Bryant Motors


Serving Sedalia, Boonville, Clinton, Jefferson City, Marshall, Warrensburg and Central Missouri
(800) 886-2701

2901 South Limit Ave. Sedalia, MO 65301
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History of the Postal Vehicle

Learn more about which vehicles deliver your mail everyday

Since the 1950s, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been using different vehicles to deliver mail to millions of Americans every day. The unusual part is that the USPS has only commissioned two different vehicles in the past 65 years: the Jeep DJ and the Grumman Long Life Vehicle (LLV).

Jeep DJjeep-dj

Grumman Long Life Vehiclegrumman

The Jeep DJ (or Dispatcher Jeep) featured a sliding door and right-hand drive steering to make delivering mail easier for postal workers, and use of this vehicle began in the 1950’s. These Jeeps were made out of thin sheet metal and stood up to a lot of wear and tear, but eventually the USPS had to replace the DJ with a vehicle that was more fuel efficient and could withstand the grueling task of running long mail routes all day, every day.

Once the Jeep DJs were decommissioned in 1984, the USPS decided to set up criteria for the perfect postal vehicle and take it to vehicle manufacturers to see what they could create. There were several manufacturers who vied for their vehicle, but after exhaustive tests, the Grumman LLV was chosen.

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum explains the details of the LLV:

The LLV’s body was manufactured by Grumman, the chassis by General Motors. The truck body is made from corrosion-resistant aluminum, weighs 3,000 pounds, can carry 1,000 pounds of mail and has a tight turning radius. The Postal Service ordered 99,150 Long Life Vehicles. At a cost of $11,651 per vehicle, the USPS contract with Grumman totaled over $1.1 billion ad was the largest vehicle order ever placed by the postal service. The Long Life Vehicles were produced in Grumman’s Montgomery, Pennsylvania plant. During the height of production, the company was producing 100 postal trucks per day. 

If you’re too young to remember the days of the Jeep, then the Long Life Vehicles may be the only mail trucks you’ve ever known – white, boxy little trucks with the USPS blue eagle on the side.

Right-Hand Drive Jeeps: Making a Comeback

Right-hand drive (RHD) Jeeps are not completely out of the mail delivery picture, though, because they are still often used for rural postal routes. Jeep stopped manufacturing RHD vehicles for a time after the USPS stopped using them in the 80s, but saw the need to continue later on. They began producing RHD Jeep Cherokees and RHD Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds in 2001 and 2003.

The USPS is currently set to roll out their third brand new fleet in 2018. The last LLV was made in 1994, so their 20+ years of service is quickly coming to an end. The vehicle that will replace the LLV is yet to be announced, but the USPS has made it clear that they want to fundamentally change it, only keeping a few of the features from the LLV – like right-hand drive and sliding doors.

Car and Driver lists some of the changes expected in the new postal vehicle:

The new vans will have safety features now standard on passenger cars and light trucks, including a front airbag, tire-pressure monitors, a backup camera, daytime running lights, and ABS. The postal service has also called for more fuel-efficient, less-polluting powertrains and is considering alternative-fuel vehicles for a large part of its fleet.

Fifteen different companies responded to their request for design proposals. The replacement fleet will include approximately 212,000 delivery trucks and cost upwards of $6.3 billion to make.

To read more about RHD Jeeps, check out our blog: Where, Oh Where Can I Find a Right Hand Drive Jeep?

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Bryant Motors
2901 South Limit Ave
Sedalia MO 65301
(800) 886-2701
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Full Service Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Dealership
Serving Sedalia, Warrensburg and Whiteman AFB, Missouri

If you're in the market for a new or used vehicle, we invite you to browse our online showroom or come on down to our dealership and check out our inventory. Bryant Motors has been the premier go-to place for central Missouri's transportation needs for nearly 80 years.

Once you step on the lot or in the showroom, our personable and caring team of auto specialists will show you why we've remained Sedalia's leader for new & used trucks, SUVs, cars and more.

Check Out Our Vehicle Inventory including:

New Cars: Come test drive our Chrysler 200, 300 and Dodge Avenger. The revitalized Dodge Dart provides economical transportation with the handling you'd expect from a sports car. For modern day classics, we recommend Dodge Charger and Challenger. And if you're really in need to speed, the Dodge SRT Viper is in a class all to itself.

New Trucks: Find the best selection of both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive trucks in central Missouri at Bryant Motors. For best-in-class towing & fuel economy, test drive Motor Trend's Truck of the Year for both 2013 and 2014, Dodge's Ram 1500. For a more heavy-duty trucks, we recommend Ram 2500 and 3500 models.

New Minivans: Looking to buy a family car? Check out Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. These popular family van set the standard for minivans.

New SUVs: When it comes to Jeeps, we have the best selection of all Jeep models including Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Patriot and Compass. Dodge SUVs are one of our best sellers. The Dodge Durango provides both power and room, while Dodge's new crossover, the Journey, seats 7 and is the most affordable crossover-SUV on the market today.

Used Cars & Trucks: looking for a good used vehicle? Bryant Motors' pre-owned department carefully screens each used vehicle to ensure you're getting the dependability you need. Choose from a wide array of makes and models, including many one-owner cars, trucks and SUVs.

Find the latest Dodge Ram, Jeep Wrangler and other exciting models, or browse our extensive inventory of quality new and used automobiles

Our Sedalia-based auto dealership serves the new and used car needs of surrounding communities, including Warrensburg and Jefferson City.

Find top-quality Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep, including the Ram 1500, Wrangler/Grand Cherokee and other models designed for getting the job done or getting through some of the serious farm and rural country Missouri is known for.

Bryant Motors is centrally located to residents of Sedalia and surrounding areas, as well as vacationers heading to Lake of the Ozarks or Osage Beach.

When you visit our showroom at 2901 S. Limit in Sedalia, you will not only find exciting new Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep models. You'll also find the most knowledgeable and friendly sales staff out in all of central Missouri.

Come visit our dealership near: Warrensburg , Whiteman AFB , Jefferson City, Marshall, Clinton, Boonville

Bryant Motors Auto Service & Repair Serving Sedalia, Warrensburg, Whiteman AFB and Jefferson City

Where you purchased your new Dodge Ram, Grand Caravan or used car is irrelevant - Bryant Motors' service department is here to help with all your automotive maintenance and repair needs.

We offer auto repair and maintenance on all models, regardless of where they were manufactured or purchased.

Whether you need a basic oil change , brake services , auto A/C repair , transmission repair or a total engine overhaul, experienced, factory-trained technicians will get you back on the road as fast as possible.


Find Popular New & Used Cars, Trucks and SUVs:

Chrysler: Chrysler 200 Touring, Chrysler 200 Limited, Town & Country, Chrysler 300

Dodge: Dodge Journey

Ram Trucks: Ram 1500 Ram 2500

Jeep: Patriot Latitude, Compass Latitude, Grand Cherokee (Limited, Overland, Summit), Wrangler

Bryant Motors
Central Missouri Best Car Dealership
Serving Customers in Sedalia, Warrensburg, Whiteman Air Force Base, Jefferson City & Surrounding Areas including Marshall, Boonville, and Clinton, MO