Any postal workers on the board? Got a question or two...

Sadly it does sound like the carrier is the problem.

I subbed on a very rural route and one time took a package to the house - maybe a 1/4 mile away - and the lady was dumbfounded I delivered the package. The regular carrier was too lazy and always left a notice to go pick it up at the PO. After I had my own route (part rural and part in town), that 40 lb large flat rate box would have certainly been delivered to the front door.