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The United States is a vast, sprawling area with nearly every conceivable type of geography. The road conditions and residential density covers all possible ran

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.

whomst 6y ago
The USPS also uses Jeeps in the sticks, but those aren't common enough to be seen by most people.
- tablespoon 6y ago
  > The USPS also uses Jeeps in the sticks, but those aren't common enough to be seen by most people. Their previous standard mail trucks were a Jeep variant, too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_DJ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_DJ
- adventured 6y ago
  In the sticks they frequently outsource to authorized personally owned vehicles. Those are common all throughout Appalachia for example. They call them rural carrier associates. Here is the pitch: "As a Postal Service™ Rural Carrier Associate (RCA), you will have a continuous, part-time job with a reliable employer. If you are retired, self-employed, an at-home parent, an educator, night student, or are employed on an evening shift schedule, this on-call position could be the ideal job for you.RCAs are responsible for the safe and efficient delivery and collection of the U.S. Mail™, working part time when regular carriers have scheduled days off or take vacation days. RCAs also sell stamps, supplies, and money orders. RCAs perform a vital function in the Postal Service, serving thousands of families and businesses in rural and suburban areas while traveling millions of miles daily. The work can be demanding—but also rewarding." And a note about the vehicles: "Generally, RCAs are required to use their own vehicles for mail delivery, and they receive an equipment allowance in addition to regular pay. The vehicle needs to be insured, dependable, and in good working condition. Vehicles with bucket seats or standard transmission are not recommended. Some offices may provide a Postal Service vehicle."
  - Mountain_Skies 6y ago
    My last house was serviced by RCAs. One had a Subaru Outback with a system of gears and pullies that let it be driven from the right side without removing the factory left side drive. Another had an actual right hand drive vehicle, probably imported. There's likely a small but strong demand for right hand drive vehicles that happen to end up in the US with RCAs buying most of them. A few simply had two people in the vehicle, one driving and the other placing mail in the mailboxes.
    - aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 6y ago
      Please tell me you have photos of that driving setup.
      - wahern 6y ago
        Probably something like these examples: https://www.thedrive.com/news/37520/these-trick-pulley-systems-are-what-mail-carriers-use-to-make-their-cars-right-hand-drive https://www.thedrive.com/news/37520/these-trick-pulley-syste... https://www.postalthings.com/right-hand-drive-kits https://www.postalthings.com/right-hand-drive-kits
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
diggan 6y ago
> 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. I'm pretty sure most of the geography in the US can be found in either Spain or Sweden as well. Except jungle I guess, but don't think you have much of that over there either. Besides the point anyway. Yeah, the cars here do drive through a lot of different geographies as well. In the denser areas like cities, the postal workers are most often on motobikes or just walking though, depending on the density of the city.
- perl4ever 6y ago
  The premise, that the postal service in the US only uses the special vehicles, seems to be incorrect.

whomst 6y ago

The USPS also uses Jeeps in the sticks, but those aren't common enough to be seen by most people.

tablespoon 6y ago
> The USPS also uses Jeeps in the sticks, but those aren't common enough to be seen by most people. Their previous standard mail trucks were a Jeep variant, too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_DJ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_DJ
adventured 6y ago
In the sticks they frequently outsource to authorized personally owned vehicles. Those are common all throughout Appalachia for example. They call them rural carrier associates. Here is the pitch: "As a Postal Service™ Rural Carrier Associate (RCA), you will have a continuous, part-time job with a reliable employer. If you are retired, self-employed, an at-home parent, an educator, night student, or are employed on an evening shift schedule, this on-call position could be the ideal job for you.RCAs are responsible for the safe and efficient delivery and collection of the U.S. Mail™, working part time when regular carriers have scheduled days off or take vacation days. RCAs also sell stamps, supplies, and money orders. RCAs perform a vital function in the Postal Service, serving thousands of families and businesses in rural and suburban areas while traveling millions of miles daily. The work can be demanding—but also rewarding." And a note about the vehicles: "Generally, RCAs are required to use their own vehicles for mail delivery, and they receive an equipment allowance in addition to regular pay. The vehicle needs to be insured, dependable, and in good working condition. Vehicles with bucket seats or standard transmission are not recommended. Some offices may provide a Postal Service vehicle."
- Mountain_Skies 6y ago
  My last house was serviced by RCAs. One had a Subaru Outback with a system of gears and pullies that let it be driven from the right side without removing the factory left side drive. Another had an actual right hand drive vehicle, probably imported. There's likely a small but strong demand for right hand drive vehicles that happen to end up in the US with RCAs buying most of them. A few simply had two people in the vehicle, one driving and the other placing mail in the mailboxes.
  - aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 6y ago
    Please tell me you have photos of that driving setup.
    - wahern 6y ago
      Probably something like these examples: https://www.thedrive.com/news/37520/these-trick-pulley-systems-are-what-mail-carriers-use-to-make-their-cars-right-hand-drive https://www.thedrive.com/news/37520/these-trick-pulley-syste... https://www.postalthings.com/right-hand-drive-kits https://www.postalthings.com/right-hand-drive-kits

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

diggan 6y ago

> 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. I'm pretty sure most of the geography in the US can be found in either Spain or Sweden as well. Except jungle I guess, but don't think you have much of that over there either. Besides the point anyway. Yeah, the cars here do drive through a lot of different geographies as well. In the denser areas like cities, the postal workers are most often on motobikes or just walking though, depending on the density of the city.

perl4ever 6y ago
The premise, that the postal service in the US only uses the special vehicles, seems to be incorrect.