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Grumman LLV

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Grumman Long Life Vehicle
A 1989 Grumman LLV of the United States Postal Service, seen in Carson City, Nevada, in December 2005.
Overview
ManufacturerGrumman
Also calledUSPS Mail truck
Production1987–1994[1]
AssemblyMontgomery, Pennsylvania
Body and chassis
ClassMail truck
RelatedKurbWatt, Kubvan
Powertrain
Engine
  • 2.2 L (134 cu in) LN2 I4
  • 2.5 L (151 cu in) LN8/L38 I4
Transmission3-speed GM TH180 automatic[2]
Suspension
Front54.1 in (1,374 mm)[3]
Rear63 in (1,600 mm)[3]
Dimensions
Wheelbase100.5 in (2,553 mm)[3][4]
Length175.5 in (4,458 mm)[3]
Width75 in (1,905 mm)[3]
Height85 in (2,159 mm)[3]
Curb weight2,700 lb (1,225 kg)
Chronology
PredecessorJeep Dispatcher
Successor

The Grumman Long Life Vehicle (LLV) is an American light transport truck model, designed as a mail truck for the United States Postal Service, which has been its primary user since it first entered service in 1987, 38 years ago. It also was used by Canada Post. The LLV uses a chassis built by GM based on the S-10 with an aluminum body built by Grumman.

In 2021, after a long competition, the USPS announced it had awarded a $6 billion contract to Oshkosh Defense to produce the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle, which will replace the LLV. The first NGDVs are scheduled to enter service in 2023.

History

In the United States, the Grumman LLV is the most common vehicle used by letter carriers for curbside and residential delivery of mail, replacing the previous standard letter-carrier vehicle, the Jeep DJ-5. Curbside delivery from a driver seated in a vehicle to a curbside mailbox is sometimes termed "mounted delivery", in contrast to walking delivery.[5]

The Grumman LLV was the first vehicle specifically designed for the United States Postal Service (USPS); the USPS provided a specification and three teams created prototypes that were tested in Laredo, Texas in 1985: Grumman in partnership with General Motors, Poveco (a joint venture of Fruehauf and General Automotive Corporation), and American Motors Corporation.[6] The main design points of the vehicle in contract competition were serviceability, handling in confined areas, and overall economical operation. Prototypes were each subjected to a 24,000 mi (39,000 km) road test, including frequent starts and stops, gravel surfaces, cobblestones and potholes, hauling a payload of up to 2,000 lb (910 kg).[6]

Previously, Grumman had built a limited number of KurbWatts, a battery electric vehicle with an aluminum delivery van body, which was tested by the USPS in the early 1980s.[7] At about the same time, Grumman also built 500 KubVans, which used a similar lightweight aluminum delivery body on a Volkswagen Pickup diesel chassis and also underwent testing by the USPS. These designs influenced Grumman's candidate body design for the LLV.[8] Grumman won the competition and was awarded a $1.1 billion contract to produce 99,150 LLVs in April 1986;[9] USPS also held an option for an additional 54,000 LLVs.[10]

Production

The vehicles were assembled by the Allied Division of Grumman in Clinton Township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The first vehicle was completed in April 1987. At peak production, 95 LLVs were completed each day, at a rate of approximately one every five minutes.[10] Grumman invested $28 million into the factory, doubling its size to 213,000 sq ft (19,800 m2) and increasing the workforce from 250 to 600.[10]

The USPS purchased more than 100,000 of these vehicles, the last one in 1994.[1] As its name suggests, the Grumman LLV is easily capable of a long life. The required lifespan specified by the U.S. Postal Service was 24 years, but in 2009 this was extended to 30 years.

In 2010, approximately 140,000 LLVs remained in the USPS delivery fleet;[11][12]: 12  retirement and attrition had reduced that to 126,000 by 2021.[13]: Table 4-6.13  A number were also sold to Canada, Mexico, and several other countries.[citation needed]

1987 LLV (left) and 2000 FFV (right)

The USPS acquired 21,000 Ford-Utilimaster FFVs in 2000 and 2001 to supplement the LLV fleet. The FFVs have a similar aluminum body and also are right-hand drive, but ride on a chassis built by Ford Motor Company with a body built by Utilimaster.[12]: 12 

Technical

Like the older postal-service Jeep DJ-5, the Grumman LLV features a right-hand drive (RHD) configuration, in contrast to the typical left-hand drive (LHD) position of vehicles in North America. It also features a large metal tray, which is able to hold three trays of letter mail, mounted where a passenger seat would normally be. This arrangement positions the driver on the side of the vehicle closest to the curb, enabling the carrier to easily grab sorted mail and place it into mailboxes without having to leave the seat. Other notable features are an exceptionally tight turning radius[6] and a low-geared, 3 speed transmission[2] for hauling heavy cargo. The LLV has a 1,000-pound (450 kg) cargo capacity,[1] double what the Jeep DJ-5 could hold.[9]

The body and final assembly is by Grumman, and the chassis is made by General Motors, based on the 1982 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, powered by GM engines including the 2.5L I-4 TBI Iron Duke and, in later production, 2.2L I-4 SPFI LN2; the instrument cluster and front suspension are similar to those used in the Chevrolet S-10 pickup and S-10 Blazer sport utility vehicle.[14]

The LLV has a unique footprint. The front wheels (taken from the two-wheel-drive S-10 Blazer model) have narrower spacing than the rear wheels (using the rear axle from the four-wheel-drive S-10 Blazer model). The front of the vehicle also has low ground clearance. While this has advantages, there are some trade offs. The vehicle was tested successfully in warmer climates, but when used in places with substantial snowfall, they became difficult to control and were poorly adapted to those conditions.[6]

The Grumman LLV's estimated average combined EPA fuel economy is 17 miles per US gallon (14 L/100 km) [16 / 18 mpg‑US (15 / 13 L/100 km) on the city/highway cycles, respectively].[2] In actual use by the USPS, which includes extensive stop-and-go driving for residential delivery, average fuel economy is about 8.2–10 mpg‑US (29–24 L/100 km).[13]: Table G-1 [15]

Like other U.S. Postal Service vehicles before it, the Grumman LLV does not carry a license plate and instead uses a seven-digit U.S. Postal Service serial number, usually starting with 020, 021, 120, 125, 126, 220, 221, 330, 331, 430, 431, 720, 820, 821, 920, or 921. The first digit of the serial number represents the last digit of the year in which it was made, ranging from 7 (1987) to 4 (1994).[16] The USPS does not permit reselling the LLV, so when they are retired, they are scrapped for parts.[13]: 4–40 

Electric version

Ten LLVs were converted with a battery electric drivetrain by US Electricar for a pilot program, using lead-acid battery chemistry. They were deployed to the Harbor City Post Office in the Los Angeles area.[17]: 2–2  This was followed by a larger fleet test of the Electric Carrier Route Vehicle (ECRV), using a body similar to the LLV built by Grumman/Allied on a RHD Ford Ranger EV chassis.[17]: 3–1 

Replacements

USPS-operated minivan (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 million to repair and retrofit its fleet of Grumman LLVs, and estimated that it would cost $4.2 billion to replace the entire fleet.[18] 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.[13]: 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.[19] Also, because the windshield washer fluid line is routed above the fusebox,[20] LLVs are prone to catching fire; between 2015 and 2019, over 120 fires occurred.[21] According to documents obtained in 2020 via a Freedom of Information Act request as part of a Vice Media investigation, 407 LLVs have been damaged or destroyed since May 2014.[22]

In some areas, LLVs have been supplemented or replaced with vans and minivans, including the 2008-2010 purchase of Dodge Grand Caravan and Chevrolet Uplander minivans,[12]: 12  which tend to be more comfortable for postal workers, especially in extreme climates. The United States Postal Service has announced that they will purchase 7,160 Ram ProMaster (to replace Caravan & Uplander vehicles) and up to 30,608 right-hand drive Mercedes 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.[23]

In 2014, the USPS reviewed options for replacement.[24] 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.[24]

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 Transit Connect vans.[25]

Next Generation Delivery Vehicle

Main article: Next Generation Delivery Vehicle

On January 20, 2015, the USPS released solicitation RFI-NGDV for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle.[26] 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.[27] On September 22, 2016, the United States Postal Service awarded the NGDV Prototype Contract to six selected suppliers: AM General, Karsan, Mahindra, Oshkosh, Utilimaster, and a joint-venture bid involving Workhorse and VT Hackney. Half of the prototypes will feature hybrid and new technologies, including alternative fuel capabilities. The prototypes will represent a variety of vehicle sizes and drive configurations, in addition to advanced power trains and a range of hybrid technologies.[28]

On February 23, 2021, USPS announced that 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 10-year period.[29][30][31]

References

  1. ^ a b c Argonne National Laboratory. "Nation's Largest Alternative-Fuel Fleet Delivers the Goods for the U.S. Postal Service" (PDF). U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "1988 Grumman Allied Industries LLV". fueleconomy.gov. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "LLV Postal Trucks". Grumman Memorial Park. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Idaho National Laboratory. "All-Electric Conversion of the USPS Long Life Vehicle (LLV)" (PDF). U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  5. ^ Righter, T.L. "Restructuring the Postal Service for the 21st Century". postalmag.com (an independent site and is not affiliated with the USPS, its labor unions, or any other postal organizations.). Retrieved 12 October 2014. Mounted delivery is on average 50% more efficient than walking door to door.
  6. ^ a b c d Pope, Nancy A. (July 11, 2010). "Long Life Vehicle (LLV)". Postal Museum Blog. National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Museum. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  7. ^ Hogan, Mack (December 7, 2019). "This Cute Box on Wheels Is an Ultra-Rare Electric Postal Van From the Gas Crunch". Road & Track. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  8. ^ Niedermeyer, Paul (March 9, 2011). "KubSide Classic: 1983 Grumman KubVan". The Truth About Cars. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b Robert Byrd (9 April 1986). "Mail van built for long life". The Free-Lance Star. Associated Press. p. 11.
  10. ^ a b c Singleton, David (May 13, 1987). "New postal trucks designed to last 24 years". UPI Archives. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  11. ^ Reed, Matthew P.; Satchell, Kristy; Nichols, Aris. "2005-01-2675. Application of Digital Human Modeling to the Design of a Postal Delivery Vehicle" (PDF). University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute/Society of Automotive Engineers. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c Herr, Phillip; Turner, Kathleen (Assistant Director); et al. (May 2011). Report to Congressional Requesters: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE: Strategy Needed to Address Aging Delivery Fleet (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Government Accountability Office. GAO-11-386. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Final Environmental Impact Statement: United States Postal Service Next Generation Delivery Vehicle Acquisitions (PDF) (Report). United States Postal Service. December 2021. p. G-2. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  14. ^ Preston, Benjamin (21 February 2015). "What can stop US Postal Service trucks? The inexorable march of time". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Too Costly to Keep On Truckin?". U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG). 18 June 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2014. The first LLVs were produced in 1987, and they average about 10 miles per gallon.
  16. ^ Torchinsky, Jason (November 2, 2020). "Here's How To Tell The Year Of A Mail Truck Instantly". Jalopnik. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  17. ^ a b Ryerson, Master and Associates, Inc. (May 2003). United States Postal Service Electric Carrier Route Vehicle Program: 500 Vehicle Fleet Deployment Report (PDF) (Report). United States Postal Service. Retrieved 6 February 2023.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ O'Keefe, Ed (June 18, 2010). "Postal service in a bind on upkeep of vehicle fleet". The Washington Post. p. B3.
  19. ^ Brandt, Eric (September 21, 2017). "Here's What It's Like to Drive a Grumman LLV Mail Truck Every Day". Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "Postal Vehicles". Archived from the original on 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  21. ^ Zwahlen, Cyndia (May 13, 2019). "Safety Experts Alarmed by Mail Trucks Bursting Into Flames". Trucks.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  22. ^ Gordon, Aaron (7 July 2020). "Post Office Delivery Trucks Keep Catching on Fire". Vice. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  23. ^ "RHD Mercedes Metris Vans to be deployed to 12,664 rural EMA routes". 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Delivery Vehicle Fleet Replacement Report Number DR-MA-14-005" (PDF). U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG). 10 June 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  25. ^ Ford Motor Company Press Release, "Canada Post Selects Ford Transit Connect to Replace Aging National Fleet of Light Vehicles," Archived 2010-07-19 at the Wayback Machine 18 March 2010.
  26. ^ "Request for Information and Prequalification/Sources Sought - Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) Acquisition Program" 20 January 2015
  27. ^ Ungarino, Rebecca (13 February 2015). "Postal service seeks to retire the old mail truck". CNBC.com. CNBC. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  28. ^ "USPS Statement on Next Generation Delivery Vehicles Prototype Selection and Request for Proposal for Commercial Off-the-Shelf Delivery Vehicles". usps.com. USPS. 16 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-09-30. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  29. ^ "U.S. Postal Service Awards Contract to Launch Multi-Billion-Dollar Modernization of Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet - Newsroom - About.usps.com". about.usps.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  30. ^ Beresford, Colin (2021-02-23). "USPS Chooses Oshkosh Defense to Replace Its Mail-Delivery Trucks". Car and Driver. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  31. ^ "Oshkosh Defense to build U.S. Postal vehicles; Workhorse shares slide". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
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