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New mail trucks approved, on the road in 2023

James Raia

After many years of negotiating, the USPS will soon have a new flees of mail trucks.

It’s modern, considerably safer, cooler when needed and has a front end that resembles a duck beak. It’s all good. The ancient U.S. Postal Service mail trucks are finally on their way out and new vehicles are on their way in.

After years of consideration and proposals, Oshkosh Defense has been awarded the contract to build the next USPS fleet.

After many years of negotiating, the USPS will soon have a new flees of mail trucks.
After many years of negotiations, the USPS will soon have a new fleet of mail trucks.

Under the contract’s initial $482 million investment, Oshkosh Defense will finalize the production design of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV). It’s a purpose-built, right-hand-drive vehicle for mail and package delivery. Between 50,000 and 165,000 of the trucks will be manufactured in the next 10 years.

The new mail trucks, some with internal combustion engines, some with battery-electric systems, will be significantly larger than the current fleet of 230,000 vehicles throughout the country. The new design consists of a waste-high front hood that resembles the front beak of a duck in front of an extra-high windshield.

New mail trucks: 165,000 in 1o years

The vehicles can be retrofitted to keep pace with advances in electric vehicle technologies. The initial investment includes plant tooling and build-out for the U.S. manufacturing facility where final vehicle assembly will occur.

Additional safety features will be a top priority in the new fleet and the trucks will have air conditioning. Most current postal delivery trucks don’t have air conditioning

The NGDV vehicles will also have heating, improved ergonomics and advanced vehicle technology. It will include 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, airbags, a front-and-rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warning and automatic braking. The trucks will also have increased cargo capacities.

Grumman LLV mail trucks have been used but the USPS since the late 1980s, with some in service for more than 30 years.

Oshkosh Defense, based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a global leader in the design, production and sustainment of best-in-class military vehicles and mobility systems. It develops and applies emerging technologies that advance troop safety and mission success.

It’s now also in the mail service business. The first new vehicles are expected to begin delivering mail in 2023.

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Article Last Updated: February 26, 2021.

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