I'm not aware of the maintenance policy for the postal service, maybe its a schedule policy with emergency repairs only or that the site managers can just set their own schedules. I'm guessing the most important repairs are for heat in the winter..
I think these vehicles wear so quickly, is because of the type of abuse they encounter all day, 6 days a week. Constantly getting floored after during route because of the population / mailbox location of the town. Very dense populations in developments, and rural area is pretty populated also. So many mailboxes / stops on route.
They are abused because the stop at every single box, and they always floor the vehicle in between mailboxes. My mail carrier once told me the engines are so small and weak they have no power, no acceleration.
Power output of the motors is 89 hp, and 108 ft/lbs of torque with a quarter mile of 17 seconds. They floor the vans so much because the engine basically has no power.
Stopping / flooring that many times per day, six times a week will add up to a staggering amount of wear on the components of the vehicle. Tires, which are probably be from a contract with a manufacturer, who cheapens the tire to meet the minimum amount of requirements specified in the contract, in order for the manufacturer to make the largest profits on them.
I can't fathom how many stops a single unit will make in a year. I'm guessing the brakes, driveshaft, u-joints, and rear gears will be replaced on a regular basis. I wonder what model of fleet pads they use?
