WASHINGTON, DC (November 20, 2025) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) sent a letter to Jim Cari, Government Relations Representative for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in North Carolina, demanding answers about the ongoing safety crisis involving the deteriorating Long Life Vehicle (LLV) fleet and pressing for specifics on how the agency plans to tackle the overwhelming repair backlog.
Sounding the alarm on LLV breakdowns, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee described the myriads of mechanical failures, including rods exploding through engine blocks, vehicles struggling to start, and delayed acceleration that endangers every driver on the road. She also highlighted how the lack of air conditioning and broken fans expose carriers to extreme risk, with interior temperatures exceeding 130 degrees.
“When vehicles are sidelined for weeks or months awaiting service, routes are left to be operated short-staffed. The alternative of keeping vehicles on the road despite unresolved problems jeopardizes both employee safety and timely delivery,” wrote Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. “This cycle of delay and danger places strain on the workforce and undermines public confidence in reliable postal service.”
The letter requests that the United States Postal Service provide the American public with a clear plan for addressing urgent safety concerns and outline specific actions to clear the mounting repair backlog. This marks Congresswoman Foushee’s second intervention in two months. She previously pressed Oshkosh Defense for answers about significant production delays of Next Generation Electric Delivery Vehicles, the modern replacements designed to phase out the aging LLV fleet. With those new vehicles still delayed, carriers are forced to continue driving LLVs that deteriorate by the day.
The full text of the letter can be found here.
