The new USPS vehicles are starting to hit the roads, and the look is surprisingly comical! The USPS “Next Generation Vehicle” mail trucks will eventually be coming to a town near you. The trucks are part of an initiative to become an entirely electric fleet.
The current fleet of trucks dates back to 1987 and came with an expected lifespan of 25 years. While most of the existing fleet has outlasted that lifespan – it is time for a more modern mail truck. The current mail trucks offer poor mileage, are costly to maintain, have no air conditioning, and have no safety features.
Almost 100 of the old Grumman Long Life Vehicles have also caught fire over the last year, putting drivers at risk.
It is a perfect time to introduce a new mail truck.
The duck-like trucks have a few more modern-day features than their antiquated ancestor. Blind spot detection, collision sensors, and 360-degree cameras are just a few of the features on the new trucks.
Drivers will also enjoy air conditioning, which is way overdue.
These new delivery trucks are not the pretties of trucks with oversized windshields and hoods that look like duck bills. The giant bumpers are also not going to win any beauty pageants.
The truck’s increased height looks funny with the low front end. But there is a good reason for that height. The new trucks offer more space for carriers to move around. They won’t hit their heads and don’t have to bend as much as the current vehicle. This design will help reduce back issues and head injuries.
The design of the windows was also purposeful. They were designed to be more impact-absorbent to protect drivers in a collision.
While they might not be pretty, it seems letter carriers are extremely happy with the new trucks and are giving them rave reviews. The trucks are part of the agency’s $40 billion transformation goal.
The transformation includes overhauling mail trucks, outdated facilities, processing networks, and more.
The new trucks are being built in South Carolina by Oshkosh Defense.
It is estimated that the changes the USPS is making will reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. That vehicle just became so much prettier didn’t it?
Source: AP News
