Last month, the United States Postal Service announced it awarded a contract to Oshkosh Defense to manufacture a new generation of postal delivery vehicles. It will be the first major upgrade to the USPS fleet in thirty years.
Oshkosh Defense, based in Oshkosh, W.I., will produce at least 50,000 to 165,000 trucks over 10 years. All the vehicles will be assembled in the United States. The Postal Service has a fleet of more than 230,000 vehicles, approximately 190,000 of which deliver mail six or seven days a week. The current mail-delivery trucks are Grumman LLVs manufactured between 1987 and 1994. They were only intended to have a have 24-year life span.
The exact design of the new vehicles has yet to be finalized, but it’s clear that these trucks will have a unique look. And while they may look funny, the vehicles were designed with safety in mind. The large windshield allows for increased visibility and eliminates the front blind spot. The low hood and bumper were designed to prevent pedestrian fatalities. Should one get hit by a truck, they are more likely to get stuck in the legs rather than the torso, a difference that could very likely safe their life. This comes at a time when pedestrian deaths are reaching record highs.
Other safety features found on the trucks include 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, air bags, a front- and rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warning and automatic braking.
The new fleet vehicles will also be environmentally friendly, equipped with either fuel-efficient internal combustion engines or battery electric powertrains. The trucks will also have increased cargo space allowing them to accommodate higher package volumes, thus reducing the number of trucks needed on the road.
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I agree the vehicles should be totally made in the US with American parts.
Total electric would be the best for the driving conditions that will serve for a long time and a safe time as well. I delivered mail for a long time and the carriers deserve a descent vehicle.
Did they include letter carriers that carried mail for at least 25 years in the north and south weather conditions..not…lots of wind resistance. Going to hit lots of branches..the design is all about putting more parcels in the vehicle
What happened to the all EV commitment? These trucks should definitely be electric. They will be lucky to find gas in 25 years.
I was a carrier for a while after retiring from the NYPD and I couldn’t believe the LLV’s and FFV’s were all rear wheel drive. I don’t know how many times I got stuck in snow and how many times I couldn’t make it up a hill in snow.
“Letter Carriers” worked fine back in the day, and in many locations would work well now. Nothing more healthy and environmentally positive than foot power. Never heard of a letter carrier trampling a pedestrian to death on a sidewalk.
As a retired postal carrier drove those things for 20 years anything is an improvement. The snow was the worst because she always needed chains. it was backbreaking because she couldn’t stand up in the back. And I hope the heat works in the darn thing. forget air conditioning because you’re driving with the window open for three or four hours.
What’s the price range? How do they go in the snow? Front wheel drive, 4 wheel drv, or 2 wheel? Hybrid would make sense.
I agree with others, 100% should be EV. Especially with the amount of stop and go that is extremely fuel inefficient.
They should be made in USA (not just assembled)!
That windshield will cost a fortune if it ever needs to be replaced!
Why are they even considering combustion engines. They should be going only EV. Get in the game USPS!
YES. Who cares how they look- shouldn’t fuel efficiency come first? Ease off the gas, USPS.
i would think so!
New truck design is very rational. A significant design improvement.