Purchase is for Package and Parcel Deliveries, Not Regular Mail Service
With an estimated nationwide fleet of more than 190,000 vehicles, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a big customer. With the rise of online shopping, the once-embattled quasi-government agency is seeing a resurgence in the demand for its services. But as always, it still competes with private competitors and there is pressure to increase efficiencies. To that end, the USPS will add 9,113 Ram ProMaster 2500 vans to its fleet for parcel and package delivery.
Ram touts the ProMasterâs front-wheel-drive configuration, low load floor, and multiple tie-downs in the cargo area making it an ideal vehicle for parcel delivery. For 2016, an optional driver side sliding door is available, increasing accessibility to the cargo area. The USPS purchase will reportedly be all gas-powered models, equipped with the 3.6L Pentastar V-6. DHL, a parcel delivery service that has extensively utilized Mercedes-Benz Sprinters in its fleet, has recently added ProMasters to its fleet as well.
The ProMaster fleet purchase is separate from USPSâ program to replace its fleet of aging Grumman LLV mail trucks. General Motors is reportedly the leading candidate to supply the LLV replacement, with a particular emphasis on improved fuel economy. Although equipped with a four-cylinder engine, the LLV reportedly only delivers around 10 mpg in real-world stop-and-go use.
More/Source: U.S. Postal Service to Purchase More Than 9,000 Ram ProMaster Vans – TruckTrend.com