The United States Postal Service has launched a pilot program placing dashboard cameras in mail trucks that continuously scan roads and sidewalks, according to a labor union letter and a statement from the agency. The cameras, made by dashcam company Next Base, are installed in 100 vehicles in the Washington, DC area and begin recording once the truck is in drive. The stated goal is to leverage the Postal Service's nationwide reach to collect data that could improve community safety.
The letter, posted by NALC Branch 238 and addressed to the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, says the cameras are forward-facing and do not record audio. They also do not run automatic license plate reader software, despite Next Base marketing its cameras' ability to capture license plates. The pilot was slated to begin September 21 and last several months.
A USPS spokesperson said the pilot is limited and designed to assess whether vehicle-mounted cameras can help identify roadway conditions. They added that the program includes privacy safeguards and requires no action from employees. The agency already uses 360-degree external cameras on some trucks, but this pilot expands data collection to road and sidewalk analysis.