Navistar Wins Powertrain Contract from U.S. Postal Service

Navistar Inc. has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Postal Service to engineer a diesel powertrain replacement for postal delivery vehicles, aimed at reducing rising maintenance and fuel costs for USPS’ aging delivery vehicle fleet.

“When the USPS current fleet was first put into service, diesel fuel and advanced diesel powertrain technology were not widely available,” Andrew Dondlinger, vice president of North America operations for Navistar Engine Group.

“Now, by replacing its gasoline powertrains, USPS could realize diesel’s benefits of fuel efficiency, long operational life and low service and operating costs,” he said in statement.

The Government Accountability Office said in a report last month that the U.S. Postal Service lacked funds to replace older trucks in its fleet.

Under the contract, the USPS will deliver one of its Long Life Vehicles to Navistar’s Engineering and Technical Center in Melrose Park, Ill., where technicians will test and install a powertrain that features Navistar’s MaxxForce 3.2-liter turbodiesel engine.

In early June, USPS announced a contract with government contractor VSE Corp. and Wheeler Bros. to develop a more fuel efficient version of the LLV.

Wheeler supplies nearly all of the parts for USPS’s fleet of boxy LLV delivery trucks, which are nearing the end of their 24-year life expectancy.

Since USPS lacks the cash to replace its LLV fleet, it’s looking for ways to extend the life of the vehicles and developing a new engine and power train is part of this plan.