Is there a mailbox clearance form before we get NGDVs?

[CRG6]

At our office we are beginning to receive the new vehicles, but I have quite a few addresses or even whole streets in certain developments that are unserviceable due to low hanging tree branches near the mailboxes and along the road. Not to mention the basketball hoops and other obstacles, that are currently not an issue with the LLV, but will be with NGDV

I was wondering if there is any kind of official form to request customers to trim the trees and clear the obstacles on their property that would obstruct access to their boxes.

Before anyone asks, yes i asked my postmaster and she suggested to me to just drive through the branches and who cares if the vehicle gets banged up. But I know for a fact some branches are so large or heavy that they would smash the windshield and im sure id be written up for it. So i’m refusing that option. I also dont just want to hold peoples mail without informing them. I want to get ahead of this and warn customers to give them adequate time to accommodate. Any suggestions would be helpful!

 

[neciat]

There are a couple you could use.

https://ruralinfo.net/shared-files/104116645/?PS-Form-4056-Your-mailbox-needs-attention.pdf

 

[jaymacgthree]

Before anyone asks, yes i asked my postmaster and she suggested to me to just drive through the branches and who cares if the vehicle gets banged up. But I know for a fact some branches are so large or heavy that they would smash the windshield and im sure id be written up for it. So i’m refusing that option. I also dont just want to hold peoples mail without informing them. I want to get ahead of this and warn customers to give them adequate time to accommodate. Any suggestions would be helpful!

I would also request your Postmaster's instructions in writing so that they are documented, given she demonstrates such a high regard for the safety of carriers and Postal Service owned property.

 

[Worve]

Boulevards and trees shrubs are city jurisdiction if within city limits. PM needs to contact local city and have them dealt with. The other obstacles are customers to deal with and neciats form should be sufficient.

 

[CRG6]

There are a couple you could use.

https://ruralinfo.net/shared-files/104116645/?PS-Form-4056-Your-mailbox-needs-attention.pdf

Thanks. Yeah i’ve seen all of these and will probably be sending them out en masse to my customers. But none really address the tree branches issue specifically.

 

[CRG6]

I would also request your Postmaster's instructions in writing so that they are documented, given she demonstrates such a high regard for the safety of carriers and Postal Service owned property.

Ha yes i’ve considered getting it in writing as well. But ultimately i’ve decided that willingly driving through a large low hanging branch that could potentially break the windshield would be unsafe and know she can’t make me do it. So i just refuse.

 

[CRG6]

Boulevards and trees shrubs are city jurisdiction if within city limits. PM needs to contact local city and have them dealt with. The other obstacles are customers to deal with and neciats form should be sufficient.

Interesting. So you’re saying that the strip of grass located between the sidewalk and the street are the owners responsibility, but if the tree branches are hanging over onto the street thats the townships responsibility? That doesn’t seem right to me. I would think the owners have to maintain it and if someone were to damage their vehicle on it it would be the homeowners fault.

 

[btdtret]

CRG6 -- "I was wondering if there is any kind of official form to request customers to trim the trees and clear the obstacles on their property that would obstruct access to their boxes."

-- Check county / city / HOA laws or regulations for who is responsible for overhanging tree branches.

-- Print out "neciat's" Notice 38 and high light the section:

- Removing trash cans, snow, vehicles, and ANY OTHER OBJECTS from the area allows the carrier to deliver your mail safely and efficiently without exiting the vehicle.

-- Notice 38 does not need the PM's signature as does Form 4056 ( Your Mailbox Needs Attention )

-- However Form 4056 does has #9: The approach to your box should be kept clear of snow, vehicles, and OTHER OBSTACLES. High light #9.

-- Try Notice 38 first, then follow up with the 4056 if the customer(s) won't clear the branches.

-- To get the PM to sign off on the 4056, take pictures of the NGDV and the offending branch.

-- To further endear yourself to manglement, request multiple Notice 38 and Form 4056. If none are "available" in the office, that is a grievance. Cite the PO-603's Section 142.3, which states the USPS supplies all additional necessary equipment, supplies, and FORMS. Maybe manglement would be willing to put in writing that the Notice 38 and Form 4056 are "unnecessary".

 

[CRG6]

CRG6 -- "I was wondering if there is any kind of official form to request customers to trim the trees and clear the obstacles on their property that would obstruct access to their boxes."

-- Check county / city / HOA laws or regulations for who is responsible for overhanging tree branches.

-- Print out "neciat's" Notice 38 and high light the section:

- Removing trash cans, snow, vehicles, and ANY OTHER OBJECTS from the area allows the carrier to deliver your mail safely and efficiently without exiting the vehicle.

-- Notice 38 does not need the PM's signature as does Form 4056 ( Your Mailbox Needs Attention )

-- However Form 4056 does has #9: The approach to your box should be kept clear of snow, vehicles, and OTHER OBSTACLES. High light #9.

-- Try Notice 38 first, then follow up with the 4056 if the customer(s) won't clear the branches.

-- To get the PM to sign off on the 4056, take pictures of the NGDV and the offending branch.

-- To further endear yourself to manglement, request multiple Notice 38 and Form 4056. If none are "available" in the office, that is a grievance. Cite the PO-603's Section 142.3, which states the USPS supplies all additional necessary equipment, supplies, and FORMS. Maybe manglement would be willing to put in writing that the Notice 38 and Form 4056 are "unnecessary".

Great ideas thank you. I’ll definitely be taking a look into the township and seeing who is responsible.

 

[btdtret]

CRG6 -- yw.

-- As the old LLVs were are a bit over 7 ft high and the NGDV is over 9 ft, you should be concerned about possible damage to the new vehicles from offending tree branches or limbs.

-- To protect your "assets", best to document your concerns about each low branch possibly damaging the NGDV when making a delivery with a dated memo to manglement. Of course, keeping a copy for future reference, as manglement's copy may be "lost" when needed.

-- And if the Notice 38 or Form 4056 don't get the desired results, there is the Form 1767 ( Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice ), which requires manglement to sign and to note action taken - usually within 24 hours of receipt.

-- Back in the day, I detested basketball goals as the net would sometimes get caught on the LLV's side mirror.

 

[Worve]

Interesting. So you’re saying that the strip of grass located between the sidewalk and the street are the owners responsibility, but if the tree branches are hanging over onto the street thats the townships responsibility? That doesn’t seem right to me. I would think the owners have to maintain it and if someone were to damage their vehicle on it it would be the homeowners fault.

It’s completely dependent on city and what portion they consider city property vs home owners. If someone gets hurt the city is never responsible it always lands on property owner. The trees are usually maintained by the city, but can be done by homeowners. I suggested contacting city so homeowners don’t need to necessarily do the work or pay for it themselves. A way to get it taken care of without causing any hardship on customers.