USPS introduces changes to mail delivery, including zero-emission electric vehicles in Illinois
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The United States Post Office will roll out zero-emission electric delivery vehicles on the streets of Rockford and other parts of Illinois as part of a series of taking effect this month aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs.
The changes come after former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stepped down after with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to 'assist [USPS] in identifying and achieving further efficiencies.'
That included a pledge to reduce spending and its workforce by 10,000 employees through an early retirement program.
This month, mail delivery changes went into effect, including refining service standards for different classes of mail.
USPS said 75% of first class mail deliveries would experience no change, but 14% would be upgraded to a faster standard while 11% would be delivered slower, with mail delivery taking no more than 5 days.
'Under the new approach, while most mail will retain the same service standard, some mail will have a faster standard, and some will have a slightly slower standard. For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges (the estimated delivery time) for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened,' USPS .
The Post Office also said the USPS Ground Advantage service would stay the same, and certain postage, like marketing materials, periodicals, and other packages, may be delivered even faster.
USPS has a Service Standards Map to show expected delivery times from zip code to zip code.
The Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), built by Oshkosh Defense, were showcased at the Rockford Sorting and Delivery Center on Wednesday as part of the first modernization of America's largest and oldest federal fleet.
The outgoing Long Life Vehicle (LLV) debuted in 1987.
The rollout is part of USPS' nearly $497 million investment in Illinois as part of a nationwide 10-year Delivering For America plan, which allocates $164 million for the purchase of modern, efficient vehicles; $7 million for charging infrastructure; $121 million to renovate 277 existing facilities and $82 million to build new ones; and more than $123 million to purchase 23 state-of-the-art package sorting machines.
The USPS said the electric vehicles are purpose-built to meet the specific needs of the Postal Service, with improved visibility, air conditioning, ergonomic seating, increased cargo capacity, and a driver-friendly interface.
Over the next five years, the northern Illinois region is set to receive dozens more electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.
'Through the Delivering for America plan, we are transforming and modernizing the Postal Service. The introduction of our new facilities and vehicles in Rockford is a clear demonstration of this progress,' said Acting Postmaster General and CEO Doug Tulino.
The 10-year Delivering for America plan was launched in 2021.
The Postal Service said it expects to save $36 billion in savings from transportation, mail processing, and facility cost reductions.
The Postal Regulatory Commission
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