Postal workers brave the elements daily to deliver your mail, but obstacles like snow and ice can cause disruptions to service.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 visited USPS on Pittsburgh’s North Side for a look at how winter storms can impact mail delivery.“They will get delivery, but we’ve got to work safely, safety over everything,” Vehicle Maintenance Facilities Manager, Aaron Thorne, said.”It’s as simple as that,” Thorne said. He manages USPS vehicle maintenance facilities in the Pittsburgh area, making sure any mail carrier trucks or tractor-trailers are repaired quickly and back on the road when breakdowns happen, or batteries die in extreme weather.“We’re not going to put a carrier in an unsafe position by having them go on a slippery slope to slip and get hurt,” Thorne said.USPS Driving Safety Instructor Paul Stitch showed Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 what might hinder a safe and efficient mail delivery.“There’s no access to it, because it was plowed into… the snow was plowed against it. We have no access to that mailbox. There would have to be a clear path here to safely make that type of delivery,” Stitch said.Stitch explained that even if you clear a foot path to the mailbox, but there is too much snow for the truck to pull up to the mailbox, the delivery might still be hindered. He said it is then up to the carrier’s discretion whether they want to dismount the truck and get out to make that delivery on foot.“We would be unable to make all our deliveries if we had to dismount the truck every single time,” Stitch said.He suggests completely shoveling the snow around the mailbox to allow a truck to pull up to it or pick up your mail at the post office.Strategic Communications Specialist for USPS Mark Wahl said while USPS carriers are good at their jobs, the public can help them do their job more safely.“Our carriers are well-versed. They know how to carry the mail, what precautions to take, hand warmers, non-slip shoes, and when to get out of the vehicle if they have to get out. A lot of slip, trips, and falls happen whenever we have to get out of our vehicle, if the path is not cleared for mounted delivery. Now, if we have house delivery, the steps, the handrails, of course, they have to be cleared,” Wahl said. “Our number one priority is the safety, not only for our employees, but for our customers as well, who have to go out and get their mail.”Wahl explained that USPS offers a way to track what’s coming in order to be prepared.“We have a free app called Informed Delivery. It’s free. Go on USPS.com. You see visual pictures of your packages and your letters coming, so if you know you have a package coming, then, clear a path. Or if you can’t, go on our website, usps.com, under ‘receive tools,’ and you can hold your mail,” Wahl said.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Postal workers brave the elements daily to deliver your mail, but obstacles like snow and ice can cause disruptions to service.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 visited USPS on Pittsburgh’s North Side for a look at how winter storms can impact mail delivery.
“They will get delivery, but we’ve got to work safely, safety over everything,” Vehicle Maintenance Facilities Manager, Aaron Thorne, said.
“It’s as simple as that,” Thorne said.
He manages USPS vehicle maintenance facilities in the Pittsburgh area, making sure any mail carrier trucks or tractor-trailers are repaired quickly and back on the road when breakdowns happen, or batteries die in extreme weather.
“We’re not going to put a carrier in an unsafe position by having them go on a slippery slope to slip and get hurt,” Thorne said.
USPS Driving Safety Instructor Paul Stitch showed Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 what might hinder a safe and efficient mail delivery.
“There’s no access to it, because it was plowed into… the snow was plowed against it. We have no access to that mailbox. There would have to be a clear path here to safely make that type of delivery,” Stitch said.
Stitch explained that even if you clear a foot path to the mailbox, but there is too much snow for the truck to pull up to the mailbox, the delivery might still be hindered. He said it is then up to the carrier’s discretion whether they want to dismount the truck and get out to make that delivery on foot.
“We would be unable to make all our deliveries if we had to dismount the truck every single time,” Stitch said.
He suggests completely shoveling the snow around the mailbox to allow a truck to pull up to it or pick up your mail at the post office.
Strategic Communications Specialist for USPS Mark Wahl said while USPS carriers are good at their jobs, the public can help them do their job more safely.
“Our carriers are well-versed. They know how to carry the mail, what precautions to take, hand warmers, non-slip shoes, and when to get out of the vehicle if they have to get out. A lot of slip, trips, and falls happen whenever we have to get out of our vehicle, if the path is not cleared for mounted delivery. Now, if we have house delivery, the steps, the handrails, of course, they have to be cleared,” Wahl said. “Our number one priority is the safety, not only for our employees, but for our customers as well, who have to go out and get their mail.”
Wahl explained that USPS offers a way to track what’s coming in order to be prepared.
“We have a free app called Informed Delivery. It’s free. Go on USPS.com. You see visual pictures of your packages and your letters coming, so if you know you have a package coming, then, clear a path. Or if you can’t, go on our website, usps.com, under ‘receive tools,’ and you can hold your mail,” Wahl said.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.