USPS’ Highly Anticipated New Mail Truck Debuts to Enthusiastic Feedback from Carriers
The Postal Service’s latest delivery vehicles may not win any design awards.
They’re tall and unwieldy, with expansive windshields, hoods resembling duck bills, and oversized bumpers.
“The designers weren’t focused on aesthetics,” postal worker Avis Stonum noted.
Despite their unconventional look, the initial batch of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles, which began operating in Athens in August, is receiving high praise from letter carriers who were used to the older, troublesome models that lacked modern safety features and frequently broke down—or even caught fire.
In a few years, the fleet will grow to 60,000, with most being electric, serving as the primary mail trucks from Maine to Hawaii.
These new vehicles are vital to the Postal Service’s 10-year, $40 billion overhaul led by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. This transformation also includes upgrading facilities, revamping the processing and transportation network, and other improvements.
The current fleet, known as Grumman Long Life Vehicles from 1987, has far exceeded its intended 25-year lifespan. They are notorious for their noise, poor fuel efficiency (9 mpg), and high maintenance costs.
They become unbearably hot in summer with only a primary electric fan for cooling. While designed to help drivers see around the vehicle, their mirrors are prone to misalignment. Nearly 100 of these vehicles caught fire last year, posing risks to carriers and mail.
The new trucks, built by Oshkosh Defense in South Carolina, prioritize comfort, safety, and utility. Carriers, even tall ones, can stand upright and move from front to back without hitting their heads.
The trucks have modern safety features such as airbags, 360-degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors, and anti-lock brakes—missing in the old models. They also have air conditioning, a feature many drivers in hot climates have longed for.
Stonum described the air conditioning as “heavenly.” At the same time, fellow driver Richard Burton appreciated the larger cargo space and the ability to stand upright, which helps avoid back pain and reduces the risk of breakdowns.
Brian Renfroe, president of the National Letter Carriers Association, said union members are excited about the new vehicles, just as they were when the Grummans replaced the old Jeeps. He praised DeJoy for the urgency in getting these trucks into production.
The rollout faced initial challenges, particularly from environmentalists upset that 90% of the first order would be gas-powered. Lawsuits demanded the Postal Service increase its electric fleet to cut emissions.
DeJoy explained that while he supported electric vehicles, the costs of the cars and the infrastructure needed for charging stations were prohibitive given the agency’s financial struggles. However, a meeting with President Biden’s environmental adviser, John Podesta, led to a $3 billion government funding deal, part of which was designated for electric charging stations.
In December 2022, DeJoy announced the Postal Service‘s plan to acquire 106,000 vehicles by 2028, including 60,000 of the next-gen models—45,000 of them electric—and 21,000 additional electric vehicles. He committed to making all new purchases electric starting in 2026.
Katherine García of the Sierra Club, which had sued the Postal Service, welcomed the increased electric vehicle purchases. “With the climate crisis pressing, electrifying the US government’s largest fleet represents the progress we need,” she said.
The Postal Service aims to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 through electric vehicles, optimized mail routes, and other changes. The route adjustments are also expected to lower costs.
According to DeJoy, this summer, the Postal Service’s environmental efforts were recognized with a Presidential Federal Sustainability Award, marking the conclusion of a challenging period.
He sees the award as a testament to the agency’s ability to navigate complex issues and emphasizes the importance of perseverance: “It comes from forging forward. Keep moving.
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