People may notice a new sight around town beginning Saturday, the familiar white U.S. Postal Service delivery truck.

Some folks also may need to raise their mailboxes to accommodate delivery from the new vehicles.

"They will be more noticeable," said Sequim Post Office manager Steve Allen.

"They are a great addition. We are looking forward to them."

The Sequim post office's first two of 10 trucks will used in SunLand and the area north of Washington Street between Fifth Avenue and Carrie Blake Park beginning Saturday. The 10 trucks will comprise half the fleet.

"We hope to get enough for our whole area," Allen said.

The 98382 zip code covers 200 square miles from McDonald Creek to Gardiner and from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, including Diamond Point.

Allen said the trucks became available because of a reduced number of routes in larger cities.

They will allow postal workers to deliver more mail more quickly because the trucks are designed for delivery, versus the older rural route delivery vehicles, he said.

That means some routes will be consolidated, but people shouldn't notice too much change in delivery times, Allen said.

The new trucks are larger than their predecessors, with a 7-foot clearance, 15-foot turning radius and 3.5-foot-high delivery window.

So some people must raise their mailboxes to make delivery from the larger vehicles easier for the carriers, Allen said.

Some also will have to trim overhanging trees or remove ornamentation that will obstruct the larger vehicles, he said.

The brick mailbox stands such as those on Willow Street might be all right, but carriers will have to see, Allen said, adding they will work with residents on solutions.

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.