Too Costly to Keep On Truckin?
Filed under Mail Processing & Transportation
Tags: Delivery, fleet, LLV, maintenance, postal service, repairs, trucks, vehicles
The U.S. Postal Service’s current fleet of more than 219,000 vehicles includes approximately 146,000 delivery vehicles, most of which are long-life vehicles (LLVs). The first LLVs were produced in 1987, and they average about 10 miles per gallon. The vehicles are right-hand drive to accommodate drivers delivering numerous mailpieces to curbside mailboxes. These iconic right-hand drive delivery trucks are nearing the end of a 24-year life cycle and are costly to maintain.
In a recent audit, we noted that it cost the Postal Service about $524 million to fix the LLVs in fiscal year 2009. More than 40,000 trucks required more than $3,500 each in maintenance and another 19,000 of these required an average of $5,600 in repairs consecutively in 2008 and 2009. At this rate, for the high maintenance segment of the fleet, repairs in the next eight years will cost $342 million more than it would to buy new trucks.
Considering the growing costs of maintaining this unique but aging fleet, what are your thoughts on a cost-effective, but practical replacement delivery vehicle fleet?
To read the full report go to http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/DA-AR-10-005.pdf.
The Office of Audit Engineering & Facilities team is hosting this topic.
27 Responses to “Too Costly to Keep On Truckin?”
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August 13th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Good morning,
I understand the LLV’s are having problems with the rear tail lamp plug (vehicle side) and the only fix has been to replace the complete harness. I offer the correct Packard plug (vehicle side) with 6” of 16 gauge wire. This eliminates the need to replace the complete wiring harness.
I have already provided a few to a Harrisburg VMF with great results.
Can anyone help me get the word out to other VMF’s to save a ton of money.
Email me at don@levineautoparts.com
August 6th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Quote from VMF Manager;
“though I suppose a DM or Area VP could issue local restrictions.”
That’s the point I’m trying to make. But it’s not a DM or VP that decides, it’s someone much lower. They set up their own procedures. And if you don’t do it their way, you don’t get what you need.
At one point, we were not even allowed to carry bulbs in our service truck. Drive out, see what you need, then come back and get the part. Forty mile round trip? “So what, you’re on the clock, Do what I say.”
I should point out that it was a modular trailer bulb, that cost $7 but would fit nothing except our trucks.
And lets be honest here. A big part of the problem is the level of scrutiny our people can expect from the Inspection sevice, and now the OIG. I personally have never had to deal with that. But it sure changes the people that did! They come through, ask some questions, then things start to go weird.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Bertie, I myself have often been humbled by the mighty Postal bureaucracy, but in this instance it is not as bad as you say. Minor repairs like wiper blade and lamp replacement, anything up to $250, can be paid for with the vehicle’s Voyager card, at the discretion of the Postmaster or Manager where the vehicle is domiciled. The Voyager program requires no additional requisitions or approvals, though I suppose a DM or Area VP could issue local restrictions. Policy is that the VMF must be consulted for repairs over $250. Voyager cannot be used to purchase parts only, they must be in conjunction with a service or repair. (Oil, washer fluid, PS fluid, and other lubricants are OK though) But, parts like tires, starters, bulbs, flashers, etc. CAN be ordered through the VMF and kept on hand at post offices for installation by local shops. Unfortunately FTR carriers cannot add oil, change light bulbs, etc. without violating current collective bargaining agreements. At some offices, VOMAs, willing custodians, PTF carriers, or even supervisors or PMs do these minor repairs, though the latter risk generating a grievance from MV craft. I’d love to see that changed during the contract negotiations this fall. Both NALC and APWU would have to agree.
August 5th, 2010 at 12:14 am
OK, I’ve given it some thought. You could probably do an on catalog E-Buy for a single light bulb, and it will probably come in in a week. Of course that means that you will have to do without your vehicle for that week. Or drive a week without functioning turn signals. Not an easy choice. But it makes the bulb counters happy, and how can you put a price on that.
Plan “B” would involve doing an E-Buy for 10 bulbs before you need them, Of course, then you would have to do it as a declining balance, and go in as you use each bulb. and “receive” them one at a time using the vehicle number. Of course, at the end of the fiscal year, you would probably have to return the unused bulbe to the vendor for a refund, Then order 10 more for the next fiscal year.
I’m waiting for someone to jump in and say “you don’t have to do all that for items less than $1. But I guarantee you. Some one just slightly above you will insist you do. Why? Because it “makes them feel better.”
How do you put a price on that?
August 4th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
George, your idea and and willingness to take personal responsibility for your vehicle is commendable. The reality, however, is that USPS negotiated away the authority to hold letter carriers to this level of responsibility. Under their CBA and Postal policy, they cannot even be required to check the oil on their vehicles, let alone add a quart or replace a wiper blade! All postal vehicle operators are required to perform a safety check of their vehicles before driving, but it is primarily a visual inspection. The only action required of the driver is to report defects to management. And if a carrier or manager DOES perform some minor repair, they are opening themselves up for a possible grievance over crossing craft.
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:50 am
Well George, we could buy the bulbs in packs of 10 for 60 cents each, but we couldn’t save any money. Why! YOU MIGHT STEAL THEM! So, you will have to do an off-catalog E-Buy, that will be approve 1st by somebody hundreds of miles away. They might approve it. But mor likely than not, one of the 4 people that have to approve it will shoot it down because you used the wrong code #. So you redo it as instructed. One of the other approvers doesn’t like that code#. So you do it again. The 1st guy refuses it because you used the “wrong” code#. So even if you do get them, have you filed an approved job safety analysis with step by step procedures for this task? I’m telling you now so when some guy with a cilpboard comes through a year from now you won’t hear what a bad employee you were.
Then, do you already have a spreadsheet to track the use of these $.60 bulbs. If one truck uses more bulbs than the other did you investigate how this could have possibly happened?
Anyway a year from now, somebody with a clipboard will come through and confiscate your bulbs as unauthorised. Six months later a different guy with a clipboard will come through and demand to count them. He won’t believe your “story” about somebody confiscating them. Make you all kinds of gung-ho to help this place save money doesn’t it?
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:57 am
why do we need to bring our own trucks the local service center for MINOR repairs. EX. fix wiper blades,fix a fuse, add windshield wash,anti-freeze,etc. When, if we had our uwn supply at each station, we,a manager, or someone, could do the repair. The cost would be NOTHING.WE can do it, and then ther carrier (hopefully)will know that the job was done RIGHT in the first palce.WE are throwing away money,letting the local service,and/or gas station do the repair.Yes, keep them for the major jobs,but the little ones we can do, and save big bucks, in the mean time.