5 ms·

Here’s a link with some renders of what the trucks are planned to look like: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35604138/usps-oshkosh-defense-new-mail-trucks/

• jpalomaki 6y ago
  I wonder if the designers watched "Postman Pat" [1] as kids. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postman_Pat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postman_Pat
• tropdrop 6y ago
  I'm oddly delighted at the prospect of seeing new mail delivery vehicles creep around a corner, even if the design seems a little ... odd (to me).
• oh_sigh 6y ago
  Big beautiful windshields to see the sky with, but there has to be some way to get rid of the A pillars on these vehicles. So many accidents are caused by vehicles turning left/right into pedestrians crossing the street because they are blocked by these pillars. I guess holograms work but an engineering solution where they could somehow be eliminated would be better.
  • EE84M3i 6y ago
    holograms? What do you mean?
    • oh_sigh 6y ago
      Sorry, I guess I mean something like AR that lets you see through the pillars. I was thinking a hologram because if it is just a straight projection that other people can see, they might constantly think you're going to run over a pedestrian that has already safely passed from the drivers point of view.
• heipei 6y ago
  Can someone walk through the vehicle odd detail by odd detail and explain every design decision? For me this is fascinating because there are probably many small items that have a practical benefit that I don't even see on the first glance. One question though: Why is the back slanted? Why doesn't it go straight down? Wouldn't that be preferable when it's raining, for example?
  • kube-system 6y ago
    Here are my educated non-expert guesses: * low front end, large amount of glass: aids in visibility when maneuvering in tight locations. * side mirrors are hung from the top: again, aiding visibility. You need to look at the road's surface more than you need to look at the sky. * two piece side window: it can pass packages while also protecting the driver from the weather * slanted rear: the person closing the door has a couple more inches to get a steady footing while reaching over their head to close the tall door? Or maybe a tiny aero advantage? Or just for style? * huge protruding bumpers: cheaper to hit them than it is to hit the body. And maybe it's more likely you can keep the vehicle in service without requiring repairs after minor incidents. * upswept rear bumper: necessary to mitigate issues with a departure angles, because a short-wheelbase is ideal for driving in tight locations. * hanging wiper mechanism: visibility, and it doesn't jam up with ice/snow as much. * side door slides forward instead of rearwards: because the door doesn't have to move outwards clear the rear fender, the track is straight and the mechanism simplified, so it's more durable, more accessible, and more ergonomic than other commercial vans which typically require a compound motion (sliding and extending outwards.) * and the easy one -- right hand drive: because mailboxes are on the side of the road.
  • kart23 6y ago
    The old LLVs also have a slanted back, its possible its just for design, I'm picturing it with a flat back and it just looks wrong, like a typical creepy white van. The slope gives it some character. Although you're right, there probably is a more nuanced reason.
  • pySSK 6y ago
    The current USPS trucks have a slanted back too but my google-fu yielded no results. The info graphic explains some of the other details: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/automobiles/the-mail-truck-is-a-classic-and-thats-a-problem-for-a-modern-post-office.html https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/automobiles/the-mail-truc... Biggest change is that driver should be able to walk inside it to fetch packages, hence the height and the odd 'forehead'.
• pySSK 6y ago
  That might not be the winning design – that looks like the Workhorse design, whereas the Osh Kosh looks more like Ford Transit van: https://www.hammerlanelegends.com/news/us-postal-service-to-award-63b-contract-for-new-mail-truck-this-year-see-the-finalists https://www.hammerlanelegends.com/news/us-postal-service-to-...
  • totoglazer 6y ago
    Definitely is, you can see those photos on the USPS website. https://media.usps.com/events/ngvd/ https://media.usps.com/events/ngvd/
• skrtskrt 6y ago
  It's beautiful in a utilitarian way
• chrisweekly 6y ago
  > "some will be electric". better than none, but really wish it said "all".
  • hundchenkatze 6y ago
    I think there are rural routes were battery capacity becomes an issue.
    • throwawayboise 6y ago
      A lot of rural routes are by contractors with their own vehicles. RHD Jeeps and Subarus are popular for them.