PORT ANGELES — Some rural mailbox owners may need to get out measuring tapes and toolboxes to make sure their mailboxes meet the height requirements for new mail-delivery vehicles.
The U.S. Postal Service in Port Angeles only is providing rural-mail-route carriers with used delivery trucks previously driven by in-town carriers, and many of the rural boxes, set up for delivery from passenger cars used by many carriers, are too low for the new trucks, said Ernie Swanson, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service Seattle District.
42-45 inches high
For passenger car deliveries, the bottom of rural mailboxes should be between 36 and 42 inches from the roadbed, but for the new trucks, the boxes should be between 42 and 45 inches high, Swanson said.
The box should not protrude into the street, where it might obstruct pedestrians or vehicles, but not be so far from the road that the carrier has to get out of his or her vehicle, he said.
He added that it also is helpful if a group of neighbors cluster their mailboxes in a single area, which makes mail delivery more efficient.
Seven routes already have received their trucks, while another five are expected to get the trucks as they become available, he said.
Rural route carriers who use their own private vehicles are paid by the mile for fuel and maintenance, and the switch to trucks will end those payments, he said, adding that there is no expected cost or savings for the post office associated with the change.
Only USPS-approved boxes should be used, which are clearly marked with “U.S. Mail: approved by the Postmaster General” on the mailbox, often on the door.
Swanson said decorative or novelty mailboxes usually are allowed — as long as they meet the basic standards for access and seal properly to keep mail dry.
Many hardware stores sell approved locking mailboxes, he added, which can help combat mail theft.
“Mail theft is a major issue these days,” he said.
Postal customers should bring in their mail every day, and if they go on a trip, they should put a hold on their mail while they are gone, he said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
