Editing Grumman LLV (section)

==Replacements==
[[File:LLV replacement.jpg|thumb|right|USPS-operated minivan ([[Dodge Caravan#Ram Cargo Van (Ram C/V Tradesman)|Dodge Caravan Cargo]]) serving in the LLV's role]]

Because the United States Postal Service owns more than 100,000 Grumman LLVs, of which most have reached the end of their lifespan, the USPS has been preparing to replace the LLVs. In fiscal year 2009, the USPS spent $524&nbsp;million to repair and [[retrofit]] its fleet of Grumman LLVs, and estimated that it would cost $4.2&nbsp;billion to replace the entire fleet.<ref name="washington post">{{cite news |title=Postal service in a bind on upkeep of vehicle fleet |first=Ed |last=O'Keefe |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 18, 2010 |page =B3 }}</ref> By 2021, it was estimated that each LLV required maintenance costing more than $5,000 per year; the all-aluminum body had proven to be robust and corrosion-resistant, but the chassis frame and powertrain components had required reverse-engineering as the original designs were out of production.<ref name=ngdvFEIS/>{{rp|2-2}}

The LLVs also suffer from several design deficiencies, including inadequate cabin climate controls (no air conditioning and a heater prone to breaking down). The wheels and suspension are not suited for the all-terrain and all-weather needs of delivering mail and require [[snow chains]] during inclement weather.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/heres-what-its-drive-grumman-llv-mail-truck-every--269192 |title=Here's What It's Like to Drive a Grumman LLV Mail Truck Every Day |first1=Eric |last1=Brandt |date=September 21, 2017 |accessdate=April 25, 2021}}</ref> Also, because the windshield washer fluid line is routed above the fusebox,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.postalmag.com/llv.htm/ |title=Postal Vehicles |access-date=2019-05-31 |archive-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130170324/http://www.postalmag.com/llv.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> LLVs are prone to catching fire; between 2015 and 2019, over 120 fires occurred.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zwahlen |first=Cyndia |date=May 13, 2019 |title=Safety Experts Alarmed by Mail Trucks Bursting Into Flames |work=Trucks.com |url=https://www.trucks.com/2019/05/13/safety-experts-alarmed-mail-trucks-bursting-flames/ |access-date=December 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513161049/https://www.trucks.com/2019/05/13/safety-experts-alarmed-mail-trucks-bursting-flames/ |archive-date=May 13, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> According to documents obtained in 2020 via a [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] request as part of a [[Vice Media]] investigation, 407 LLVs have been damaged or destroyed since May 2014.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Aaron |title=Post Office Delivery Trucks Keep Catching on Fire |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/post-office-delivery-trucks-keep-catching-on-fire/ |access-date=7 July 2020 |publisher=Vice |date=7 July 2020}}</ref>

In some areas, LLVs have been supplemented or replaced with [[van]]s and [[minivans]], including the 2008–2010 purchase of [[Dodge Grand Caravan]] and [[Chevrolet Uplander]] minivans,<ref name="GAO"/>{{rp|12}} which tend to be more comfortable for postal workers, especially in extreme climates. The [[USPS|United States Postal Service]] has announced it would purchase 7,160 [[Fiat Ducato|Ram ProMaster]] (to replace Caravan and Uplander vehicles) and up to 30,608 right-hand-drive [[Mercedes-Benz Vito|Mercedes-Benz Metris]] vehicles as part of the Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) vehicle program announced on August 3, 2018, to replace and upgrade its fleet of delivery vehicles.<ref name="ruralinfo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ruralinfo.net/rhd-mercedes-metris-vans-to-be-deployed-to-12664-rural-ema-routes/ |title=RHD Mercedes Metris Vans to be deployed to 12,664 rural EMA routes |date=14 May 2020 |access-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115001011/https://www.ruralinfo.net/rhd-mercedes-metris-vans-to-be-deployed-to-12664-rural-ema-routes/ |archive-date=15 January 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, the USPS reviewed options for replacement.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=10 June 2014|title=Delivery Vehicle Fleet Replacement Report Number DR-MA-14-005|url=https://www.nalc.org/workplace-issues/body/2014-06-10-OIG-Report-dr-ma-14-005.pdf|access-date=12 October 2014|publisher=U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG)}}</ref> [[United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General|The Office of Inspector General]] found that the Postal Service's acquisition plan for replacements lacked details and while the USPS could continue deliveries until 2017, there were concerns over the aging vehicles.<ref name=":0" />

[[Canada Post]] also adopted the Grumman LLV, but around 2008, it began studying whether to refurbish, upgrade, or replace its fleet. On March 18, 2010, Canada Post and [[Ford Motor Company]] announced that Canada Post would purchase a fleet of [[Ford Transit Connect#Grumman LLV replacement|Transit Connect vans]].<ref>Ford Motor Company Press Release, [http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=32230 "Canada Post Selects Ford Transit Connect to Replace Aging National Fleet of Light Vehicles,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719163146/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=32230 |date=2010-07-19 }} 18 March 2010.</ref>

===Next Generation Delivery Vehicle===
{{main|Next Generation Delivery Vehicle}}
On January 20, 2015, the USPS released solicitation RFI-NGDV for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle.<ref>[https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e4c65069740a6b4df5158fb0a9512b1c&tab=core&_cview=0 "Request for Information and Prequalification/Sources Sought - Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Acquisition Program"] 20 January 2015</ref> Potential bidders had until March 5, 2015, to submit comments and pre-qualification responses. The USPS was to then select companies to receive the RFP for prototype development. On February 13, 2015, it was announced that General Motors was actively pursuing this new contract, which would have them provide the USPS with 180,000 new vehicles at a cost of at least $5 billion.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ungarino|first1=Rebecca|title=Postal service seeks to retire the old mail truck|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/13/postal-service-seeks-to-retire-the-old-mail-truck.html|website=[[CNBC]]|date=13 February 2015|publisher=CNBC|access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref>  On September 22, 2016, the United States Postal Service awarded the NGDV Prototype Contract to six selected suppliers: [[AM General]], [[Karsan]], [[Mahindra & Mahindra|Mahindra]], [[Oshkosh Corporation|Oshkosh]], [[Utilimaster Corporation|Utilimaster]], and a joint-venture bid involving [[Workhorse Group|Workhorse]] and VT Hackney. Half of the prototypes would feature hybrid and new technologies, including [[alternative fuel]] capabilities. The prototypes would represent a variety of vehicle sizes and drive configurations, in addition to advanced power trains and a range of hybrid technologies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://about.usps.com/news/statements/091616.htm|title=USPS Statement on Next Generation Delivery Vehicles Prototype Selection and Request for Proposal for Commercial Off-the-Shelf Delivery Vehicles|date=16 September 2016|website=usps.com|publisher=USPS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930121111/http://about.usps.com/news/statements/091616.htm|archive-date=2016-09-30|url-status=dead|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>

On February 23, 2021, USPS announced that [[Oshkosh Corporation|Oshkosh]] Defense was awarded the contract for design and manufacture of the [[Next Generation Delivery Vehicle]] (NGDV) to replace the LLV and FFV, delivering up to 165,000 vehicles over a ten-year period.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Postal Service Awards Contract to Launch Multi-Billion-Dollar Modernization of Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet - Newsroom - About.usps.com|url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0223-multi-billion-dollar-modernization-of-postal-delivery-vehicle-fleet.htm|access-date=2021-02-23|website=about.usps.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Beresford|first=Colin|date=2021-02-23|title=USPS Chooses Oshkosh Defense to Replace Its Mail-Delivery Trucks|url=https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35604138/usps-oshkosh-defense-new-mail-trucks/|access-date=2021-02-23|website=Car and Driver|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oshkosh Defense to build U.S. Postal vehicles; Workhorse shares slide|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-postal-awards-contract-oshkosh-202118211.html|access-date=2021-02-23|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=February 23, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>