Rural Mail Delivery by a Grumman LLV

June 26, 2026

Since moving to rural Prattsburgh, NY in 2007, I have never seen the use of this type of truck to deliver mail here- until today.

USPS Grumman LLV

Many years ago, I worked for a company that deployed mobile vehicle pressure washing units to several large fleets in Central and Upstate New York.  Among these were FedEx, Gypsum Express, Commodity Services, Black Horse, Verizon, and the US Postal Service.

The work was very physically demanding, especially for the larger trucking equipment in all types of weather and, in many cases, involved the removal of any wastewater from the site.

But my favorite job was to wash the hundreds of smaller USPS vehicles on secure sites near Syracuse, and as far as Fulton, and Oswego. This required certain "security" access and obtaining the ignition keys to each vehicle. 

United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery trucks outside the U.S. Post Office in Hays, Kansas.

On most occasions, the USPS trucks' forward interiors were simply "wiped down,"  and the windows cleaned on the inside before exterior washing.  In certain cases, the vehicles were moved to a "wash area," which required us to drive them there, wash them, and then return them to their designated parking places.

Most of these USPS vehicles were Grumman LLV's (1987-1992). If any vehicle could be described as being beat-up daily, run to the extreme, put away wet, and somehow survive, it would be the LLV.

So when I saw a USPS Rural Mail Carrier stop at my location today, I could not believe what I was seeing.  I have never seen a "marked" USPS rural delivery vehicle in the twenty years I have been here, but there sat a marked USPS Grumman LLV!

So, I ran out there and briefly talked to the carrier, "Where did you get this?" I asked, and he told me it was "borrowed" from the Bath USPS.

The vehicle interior was filthy. I could barely see the gauges on the dashboard for all the dirt! The tires were worn, and the outside of the truck was dirty, too. "I can't believe it, it's a Grumman!" I told him.

It seemed so shockingly out of place, and I was so excited that I forgot to check my mailbox!

If the Prattsburgh, NY Post Office continues to use or "adopt" that old Grumman LLV, I will gladly volunteer to help clean it, inside and out - for FREE!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_LLV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3g2p4KKS74

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmK24VAaZrg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edPqtHPiMMk&t=635s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcFiVSElTJI