Ash Grove Post Office modernizes fleet with new rigs

Small town post office benefits from nationwide program offering much-needed updated mail trucks
 
The United States Postal Service is in the midst of upgrading their fleet, with Ash Grove receiving new Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV).
The delivery vehicles are hoping to improve on multiple aspects of the old trucks in order to aid in the delivery of the nation’s mail. They have improved safety features, improved carrying capacity, and better fuel efficiency, according to Tara Jarrett, strategic communications specialist with USPS.
Missouri currently has a fleet of 5,000 vehicles across the state, and of those 5,000, 2,000 of those are new, modern vehicles, said Jarrett. The new group of vehicles is made up of a few different models, being the gas-operated Ram Promaster and Mercedes Metris as well as the battery-powered Ford E-Transit. In addition to these, the Postal Service is rolling out the new, custom-made NGDV, which can use either an electric or combustion powertrain.The almost-cartoonish NGDV is a custom-made truck that aims to better the previous iterations of mail delivery vehicles. The new features on the next-generation truck include improved visibility, ergonomic seating, air conditioning, 360-degree cameras, airbags, and user-friendly operations.
“The NGDV are purpose-built vehicles that have been specifically designed with employee safety and comfort in mind, ensuring a better working environment for the Postal Service’s dedicated letter carriers,” said Jarrett. “[The improvements] will give Postal Service employees a more comfortable and intuitive experience while performing their duties.”
In the United States to date, the Postal Service has ordered 51,500 NGDVs, of which 35,000 are battery-powered electric vehicles. To this point, only about 3,300 have been delivered, with 600 of those using a battery-operated powertrain. Ash Grove has already obtained about a half dozen of those.
In total, the postal service will invest $9.6 billion for vehicle modernization, and other nearby areas could also soon be slated for vehicle modernization as it’s helpful for everyone involved, said former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
“We’re moving forward in modernizing our vehicle fleet‚ which will bring tremendous benefits to our organization. Under our plan, letter carriers in every state will be able to deliver mail and packages using new and modern vehicles within the next five years,” said DeJoy. “These new vehicles are enhancing safety for our employees, improving our capabilities to deliver on time, and modernizing our operations. Our team deserves the best equipment as they work to serve 167 million addresses across the nation. The introduction of these new vehicles aligns with our operational strategy and financial health, setting us up for a future of improved service across the nation. The work being done on this program demonstrates electrification and sustainability efforts can coexist, not conflict‚ with cost savings, efficiency gains, and operational transformation priorities.”