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Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

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Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#41

Post by imwillofficial »

meepmorp wrote: post #19
diggan wrote: post #10

Why have a specific design anyways? In both Sweden and Spain, the cars carrying mail is typically just a normal half-truck (not sure about the correct name) with the post office branding. Here are two examples: https://c8.alamy.com/comp/DA5TW8/yellow-correos-spanish-post... - https://st2.depositphotos.com/3982569/5739/i/950/depositphot... Seems to work fine. Packages gets carried in bigger trucks, but still just busi…

US mail trucks have the driver on the right hand side (as opposed to the left), so that they can deliver mail without having to get out of the driver's seat. Which naturally means we can't just reuse trucks made for the UK or other Commonwealth markets because... China or socialism or whatever.

“ China or socialism or whatever.”? What do you mean?

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#42

Post by FDSGSG »

meepmorp wrote: post #34
lisper wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TFA actually explains all this pretty well: "The requirements dictated the step-in height, the glass height (including the low side glass), the vision angles, the internal height, and the maximum roof height," wrote Kahn in a tweet. "That was all locked in." Other constraints included the ability to reach the mailbox while in the seated position, and the requirement to see the ground around the vehicle...

I saw that, but those constraints don't seem to be necessary for postal vehicles in other countries. The person I was responding to was wondering why other countries seem to just fine with regular looking vans that have postal branding. It's worth asking about, isn't it? Just because those things are spec'd as they are, that doesn't mean they need to be.

Most countries don't really have US-style mailboxes either.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#43

Post by lttlrck »

maxerickson wrote: post #33
lisper wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TFA actually explains all this pretty well: "The requirements dictated the step-in height, the glass height (including the low side glass), the vision angles, the internal height, and the maximum roof height," wrote Kahn in a tweet. "That was all locked in." Other constraints included the ability to reach the mailbox while in the seated position, and the requirement to see the ground around the vehicle...

And the requirements are dictated by what? It certainly sounds reasonable to have an enclosed cargo area with sufficient head room for comfort, but saying they look like they do because there are requirements doesn't really explain it.

The millions of existing mailboxes installed at regulation height certainly play a big part of it.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#44

Post by xxpor »

teruakohatu wrote: post #3

"Oddly-shaped mail trucks seem to be a staple of Americana." As a non-American I have always found this amusing. Here in New Zealand Post was until a few years ago delivered by bicycle in cities (SUVs or vans in rural areas). They have since moved towards small electric vehicles called Paxster. Basically large four wheel scooters that can ride on both the road and pavement. https://jobs.nzpost.co.nz/paxster

In cities in the US, it's similar. They have full size vans that aren't particularly custom for routes where the delivery person gets out and walks to the mailboxes. These new vehicles, and the ones they replace, are largely for suburban/rural deliveries where they drive right up to the mailbox, and so need a right hand drive vehicle.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#45

Post by imwillofficial »

jerf wrote: post #24
Robotbeat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Too bad it’s not higher. But that’s a good start. It’s a clear win for a well-engineered electric drivetrain given the low miles typically traveled per day (BUT high total miles on odometers as they’re made to last decades), typically low speeds, and extensive stop and start. Playing almost entirely to electric’s strengths and the weaknesses of internal combustion. In an ideal world, I’d hope it’d be 50% electric and…

I can't imagine more than a handful of post offices are ready to plug in all of their trucks right now. They're almost all going to need power upgrades.

Things take time in the real world. Unfortunately there are whole supply chains to deal with. 10% is a solid start and shows intention beyond just a proof of concept.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#46

Post by TylerE »

chrisseaton wrote: post #37
marcinzm wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same reason Amazon runs its own shipping network instead of relying on UPS or Fedex. At a certain scale it is cheaper to get a custom option that specifically fits your needs rather than retro-fitting something else. The USPS bought 100,000 of the last truck and, for example, one of the requirements was long service life. Building a truck you can use for 30 years is probably much cheaper than buying multiple lowe…

> The same reason Amazon runs its own shipping network instead of relying on UPS or Fedex. Amazon use off-the-shelf vehicles though. > one of the requirements was long service life I wonder how they require that. Does the manufacturer have to warranty them all for 30 years? That's extraordinary!

That's rapidly changing.

https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazons-cust...

"Just one year after announcing the purchase of 100,000 custom electric delivery vehicles as part of The Climate Pledge, Amazon has begun testing the new vans on delivery routes."

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#47

Post by antattack »

jerf wrote: post #24
Robotbeat wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Too bad it’s not higher. But that’s a good start. It’s a clear win for a well-engineered electric drivetrain given the low miles typically traveled per day (BUT high total miles on odometers as they’re made to last decades), typically low speeds, and extensive stop and start. Playing almost entirely to electric’s strengths and the weaknesses of internal combustion. In an ideal world, I’d hope it’d be 50% electric and…

I can't imagine more than a handful of post offices are ready to plug in all of their trucks right now. They're almost all going to need power upgrades.

Electric delivery vehicles could easily be charged overnight from regular 'residential' outlet.

Since average mail route is 45miles [1]. At 1000Wh/mile - that's only 45kWh of charge needed per vehicle.

[1]https://www.grit.com/community/usps-rural-delivery-factoids

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#48

Post by thrower123 »

tpmx wrote: post #2

No mention of increased crumple zone, which was probably the entire reason for the redesign in the first place? Sheesh. I assume the article was written entirely based on a press release together with a nice pack of product photos. The previous models were injury/death traps.

>The previous models were injury/death traps

Particularly since they routinely swing in and out of the roadway without looking or even using their directional signals.

It's best to treat a mail truck on a roadway as a being of pure chaos, utterly unpredictable and capricious, if not always actively malicious.

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#49

Post by TylerE »

BadInformatics wrote: post #29
diggan wrote: post #10

Why have a specific design anyways? In both Sweden and Spain, the cars carrying mail is typically just a normal half-truck (not sure about the correct name) with the post office branding. Here are two examples: https://c8.alamy.com/comp/DA5TW8/yellow-correos-spanish-post... - https://st2.depositphotos.com/3982569/5739/i/950/depositphot... Seems to work fine. Packages gets carried in bigger trucks, but still just busi…

Same with Canada Post AIUI. How often does the right-hand driver's seat thing come into play? Seems like the procurement for this kind of custom vehicle couldn't/won't be cheap.

RHD is pretty common. That's how all vehicles sold in the UK, Japan, and Australia (and some other places) are sold.

There there are conversion kits for common rural postal vehicles (jeeps)

Re: Why the new USPS mail trucks look so weird

#50

Post by fingerlocks »

diggan wrote: post #10

Why have a specific design anyways? In both Sweden and Spain, the cars carrying mail is typically just a normal half-truck (not sure about the correct name) with the post office branding. Here are two examples: https://c8.alamy.com/comp/DA5TW8/yellow-correos-spanish-post... - https://st2.depositphotos.com/3982569/5739/i/950/depositphot... Seems to work fine. Packages gets carried in bigger trucks, but still just busi…

The United States is a vast, sprawling area with nearly every conceivable type of geography. The road conditions and residential density covers all possible ranges. The truck is designed for the worst case scenario allowable while minimizing drivers danger.

Also, the USPS uses panel vans in denser areas. My neighborhood in Seattle has the mail delivered in a Sprinter/ProMaster/Transit thing, but weird trucks are ubiquitous elsewhere.

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