Once the mail has been processed and sorted, it is ready to be delivered by mail carriers. Duties of city and rural carriers are very similar. Most travel established routes delivering and collecting mail. Mail carriers start work at the post office early in the morning, where they spend a few hours arranging their mail in delivery sequence and taking care of other details. Recently, automated equipment has reduced the time needed to sort the mail, allowing mail carriers to spend more time delivering mail.
Carriers cover their routes on foot, by vehicle, or a combination of both.
On foot, they carry a heavy load of mail in a satchel or push it in a cart. In some urban and most rural areas, they use a car or small truck. Although the Postal Service may provide vehicles to city carriers, most rural carriers use their own automobiles. Besides delivering and collecting mail, carriers collect money for postage-due and c.o.d. If a customer is not home, the carrier leaves a notice that tells where special mail is being held.