Some mail boxes need relocated

To the Editor:

Letter carriers take pride in delivering mail promptly, efficiently, and in the safest manner possible. Backing is the most dangerous maneuver a postal vehicle can make. An effort has been made nationally to eliminate as many backing instances as possible on each and every postal route. This is being done for the safety of our employees as well as our customers.

With the review of delivery points on each and every route, some mail receptacle locations are being requested to be re-located to a safer location to ensure the safety of our employees and customers. Oftentimes this requires re-locating a mail receptacle, currently located in a customer driveway, to a curb side location. This eliminates the need for postal vehicles to back to make delivery while allowing the safest and most efficient delivery possible. 

After review, some mail receptacles may be identified as a possible safety hazard, due to delivery requiring the postal vehicle to back; exponentially increasing the risk of an accident. To protect our carriers, as well as the general public, customers may be asked to relocate to curb line, thus eliminating the unsafe backing needed to make daily delivery.  

Moving the mail receptacle to curb line delivery not only eliminates our carriers from having to back, but also will keep postal vehicles out of the driveway, eliminating any risk of damage to customer property as well as postal property.

While the United States Postal Services strives to provide top notch customer service, employee and customer safety is paramount. No one wants to inconvenience the customer, but we must ensure the safety of our carriers and customers. Together, we can eliminate the risk involved of and accident as a result of postal vehicles being in customer driveways and needing to back.

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation in this matter.  Working together, we can ensure we continue to provide safe and efficient service to all our customers.  

Sincerely, 

Jessica Chavarria
Van Wert Postmaster 
via email