Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Workhorse Meets with USPS, Retains Counsel

The commercial electric vehicle maker said to expect “a prolonged process to explore our options and possibly pursue further action” related to its failed bid to win the contract to replace USPS vehicles.

March 4, 2021
Workhorse Meets with USPS, Retains Counsel

Workhorse Group did not win the bid, but it’s not taking the news the sitting down.

Photo by Chris Brown. 

2 min to read


On Feb. 23, the United States Postal Service awarded its long-awaited contract under its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) program to Oshkosh Defense to replace aging postal vehicles. Workhorse shares fell over 50% in the days following the contract announcement.

Workhorse Group did not win the bid, but it’s not taking the news the sitting down.

Ad Loading...

Workhorse met with USPS representatives on March 3 to discuss the situation. While the details of that meeting “cannot be disclosed at this time,” Workhorse said in a statement that it “intends to share that information through appropriate communications channels to the extent that the Company is permitted to do so.

“Yesterday’s meeting with the USPS marked the first step in what we expect may be a prolonged process to explore our options and possibly pursue further action related to our NGDV bid,” said Workhorse CEO Duane Hughes in the statement. “We will continue to follow the proper due course procedures as defined by the USPS and will also look to other options available to us.

Hughes said that Workhorse has retained the services of legal and corporate advisory firms Akin Gump Straus Hauer & Feld LLP and Mound Cotton Wollan & Greengrass LLP to identify our options and pursue them effectively.

The bid announcement did not end the intrigue, however. In a congressional hearing on Feb. 24, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said that battery-electric mail trucks will only make up 10% of this new fleet. Oshkosh does have an electric version to deploy in the NGDV program, but it’s unclear how USPS vetted Oshkosh’s electric model.

In Workhorse’s quarterly earnings conference call on March 1, an analyst asked Hughes about this specifically. While Workhorse’s electric offering did go through testing with USPS, “We are not aware of any other vehicle that … were of the finalists that went through the durability testing process,” Hughes said.

More Fleet Forward

keynote speaker photo of David Harkey
Fleet Forwardby StaffMay 1, 2026

IIHS Brings Commercial Vehicle Safety Analysis to 2026 Fleet Forward Conference Stage

IIHS President David Harkey will share early findings from new testing of delivery vans, pickups, and work trucks — and what the data means for fleet safety decisions.

Read More →
Image of a fleet manager with fleet on left, data on right of his face.
Fleet Forwardby Chris BrownMay 1, 2026

Fleet Manager or Data Strategist? You’re Both

The job hasn’t changed, but the expectations have. Do you have a plan on how to use AI to thrive?

Read More →
Automotive Fleet awards--fleet visionary, hall of fame, and fleet manager of the year call to nominations.
Fleet Forwardby Faith HowellApril 27, 2026

Nominations Are Open for the 2026 Awards!

The Hall of Fame, Visionary, and Fleet Manager of the Year award nominations are officially live. Don't miss your chance to recognize someone deserving.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Automotive Fleet Fleet Manager of the Year 1985 winner Jack Lamb
Fleet Forwardby StaffApril 24, 2026

Fleet Manager of the Year Winners Over the Years

The Edward J. Bobit Fleet Manager of the Year award honors commercial fleet managers whose leadership, innovation, and business acumen have advanced the profession.

Read More →
VMS Virtual Fleet Manager graphic showing a central AI chip connected to vehicle data, diagnostics, and system workflows across a fleet management platform.
Fleet Forwardby News/Media ReleaseApril 22, 2026

Vehicle Management Systems Introduces Virtual Fleet Manager

VMS recently launched an AI-first fleet platform that streamlines system design, organizes data, and supports decision-making.

Read More →
Person using stylus on tablet with dashboard charts, illustrating LightMetrics AI system that filters driver safety alerts to reduce false positives for fleet managers.
Fleet Forwardby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

LightMetrics Launches Cloud AI Layer to Reduce False Driver Safety Alerts

New FP platform filters dashcam alerts before they reach fleet managers, aiming to cut false positives, improve trust, and streamline safety coaching.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic promoting 2026 nominations for the Automotive Fleet Manager of the Year Award, featuring a badge and a photo of the 2025 winner receiving the honor on stage.
Fleet Forwardby StaffApril 10, 2026

Call for Nominations: 2026 Fleet Manager of the Year Award

Nominations are now open for one of the fleet industry’s most prestigious honors—the Edward J. Bobit Professional Fleet Manager of the Year Award. Recognizing leaders who drive innovation, safety, and measurable impact, this award celebrates the very best in fleet management.

Read More →
AF Weekly News recap thumbnail represents a series.
Fleet Forwardby Faith HowellMarch 13, 2026

Is AI About to Change How Fleets Manage Vehicles? | AF News Recap

In this recap, host Faith Howell covers the top news released at Work Truck Week 2026.

Read More →
A graphic with two women looking at a computer screen represents the celebration of International Women's Day on March 8 for fleet leaders.
Fleet Forwardby Faith HowellMarch 9, 2026

Women in Fleet Reflect on Leadership and Industry Change

Kathryn Schifferle and Lori Olson discuss how technology, mentorship, and collaboration are shaping today’s fleet landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A woman in a blue shirt and apron stands in an automotive suite with her arms crossed.
Fleet Forwardby News/Media ReleaseMarch 6, 2026

The Hourglass Foundation Debuts New Scholarship Program

The Hourglass Foundation has launched a $60,000 program dedicated to supporting future technicians in the workforce.

Read More →