National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1

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151 - Mail and message distribution occupations

This minor group includes mail, postal and related workers, letter carriers, couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors. They are employed by Canada Post Corporation, courier and parcel express companies and establishments throughout the public and private sectors.

1511 - Mail, postal and related workers

This unit group includes workers who process and sort mail and parcels in post offices, mail processing plants and internal mail rooms, and clerks who serve customers and record transactions at sales counters and postal wickets. Mail, postal and related workers are employed by Canada Post Corporation, courier and parcel express companies and establishments throughout the public and private sectors.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • bus parcel express clerk
    • express mail service clerk
    • mail clerk
    • mail room clerk
    • mail sorter
    • postal clerk
    • postal counter clerk
    • postal wicket clerk
    • railway mail clerk

    All examples

  • Inclusion(s)

    • bursting machine tender
  • Exclusion(s)

    • Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors (See 1513 Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors)
    • Letter carriers (See 1512 Letter carriers)
    • Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations (See 1214 Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations)
  • Main duties

    The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:

    • Postal workers calculate and affix the correct postage on letters, parcels and registered mail and receive payment from customers; sell stamps, prepaid mail and courier envelopes and money orders; route mail to the proper delivery stream; sign or obtain signatures from recipients for registered or special delivery mail and keep records; answer inquiries and complete forms regarding change of address, theft or loss of mail; and record and balance daily transactions.
    • Mail sorters sort mail according to destination; bundle, label, bag and route sorted mail to the proper delivery stream; and search directories to find the correct address for redirected mail.
    • Mailroom clerks receive, process, sort and distribute incoming and outgoing mail, faxes, messages and courier packages manually or electronically; maintain address databases and produce personalized mailings; print and photocopy material, and address and stuff envelopes; weigh outgoing mail, calculate and affix proper postage, and bundle by postal code; and may operate and maintain print shop and mailing house equipment.
  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school and some college office administration courses may be required.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory or facility management positions is possible with additional training or experience.

1512 - Letter carriers

Letter carriers sort and deliver mail, record delivery of registered mail and collect money for cash-on-delivery parcels. Letter carriers are employed by Canada Post Corporation.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • letter carrier
    • postman/woman
    • rural mail carrier

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors (See 1513 Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors)
    • Letter carrier supervisors (See 1214 Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations)
    • Mail, postal and related workers (See 1511 Mail, postal and related workers)
  • Main duties

    Letter carriers perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Organize mail by address and load into mailbag
    • Deliver letters, small parcels and other printed matter along established routes
    • Deliver telegrams, special delivery and express mail
    • Collect payment for cash-on-delivery service
    • Record delivery of registered mail
    • Leave notices indicating that items could not be delivered and the location where they can be picked up
    • Return undeliverable mail to postal station.
  • Employment requirements

    • Some secondary school education is required.
    • Two weeks to one month of training is provided by Canada Post Corporation.
  • Additional information

    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with additional training or experience.

1513 - Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors pick up and deliver letters, parcels, packages, newspapers, flyers and other items within and between establishments. They are employed by courier service companies and other establishments throughout the private and public sectors.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • bank messenger
    • courier
    • delivery person - courier service
    • door-to-door distributor
    • flyer distributor - courier service
    • newspaper carrier
    • runner - courier service

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Delivery and courier service drivers (See 7514 Delivery and courier service drivers)
    • Letter carriers (See 1512 Letter carriers)
    • Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations (See 1214 Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations)
  • Main duties

    Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors perform some or all of the following duties:

    • Pick up messages, letters, envelopes, parcels, airline tickets, legal documents, packages, bonds, cheques, securities and other items from customers, and hand-deliver them to addresses within an establishment or in other establishments by walking or cycling within prescribed time periods
    • Collect payment for items delivered
    • Keep record of items received and delivered using delivery information acquisition devices
    • Deliver newspapers, flyers, handbills, telephone directories and similar items to residences and businesses.
  • Employment requirements

    • Secondary school education may be required.
    • Eligibility for bonding may be required.
    • Ability to navigate streets and follow directions is usually required.
    • Physical fitness is required for some occupations in this unit group.
  • Additional information

    • There is some mobility into other delivery occupations such as delivery drivers.
    • There may be mobility to clerical occupations within the company.
    • Progression to supervisory positions may be possible with experience.
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