Sage-Tips

Is it legal to own a USPS truck?

Because postal trucks are government-sanctioned vehicles, ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell you the truck in the first place. If the truck is to be used for recreational purposes, it should be outfitted with all of the proper doors and seat belts that a regular car or truck would be required to have.

Are there different USPS trucks?

In general, no. Packages shipped over the counter at the post office go on the same trucks to the sorting facilities as the bags of mail picked up from the mail carriers. For “last mile” delivery, including Amazon deliveries, they go in the same truck as the regular mail. There are some exceptions.

Will USPS go electric?

USPS in its 10-year reform plan, expects to make a majority of its fleet electric within 10 years “with the right level of congressional support,” and become fully electric by 2035. However, electric vehicles won’t currently meet all of the Postal Service’s needs.

Why do mail carriers drive Jeeps?

But the times changed. Mail routes, especially those in the suburbs, got longer, and carriers needed a bigger vehicle to haul their letters and packages. The Postal Service began using Jeeps to deliver the mail in the 1960s, and they were perfect for the time.

Do mail carriers have cameras?

The internal cameras are mounted to the vehicle, one inside the driver compartment and one in the cargo area. The cameras are intended to provide USPS with a 360-degree view of the delivery vehicle and to record all letter carrier activities.

Why do USPS drivers sit on the right?

The United States Postal Service (USPS) began using right-sided steering trucks for rural delivery routes to make it easier for mail carriers to reach roadside mailboxes and so carriers in the city can get out without stepping into traffic.

Is it illegal to take a picture of a mail truck?

But wait, there’s another big caveat: “No picture can depict any Postal Service employee, customer, security camera, or cover of mail (i.e., the exterior of a mailpiece, which would show customer name and address among other things).” Once all of those things are taken out of the equation, there’s not a whole lot you’d …

Should you tip your mailman?

You might want to think twice before you pull out a cash tip, however. The U.S. Postal Service prohibits all employees — including mail carriers — from accepting cash or cash equivalents of any kind. That means gift cards and checks are also off limits, no matter the amount. A small gift could be the way to go.

Is the USPS looking to replace its mail trucks?

The USPS has been looking to replace its existing mail trucks for years now, and it started taking solicitations for new designs back in 2015. The need for new trucks is urgent. The ones currently on the road are not only woefully out of date — they don’t even have air conditioning — but they’re a major fire risk.

Why is there still a two-year wait for the new mail truck?

Oshkosh still has to finalize the design of the mail truck, which is part of the reason for the two-year wait. The defense contractor is getting a $482 million investment up front and is promising to make between 50,000 to 165,000 of the trucks over 10 years.

Why did the USPS take so long to deliver the prototypes?

The USPS repeatedly extended deadlines in the early going at the request of the bidding manufacturers, and then when they finally delivered the first prototypes, many of them were faulty, according to an Inspector-General report released last August. The program was hit with further delays once the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

What happened to the USPS’ stock price?

The company’s stock price plummeted following the announcement, and trading was halted multiple times. The USPS has been looking to replace its existing mail trucks for years now, and it started taking solicitations for new designs back in 2015. The need for new trucks is urgent.