Like the postal service itself, mail delivery methods have changed quite a bit over the years. From the types of vehicles used to the color of the vehicles themselves, there have been significant changes in how the postal service has delivered mail.
SCREEN WAGONS
Screen wagons were first introduced in Texas in 1886 and were a secure way to transport mail from the railway stations to the city post offices. These wagons were pulled by a horse and were used in both the city and more rural areas as a form of mail delivery.
COLUMBIAN MARK AUTOMOBILE
Automobiles soon replaced screen wagons because they were able to travel the same distance as horse-drawn carriages in less than half the time. In 1906, the first automobiles, the Columbian Mark, were tested in Baltimore, Maryland, and were a massive success. The vehicles required a driver and a carrier and could hold several small parcels and two mailbags.
FORD MODEL
During the 1930s, the Ford Motor Company Model A became the heart of the postal delivery fleet. Many of these vehicles stayed in service for several years, if not decades. With America in recovery from the Great Depression and WWII, it made it difficult for the Post Office Department to purchase new vehicles. The Ford Model As stayed on the road until a new vehicle made its debut.
WILLYS JEEP
Long before it became a mail delivery vehicle, the Willys Jeep had made a name for itself as a tough vehicle from WWII. The jeeps made their grand entrance in 1953 and featured a right-hand driving seat to help cut down on delivery time. Now, mail carriers could reach mailboxes by simply sticking their hands out the window and placing letters into a mailbox instead of walking to the other side of the car.
MAILSTERS
By the 1960s, most of the Post
Office Department’s routes had been motorized. As suburbs became bigger, so did postal routes. Soon, the Department started using three-wheeled Mailster vehicles to help deliver the mail. These scooters were lightweight and were cheap to make, saving the Post Office money while still getting the job done.
LONG LIFE VEHICLE
These rough and tough vehicles began service in 1986 and were the answer to many of the Post Office’s problems. The Long
Life Vehicles (LLV) could carry 1,000 pounds of mail, had a tight turning radius, and were able to withstand a variety of tests
from the Post Office. While the vehicles were in service for almost two decades, they have slowly been phased out for more updated versions that are on the road today.