CALLICOON, SULLIVAN COUNTY – If you noticed Callicoon’s delivery trucks looking a little sleek and different, you’re not seeing things. Callicoon Post Office recently welcomed three Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs) as part of the U.S. Postal Service’s broader fleet modernization effort.

According to the U.S. Postal Service’s Atlantic Area Strategic Communications Specialist Mark Lawrence, the vehicles are already making their mark on local carriers.

“As far as the three new NGDVs in Callicoon, the carriers have immediately embraced the ergonomics and additional space of the vehicles along with the trays and ledges that hold the mail,” Lawrence said.

As previously mentioned, these NGDVs are a small fraction of the Postal Service’s larger effort to replace its aging delivery fleet, including the familiar Grumman LLVs that have been a community staple for many years. USPS has ordered 51,500 NGDVs nationwide, with 35,000 of them being battery electric vehicles (BEVs). More than 5,000 NGDVs have been delivered, with more than 800 of those being electric trucks.

In total, the Postal Service plans to operate roughly 66,000 battery electric vehicles, including both NGDVs and commercially available off-the-shelf models, as part of a $9.6 billion investment in fleet modernization under its decade-long “Delivering for America” plan.

With safety and comfort in mind, these NGDVs feature automatic emergency braking, 360-degree cameras and blind-spot warnings. Those features will be further broadened come summer with air conditioning, improved task lighting and expanded cargo capacity to meet the growing need for e-commerce packages.

Locally speaking, Lawrence noted the adjustment period that comes when any new vehicle is introduced into daily operations.

“As with any new vehicle, there is an adjustment phase, so we ask customers to keep helping us by maintaining a clear path to mailboxes, free of snow and ice,” stressed Lawrence.

The trucks also feature additional cargo space and built-in mail trays to improve efficiency by reducing the need for multiple trips and giving carriers an easier time organizing deliveries. According to an October 2024 press release, the updated vehicles are expected to improve reliability and reduce maintenance downtime compared to older models.

This change doesn’t just reflect the NGDVs either. Recently, the Postal Service added more than 9,000 Ford E-Transit electric vehicles to its fleet and acquired Mercedes Metris and Ram ProMaster gas-operated vehicles—all part of its phased replacement strategy.

Though Lawrence did not specify if or when additional vehicle deployments would happen in other nearby communities, he assured that vehicles will continue being introduced as part of the rollout of the Postal Service’s new delivery network.