Postal Exam 474 key terms

An hourly postal craft employee who unloads trucks and containers, moves mail and equipment, and sorts mail by hand or machine in a processing plant, often working nights, weekends, and rotating shifts.

Sorting mail by hand into the labeled slots of a sorting case so that each slot holds the mail for one route, ZIP code, or destination group.

A written sorting plan showing which case slot or container each destination belongs in; handlers memorize schemes so they can sort quickly without stopping to look things up.

Mail pieces too large or stiff to run as ordinary letters, such as magazines, catalogs, and large envelopes, which are handled separately from standard letter mail.

A package or bulky mail piece handled outside letter sorting equipment, usually sorted by hand, scanned, and moved on hampers, pallets, or conveyors.

A deep, stackable plastic container used to move loose mail, small parcels, or supplies between work areas so the contents stay together and undamaged.

A low wooden or plastic platform on which containers or sacks of mail are stacked so a forklift or pallet jack can move the entire load at once.

A large wheeled container, usually canvas or wire, used to collect and move mail around a dock or plant floor.

The raised platform area where trailers back in for loading and unloading; handlers cross it constantly and must watch for moving vehicles, forklifts, and equipment.

The process of loading outgoing mail onto the correct trailer or truck and sending it out, which must be completed before the scheduled departure time.

The latest time a load of mail can be accepted for a given departure and still arrive on schedule; missing the cut-off delays the mail and can trigger a service failure.

Placing containers of mail in a designated area in the order they will be loaded or processed, so the next step in the flow is quick and organized.

Delivery Point Sequencing: automated sorting that arranges letter mail in the exact order a carrier walks or drives the route, eliminating manual sorting at the delivery unit.

A five- or nine-digit number identifying a delivery area, used to route mail to the correct facility, sector, or carrier route.

Instructions printed on or attached to a mail piece, such as Return to Sender or Address Service Requested, telling handlers what to do when the item cannot be delivered as addressed.

An undeliverable mail piece with an incorrect, incomplete, or illegible address that must be returned, forwarded, or sent to a mail recovery center according to its endorsement.

Mail that must be tracked and controlled at every step, such as registered, certified, insured, and express items, because it carries value or proof of delivery.

A high-security service in which each item is logged at every handling point and kept in a secured area, so a handler must sign for it and protect it at all times.

Automated equipment that reads barcodes and address information and directs mail into bins by destination; handlers load it, clear jams, and remove sorted mail.

Using a handheld or fixed reader to record a barcode so a mail piece's location and status are captured in the tracking system.

Moving loads by bending the knees, keeping the back straight, gripping firmly, and getting help or using equipment for heavy or awkward items to prevent injury.

Personal protective equipment such as safety shoes, gloves, high-visibility vests, and hearing protection that handlers wear to reduce the risk of injury on the job.

The record of past jobs, dates, duties, and employers that a candidate lists on an application and may be asked to explain during an interview.

Abilities gained in one job or setting, such as sorting, lifting, teamwork, or following written procedures, that also apply to mail handling work.

A pre-employment review of records such as criminal history and employment verification, sometimes including driving or credit records, completed before a postal job offer is final.

People, usually former supervisors, who can confirm a candidate's work history and describe their reliability, attendance, and conduct on the job.

Arriving on time, every scheduled day, and completing assigned work without close supervision, which matters because mail processing runs on fixed schedules and tight cut-offs.

Carefully checking addresses, labels, and container numbers so mail reaches the right place, since one small error can misroute a whole tray or container.

Coordinating with co-workers to load, sort, and move mail safely, including pitching in when a task is heavy or must be finished before a deadline.

Adjusting to changing schedules, assignments, equipment, and procedures without losing pace or accuracy, which matters in plants that run around the clock.

Noticing what needs doing, such as a spill, a jammed machine, or a shortage of empty containers, and acting before being told, within the rules of the job.

Following rules honestly, especially around accountable mail, timekeeping, and security, even when no supervisor is watching.

Habitually watching for hazards such as forklifts, wet floors, and unstable stacks, and following safe procedures and equipment rules without being reminded.

An honest description of actual working conditions, such as heavy lifting, night shifts, cold docks, and noise, so candidates can judge whether they want the job before accepting.

The scheduled shift a postal employee is assigned, including start and end times and days off; new hires often receive less desirable tours until they gain seniority.

A trial period at the start of employment during which a new hire's performance, attendance, and conduct are evaluated and the appointment can be ended more easily.

A job category within the postal service, such as mail handler, clerk, carrier, or maintenance, each with its own duties, pay rules, and union representation.

An employee's length of service within a craft, used to decide preference when bidding for schedules, assignments, and vacation periods.

The negotiated contract between the postal service and a union that sets wages, schedules, leave, and grievance procedures for employees in a craft.