What are the new mail delivery vehicles being used in Topeka?
TOPEKA (KSNT) - The next generation of mail delivery vehicles are rolling into Kansas this year and may be spotted in a neighborhood near you.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced in October last year it would be modernizing its fleet of mail delivery vehicles with the arrival of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV). The new trucks are highlighted as being zero-emission and battery electric, providing for more environmentally-friendly deliveries nationwide.
Tara Jarrett with the USPS told 27 News the agency has deployed more than 670 new delivery vehicles in Kansas. This includes eight of the NGDVs and 26 electric Ford E-Transits in the Topeka area alone.
USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said these new electric vehicles will provide numerous benefits to the agency and its workers. He also said the addition of these new vehicles demonstrates that "electrification and sustainability efforts can coexist" with each other.
"These new vehicles are enhancing safety for our employees, improving our capabilities to deliver on time and modernizing our operations," DeJoy said. "Our team deserves the best equipment as they work to serve 167 million addresses across the nation. The introduction of these new vehicles aligns with our operational strategy and financial health, setting us up for a future of improved service across the nation."
The USPS earlier announced plans in December 2022 that it would acquire more than 100,000 new vehicles, along with at least 66,000 battery-electric delivery vehicles. This is part of the Postal Service's 10-year Delivering for America Plan.
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