Delivery trucks are an iconic site in the U.S. We always see the small white Grumman LLV trucks on the roads, but that’s about to change. It appears as if new trucks with a slightly different and updated appearance are coming. The next truck will be called the NGDV, or Next Generation Delivery Vehicle. This design and function became the winning bid for new USPS trucks in 2018.
The previous truck was designed to have a 24-year long lifespan and have been made since 1987. The problem with these trucks is they’ve had a lack of amenities and newer technologies. With no air conditions, anti-lock brakes, and other things current vehicles have, driving these monsters has been tough on postal workers. Especially in the heat of summer.
The NGDV won the $6.3 billion contract in which 180,000 new delivery trucks will be built in the next 5-7 years. The main thing the USPS was looking for was value. That ultimately means they want the best truck they could get for as little money as it could cost. Hopefully that doesn’t mean certain features are excluded.
This particular truck will have a few good things about it, like an option to go all-wheel drive if needed in the winter and driving on the right-hand side once again. The type of powertrain wasn’t specified as of yet, but the cargo capacity is 1,500 pounds.
USPS Splitting the Bill
In order to get the new USPS trucks out faster, the agency is looking to potentially splitting the large contract between different manufacturers. Of course, this news hasn’t yet been confirmed. These types of deals are often made private, but there have been multiple prototypes spotted so far this year. This is what’s taking so long. USPS is testing the different types of trucks to see which performs the best for their price.
Other manufacturers were in the running as well. One in particular, AM General, tried to get electric trucks on the roads, but they dropped out. It was obvious the USPS wouldn’t go for the more expensive electric variety, even though it would go a long way in helping to reduce carbon emissions. Hundreds of thousands of mail trucks making their routes daily across the country.
While this is interesting news, we most likely won’t see the rollout of any new trucks for the next several years. The contract isn’t set to start until next year at the earliest. But, if the USPS can get several factories quickly building them, we might get them sooner rather than later.
