Equipment World

February 2018

Equipment World Digital Magazine

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February 2018 | EquipmentWorld.com 58 working on jobsites where they never go over 30 mph. We're seeing major issues with DPFs, and that has all kinds of ripple effects. We simply can't afford to operate trucks that way. Old habits have got to change." Weight "The scope of work on today's modern earthmoving equipment is rapidly changing," Bunting says. Not every technician on every call needs a big air compressor sitting in their truck bed. "That's the single biggest horsepower draw when that truck runs at idle." Some technicians are eliminating the compressor in favor of cordless rechargeable impact guns. "Those are getting more ef- ficient and changing the landscape of what you need to put on your truck." Likewise with welders, which may weigh 600 to 800 pounds. In some applications, they're necessary. But when not needed, you're wasting fuel just to haul them around. As an alternative to PTOs, some service techs are using auxiliary power units, says Bunting. These APUs require you to keep up with a second engine, but you benefit by not turning the entire drive train of a 7-liter, 300-plus-horsepower diesel engine just to power one tool. Trucks gain weight over time, says Bunting. "A lot of service trucks have been overweight for years, and it's an accepted practice," he says. These overweight trucks are a target for DOT enforcement. With the new electronic logging device mandate, companies are looking for lighter trucks, even if they're only down one class size. The increasing use of compact machines like skid steers and compact track loaders means that not every service truck in your fleet needs a full compressor, generator/ welder and 4,000-pound crane. The increased use of rental machines also reduces the need for big service trucks, Bunting says. If the size of the work being done is shrinking, he says, then the size of the service vehicle should shrink as well. Cargo security If you have an open-bed truck, valuable parts or tools must be secured against theft and pilferage. Locking storage boxes do this well, but a truck with three or four or a half-dozen small exterior boxes and storage units can make organization and retrieval of these items cumbersome, says Bunting. With a van, one key handles all your security needs. And if you equip your van with a door alarm system, you gain additional security not available in exterior storage units. Comfortable and convenient Bunting also thinks the van as ser- vice vehicle appeals to older me- chanics and can be a good recruiting tool to keep them at your company. The interiors are quieter and more automotive like. A van is easier to park and maneuver in traffic. It can be outfitted with a small bench or work table to do small detail work, on things like electronics, wiring and sensors, out of the rain and ele- ments. And most of today's vans are tall enough to stand in. Technology The changing nature of techni- cians' daily operations is also affecting service truck choices, says Bunting. In many cases, their tasks in the field involve sensors, electronic communications and telematics. "The ability to talk to these ma- chines from your truck is becom- ing vital," Bunting says. "A van provides the environment to do that. Some of these vans are look- ing like surveillance vehicles with all the monitors on the inside." The bottom line Some companies order the same service truck each year without ac- counting for changing costs and the work being done. Bunting suggests reviewing your needs and specs ev- ery three years, or at least halfway in a truck purchase life cycle. Bunting adds that vans are not just for light-duty work or applica- tions, noting that service vans with four-wheel drive capabilities are working in the Canadian oil sands regions, which is a very challenging work environment. However, he encourages fleet owners and dealer- ships to look closely at their needs and the costs of running traditional, fully outfitted service trucks and give serious consideration to a van or two in their fleet mix. "If you wait five or 10 years, there are so many things that change. Just blueprinting the same truck year in and year out is not going to work," Bunting says. "Small changes can lead to big results on the backside. You can take steps that can create new pathways to better efficiency and add a tremendous amount of profitability back to the bottom line." pro pickup | continued You can get much of what you need to service equipment inside a van and cut your O&O costs considerably.

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