request, the request has to go up the "chain" to District to be reviewed.
-- If the approval process seems to be going s-l-o-w, contact your congressional representative and / or the local news citing the potential hazard to both of you in crossing the road to get your mail. ( of course, the great unknown is the amount of traffic along the roadway where your mailbox is located. )
-- Good luck.
Unclewolverine
Well-known member
If the carrier is only going down that road once, (95% of my route,) then just moving it to the other side of the road wouldn't be feasible.
Shannonboy
Well-known member
Deer Smearer
Well-known member
I wasn't supposing the carrier would actually do this; simply pull up to a box placed outside house, back up, head back down driveway. The "drive anywhere you want" might suppress that harping about backing. Most of our houses are farm, far up from the road, and always have a backup spot.
We have a great elderly lady that cannot possibly get her mail from the box at the gravel road. But, she was honest, and said that she does drive once a week or so to go to a doctor, etc. So the hardship denied. Now a neighbor is taking her mail most days.
Missed a scan
Well-known member
The new hardship form do not ask anything about driving. The old ones did.
Also with a Doctors note stating that the person needs to receive mail at the house, Let the PM know who's signature (a layer will want to know who denied this service after a Doctor ordered it) is on the denied service line once this hardship case has an injury going to or from the mailbox. Keep a copy for the records.
The Happy Friar
Well-known member
how's your relationship with your carrier? every hardship on my route has been approved (with paperwork) after the pm/super talked to me about safety issues & what not. I was told now it's approved in office vs always sending up so my pm/super said if the paper work is in order & it's safe for me to do then it's all good.
I'd normally stop by and talk to the customer about a good place for the box and we'd go over what I would/wouldn't do (IE if the box is next to the door & you're driveway isn't cleaned out of snow then no delivery).
I also refuse to do any hardship stuff until the paperwork is approved & the pm approves. I tell the customer it's a liability issue, which it is.
I'd normally stop by and talk to the customer about a good place for the box and we'd go over what I would/wouldn't do (IE if the box is next to the door & you're driveway isn't cleaned out of snow then no delivery).
I also refuse to do any hardship stuff until the paperwork is approved & the pm approves. I tell the customer it's a liability issue, which it is.
Thanks, I'll put this thru to the right folks and see what happens.
I don't like coddling, but everyone in the office agrees the person I cited was a deserving candidate. The fact that she's a great person only reinforces it. She's no complainer, just would like to get her mail without causing extra work from a neighbor.
