Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators

Direct items according to established routing schemes, using computer-controlled keyboards or voice-recognition equipment.

Check items to ensure that addresses are legible and correct, that sufficient postage has been paid or the appropriate documentation is attached, and that items are in a suitable condition for processing.

Clear jams in sorting equipment.

Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.

Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.

Move containers of mail, using equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains".

Open and label mail containers.

Load and unload mail trucks, sometimes lifting containers of mail onto equipment that transports items to sorting stations.

Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.

Distribute incoming mail into the correct boxes or pigeonholes.

Rewrap soiled or broken parcels.

Train new workers.

Dump sacks of mail onto conveyors for culling and sorting.

Search directories to find correct addresses for redirected mail.

Weigh articles to determine required postage.

Cancel letter or parcel post stamps by hand.

Accept and check containers of mail from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.