Lawsuit Delays Plan, to Replace Aging Postal Truck Fleet.
ABC News reports that the primary fleet of post office vehicles dates back to 1987.
That fleet was due to be replaced under a new contract, but the winning bid for the new trucks is currently being challenged.
The delivery of those new trucks, originally scheduled for 2023, could now be delayed.
ABC News reports that most workers just want a vehicle that is safe.
Over 150 of the current vehicles have caught fire.
They also lack adequate heating and cooling, have poor fuel economy and have become difficult to maintain.
According to ABC News, the Grumman Long Life Vehicle was put to use from 1987 to 1994 with a promise of a 24-year service life.
The oldest of these vehicles have survived 34 years of grueling daily use.
The current delivery fleet has reached a critical point where it is no longer cost-effective to maintain the fleet in order to provide reliable and efficient delivery service for citizens while meeting the needs of carriers, Kim Frum, USPS spokesperson, via ABC News.
The current delivery fleet has reached a critical point where it is no longer cost-effective to maintain the fleet in order to provide reliable and efficient delivery service for citizens while meeting the needs of carriers, Kim Frum, USPS spokesperson, via ABC News.
The initial contract, awarded to Oshkosh Defense for $482 million, was to complete and test the final design, which included both gas and electric vehicles.
According to ABC News, the value could stretch into billions of dollars if Oshkosh delivers 165,000 vehicles over the next decade.
An Ohio company called Workhorse Group, whose losing bid was for an all-electric fleet, challenged the fairness of the decision in June.
An Ohio company called Workhorse Group, whose losing bid was for an all-electric fleet, challenged the fairness of the decision in June.
In its challenge, Workhorse Group estimated the total contract value to be worth up to $3.1 billion