from Hacker News

USPS Awards Contract to Modernize Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet

by CDSlice on 2/24/21, 10:51 PM with 68 comments

  • by madrox on 2/25/21, 12:31 AM

    It's incredible how much flack this thing is getting...especially for its appearance. Clearly gone are the days when designers believed that form followed function. This vehicle was designed to maneuver closely around other objects like mailboxes, maximize cargo capacity, and keep the driver safe. The low hood gives the driver better visibility at the edge of the vehicle while still offering a crumple zone. I can't find any specs on the interior, but I'm betting cargo capacity has been improved...especially for larger packages, which is much more of USPS's delivery bulk in this decade.

    Everything about this seems thoughtfully engineered, but clearly our design sensibilities these days are more oriented towards golden ratios than functionality.

  • by kev009 on 2/25/21, 12:35 AM

    Of defense contractors, Oshkosh is one of my favorite and makes amazing vehicles. I think the USPS will get a reliable and durable platform from them. As far as electrification, they have experience with that in the HEMTT and could upgrade the platform as the USPS dictates. They also have autonomous vehicle experience so there is a lot of longevity to the partnership. So as far as government boondoggles can go, this sounds ok to me.

    I have an Oshkosh P19, an aircraft/structural fire truck. The thing is unstoppable with a fully locked drive train on demand and great construction quality. They also fixed a bunch of issues in the FMTV that were inherited from BAE Systems. The MTVR, JLTV, and HET are all well regarded AFAIK.

  • by jedberg on 2/25/21, 12:05 AM

    I hope they plan to design them as rolling data platforms. Postal trucks are ideal for collecting hyperlocal data. The 360 camera is a good start, assuming it can record. Imagine getting a completely up to date Street View every day. Imagine getting hyperlocal weather data every day.

    And more importantly, that same data collected over time. Being able to monitor the daily changes in weather or traffic or erosion.

    With the right contracts in place, it might even be profitable for them to go off route just to collect data.

  • by hx2a on 2/25/21, 12:06 AM

    I'm a former postal worker (summer job in the 90's) and I drove some of those postal trucks. I drove the "half ton" and "quarter ton" trucks. Those are the small or very small delivery trucks you would typically see in residential neighborhoods.

    Those things were named after their actual weight and made of aluminum. Obviously driving around in a 500 or 1000 pound vehicle when every other car weighs considerably more is anxiety producing. Plus the driver seat is inverted compared to every other US vehicle, so my visibility to the left side and rear was poor. Plus other drivers can't be expected to know or understand that my ability to see them is different from what is typical of other drivers. Plus if the vehicle was damaged in any way, I would be fired, even if it was clearly not my fault.

    Fun times! And great memories. What a unique summer job to have while in college.

  • by tyingq on 2/24/21, 11:42 PM

    The proposed new trucks look pretty wonky, like a cartoon: https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images...

  • by uneekname on 2/24/21, 11:15 PM

    Does this mean they'll have all the old trucks up for sale? Who wants to start a food truck with me in an old USPS vehicle

  • by dengsauve on 2/24/21, 11:53 PM

    I don't understand why USPS would contract out designing a new vehicle instead of buying American SUVs built for Europe - all the amenities of a modern SUV, plenty of parts and mechanics to repair them, and they'll have been built by a real car company, not some "Tactical Vehicle Manufacturer". Best of all, they'll have that right-hand-drive that Postal workers love so much.

    We can't even do something as simple as upgrading the post office vehicles without bringing in defense contractors. Give me a break. Put that money towards a company of peace, or at least the company that will cost USPS the least.

  • by gnicholas on 2/24/21, 11:00 PM

  • by fnord77 on 2/24/21, 11:45 PM

    thought the government was mandating EVs? Is this some corrupt Louis DeJoy deal?

  • by bluedino on 2/25/21, 12:22 AM

    Why wouldn’t they just used a customized Ford Transit or something?