Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
      Renault to form JV with U.S. hydrogen specialist Plug Power for fuel cell vans
    • Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
      Smithers webinars focus on performance materials in green tires
      Ferentino Tyre opens Sri Lanka plant; eyes exports to U.S., Europe
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      JobsOhio funding gives Sperry & Rice room to grow
      TRAC's Glenn Maidment caps 51-year rubber industry career
      LafargeHolcim looks to solidify U.S. presence with Firestone Building Products purchase
    • Engel starts distribution of its Wintec brand in Europe
      ANRPC notes rubber price recovery
      Bostik investment expands its adhesives offerings
      Smithers webinars focus on performance materials in green tires
    • Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
      Rubber lab services firm Ace reports record year
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Adriano Alfani named Versalis CEO
      Maroon Group adds to Southeast sales team
    • Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
      Lobbying group unveils policy agenda to speed transition to EVs
    • Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
      Column: Still far way from normal
    • Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
      A comparative study looking at effects of curing kinetics and batch variation on SBR injection molding and numerical analytics
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
      Rubber Division seeking abstracts for Spring Technical Meeting
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
      New Products: MonTech automates bale cutter for safety, productivity
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Apollo to raise prices of Vredestein brand tires
      China's tire production up in 2020
      Renault to form JV with U.S. hydrogen specialist Plug Power for fuel cell vans
    • Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
      IRP Medical solidifies portfolio with KDL deal
      Rubber lab services firm Ace reports record year
    • Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
      Top Glove reopens COVID-hit factories with enhanced precautions
      Malaysia electronics group to enter rubber gloves sector
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Select™: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive
August 09, 2019 01:42 PM

New USPS delivery trucks may bring change for LT tire market

Miles Moore
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    WASHINGTON—Pending multi-billion-dollar acquisitions of delivery vehicles by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), with changes in vehicle design motivated by e-commerce and other considerations, could mean big changes in the postal service's light truck tire purchases.

    Precisely what those changes will be, however, is anybody's guess.

    "The Postal Service is in a multi-year process of conducting research and testing as a part of our efforts to operate a future class of delivery vehicles that will incorporate new technology to accommodate a diverse mail mix, enhance safety, improve service, reduce emissions and produce operational savings," a USPS spokeswoman said.

    The agency completed testing in March on New Generation Delivery Vehicle prototypes from five potential suppliers, and it expects to award the contract for vehicle production later this year, according to the spokeswoman.

    USPS cannot comment on the suppliers or on any potential subcontractors, including tire makers, she said. Among those known to have submitted prototypes for testing are AM General L.L.C., Oshkosh Corp. and Mahindra Automotive North America.

    Most of the prototypes competing for the NGDV contract are larger than the ubiquitous "Long Life Vehicles" that USPS has been using for nearly 30 years, outfitted with tires larger than the 14- and 15-inch rim diameter tires used now.

    Related Article
    USTMA predicts slight increase in 2019 tire shipments

    Among the design/performance criteria the USPS has outlined for the new-generation delivery vehicles are a service life of 18 to 20 years, right-hand steering with two-wheel drive, a van-style body with integral cargo and cab compartment, sliding side doors and a minimum 1,500-pound payload capacity with 330 to 400 cubic feet of cargo space.

    A July 2018 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office said that the Postal Service projects expenditures of roughly $821 million annually from fiscal year 2018 through 2028 on vehicles, primarily new delivery vehicles starting in fiscal year 2019.

    The USPS operates a fleet of more than 200,000 vehicles throughout the U.S. and its territories, approximately 163,000 of which are LLVs purchased between 1987 and 2001. In addition to LLVs, the USPS uses vans, 2-ton vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles and tractor trailers.

    The USPS is looking to replace up to 180,000 aging mail trucks, according to various sources.

    "(The) USPS plans to take a number of steps to ensure that the vehicles best meet the organization's needs," the GAO report said. It designed the multi-year acquisition partly to avoid large cash outlays in any given year and partly to take advantage of technological changes such as advanced fuel technologies, it said.

    USPS officials told the GAO that they were considering vehicles that enhance operational efficiency, such as taller vehicles that would allow carriers to better handle packages and trays of mail. They also may consider different vehicle designs for different market needs.

    The agency estimated its total capital outlay for new delivery vehicles at about $5.7 billion, the GAO said.

    LT sales flat

    E-commerce outlets such as Amazon.com increasingly depend on USPS to deliver goods ordered online. If USPS delivery vehicles have had any noticeable impact to date on replacement light truck tire sales, it isn't apparent from the most recent available figures from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association.

    Projected replacement LT tire shipments in the U.S. in 2019 are 31.8 million, 1 percent above the 31.5 million shipped in 2018, the USTMA said in March. The bulk of the tires used by the USPS for its LLV delivery vans are in the 14- and 15-inch size range and wouldn't show up in the LT tire category.

    Retreading systems supplier Oliver Rubber Co., a Michelin North America Inc. subsidiary that has the exclusive contract to supply the USPS with retreaded tires, said it has seen no change in the tires it supplies to that market.

    Michelin, however, said it anticipates a number of changes emanating from the e-commerce delivery market.

    "Consumer retailers and transportation companies must be able to quickly deliver packages in urban, suburban and rural environments, leading to the need of new transit options for distributors," Coy Jones, senior operational marketing manager, business-to-business regional and small fleet for Michelin North America, said.

    The Amazon Prime program, which promises delivery of all goods within two business days, is a good example of the delivery model set by e-commerce, Jones said.

    "This model will be dependent on the adaptation of the current trucking industry models and drive a new reliance on smaller fleets to help quickly shuttle products through inner cities all the way to a rural address," he said.

    "The new distribution vehicle will include box trucks, sprinter vans and transit vans to allow agility in moving the products to the end user," Jones said. "This will require new product developments by the manufacturers to handle the weight and various environments in which these vehicles will traverse.

    "This will also require additional changes to the product lineup as it related to tire and wheel sizes for these vehicles," he said.

    Growth area

    To address this demanding application, Michelin recently launched the Agilis CrossClimate tire, Jones said, which the company claims provides 19 percent more mileage than three leading competitive commerce tires.

    The Agilis CrossClimate is available in 21 sizes covering 15- to 20-inch rim diameter sizes, he added.

    "This has not had a drastic impact on sales to date, but the expectation is that this will be the future growth area to watch," he said.

    Advancements in technology further are changing the very concept of e-commerce, according to Jones.

    "For the tire manufacturer and supplier, this would include a level of tire monitoring leveraging future technologies to include the internet of things and artificial intelligence," he said.

    "This will leverage data efficiency and provide a completely new level of convenience for businesses within the transportation industry."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION