Dispatcher Jeep: Inside the Fed’s First Commissioned Mail Truck
A look back at the Dispatcher Jeep’s place in mail truck history, as the Postal Service makes a move to Oshkosh NGDV trucks.
The U.S. Postal Service is swapping out its Grumman Long Life Vehicle (LLV) fleet for Oshkosh Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) trucks. Oshkosh Defense was awarded a 10-year contract for new U.S.-manufactured postal delivery vehicles this year. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract is a historic investment in the Postal Service’s future.
Historic in its own right? The first commissioned mail truck of the Postal Service: the Dispatcher Jeep (Jeep DJ). The DJ was the Postal Service’s dedicated mail truck prior to the Grumman LLV trucks. 
The DJ fit the Postal Service’s need for a reliable delivery. Based on the iconic Jeep CJ, the DJ represented functionality and simplicity. The DJ, produced in 1984, was constructed from sheet metal, making it ideal for the daily use and abuse of the long postal routes. The two-wheel drive DJ featured a sliding door, perfect for mail carriers to quickly get in and out of the vehicle for deliveries. A right-hand drive vehicle, it enabled the carrier to navigate mail routes and easily put deliveries into mailboxes. Those utilitarian qualities solidified the DJ’s role with the Postal Service for many years.
Like all good things, the DJ eventually reached the end of its road. By the mid ’80s, the Postal Service requested bids from the nation’s vehicle industry for a new generation of mail truck. Seeking the longest-lasting vehicle possible, the Postal Service held a competition in Laredo, Texas, in 1985 that included driving 24,000 miles, piloting 960 miles of potholes, and hauling 400 pounds. Able to withstand the then-current demands of postal delivery trucks, Grumman LLV was awarded the bid.
Now, the Oshkosh NGDV will replace the aging Grumman LLV, last produced in 1994. The modern mail truck will help move the Postal Service into the future and make it easier to deliver mail. The Oshkosh NGDV will first roll out with combustion engines, but it can be equipped with an electric powertrain to make an environmental impact.
Looking back at the DJ and its carbureted engines, enthusiasts can appreciate the progress of automotive technology. But Jeep’s right-hand-drive Wrangler Postal Unit has been used by the Postal Service since they moved on from the DJ. It turns out the Jeep’s hard top, full metal doors, and removable rear seat create a secure space for packages and bulk mailing materials, and it’s also ideal for postal carriers delivering mail in off-road, rural areas.
Photos: IFCAR, A.M. General