New USPS Trucks (Who Makes Them, How Much, What Are They Called + More)

USPS has been using the same boxy, dorky-looking mail trucks since 1987. While ugly, these trucks have proven their worth over the past 30-plus years. Still, many of them are on the last legs. That’s why USPS has pledged to purchase thousands of new trucks.

These trucks, appropriately named Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), will have comprehensive safety features and be optimized for package delivery. If you’re curious about who’s making these new trucks and how much they’ll cost, then make sure to keep reading!

Where Do the New USPS Trucks Come from In 2024?

USPS officially announced its plans for a new fleet of mail trucks on February 23, 2021, which are in progress in 2024. Wisconsin-based contractor Oshkosh Defense was awarded the contract to deliver between 50,000 and 160,000 trucks between 2023 and 2033. USPS initially pledged $482 million to design and prepare the trucks for manufacturing.

We’ve got a lot more information to share about the new USPS trucks, so be sure to check out our guide for more facts and tips!

Is USPS Getting New Trucks?

USPS announced its official plans to introduce new mail delivery vehicles on February 23, 2021.

Trucks will be released over a 10-year period and represent the most dramatic modernization of the USPS fleet in 30 years.

Who Is Making the New USPS Trucks?

USPS awarded defense contractor Oshkosh Defense the contract to produce the new Postal Service vehicles, aptly called Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs).

Oshkosh Defense is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and has other contracts with the United States military.

It won the contract in accordance with the Postal Service’s procurement policies in a process that included the following:

  • Extensive testing of prototype vehicles
  • Evaluation of production proposals
  • Discussions about the technical specifications

Oshkosh was selected over two other companies, Workhorse, an Ohio-based startup offering an all-electric option, and Karsan, a Turkish company offering a plug-in hybrid design.

While Oshkosh Defense will be responsible for most of the design and manufacturing of the vehicles, the Ford company will be building engines, transmissions, and other components.

How Many New Trucks Is USPS Getting?

USPS has a contract with Oshkosh for somewhere between 50,000 and 160,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs).

This range is a feature of the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract signed by the two parties.

Under this agreement, the Postal Service will have the ongoing ability to order more NGDVs over a fixed period of time (10 years in this case).

When Are USPS’ New Trucks Being Released?

When Are USPS’ New Trucks Being Released?

If all goes according to plan (as USPS’ first initial order of 50,000 units in March 2022 suggests),

the first NGDVs are estimated to appear on carrier routes in 2023.

More will be released over a 10-year period ending in 2033.

How Much Will USPS’ New Trucks Cost?

USPS’ contract came with an initial $482 million award to cover the cost of design and manufacturing preparation.

This investment also includes plant tooling and build-out for the US-based manufacturing facility where final vehicle assembly will occur.

Purchasing the actual vehicles will likely cost around $10 billion in total.

What Features Will USPS’ New Trucks Have?

Oshkosh’s Next Generation Delivery Vehicles will include a number of comfort and safety features.

Some of these features include:

  • Air conditioning and heating
  • Airbags
  • Backup and 360-degree cameras
  • Electric parking brake
  • Advanced braking and traction control
  • A front- and rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual and audio warnings, as well as automatic braking
  • Increased cargo capacity to maximize efficiency and better accommodate higher package volumes.

All of these features are pretty much set in stone, but there is one element of the NGDV that’s being contested- the engine.

Oshkosh has proposed options for both an internal combustion engine and a battery-electric powertrain. It remains to be seen how many of each type will be produced.

Is USPS Switching to Electric Vehicles?

Some of USPS’ new vehicles are going to be electric, but it remains unclear just how many. 

In the initial proposal, Oshkosh provided options for both an internal combustion engine and a battery-electric powertrain.

Internal combustion engines would be cheaper, while the electric models would be more environmentally-friendly.

USPS initially pledged to make at least 10% of the fleet electric, but the initial order of 50,000 vehicles in March 2022 included 20% electric vehicles.

That means about 10,019 units will be battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Despite this move towards a greener Postal Service fleet, some lawmakers maintain that it’s not good enough. In fact, many Democratic lawmakers have pushed for a 75% electric vehicle rate.

Only time will tell how many NGDVs will end up using electric power. In the future, they may prove their worth, especially on longer delivery routes in areas with high gas prices.

To learn more, you can also read our posts on USPS 3 day shipping, are USPS trucks manual, and when do USPS trucks go out for delivery.

Conclusion

Starting in 2023, Americans will start seeing Oshkosh Defense’s Next Generation Delivery Vehicles when they look out the window for the mail. These vehicles, while a bit goofy looking, will be fuel-efficient, safe, and better equipped to carry packages.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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