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This eliminates the need for the upfitter to work under the dash of a truck or to cut into the vehicle wiring system. Remember that upfitter package availability and multiplexing capabilities vary between manufacturers, and from model to model. Fleet managers need to be knowledgeable of these variations and should evaluate the impact the variations may have on final upfitting costs. In many cases, truck equipment and component manufacturers now find it advantageous, if not necessary, to interface their products with the truck chassis. In the maintenance shop Technology makes it possible to track every replacement part that goes into a vehicle; a vehicle's mileage and/or number of operating hours accumulated between failures; vendor part numbers for replacement parts; and very accurate maintenance labor costs. This data gives fleet managers the ability to: * Accurately track failures by vehicle make and model. * Track failures by both application and operating environment. * Determine the mean time between failures for various components, tracked by vendor, part number and operational conditions. * Optimize replacement parts inventory. * Establish an accurate predictive maintenance program. * Easily and accurately track maintenance costs by specific vehicle, make and model. This information can then be used to further optimize vehicle specifications and make better purchasing decisions for chassis, vehicle-mounted equipment and replacement parts. on their age. But again, computer technology can make it an easy task to generate multiple maintenance schedules based on individual vehicle requirements. In the case of vehicles classified as "commercial," government-mandated service intervals may become the controlling factor. The technology-driven improvements in equipment have led industries such as aviation and railroads to petition the government for adjustments in required maintenance and inspection schedules. There may be a similar movement in the commercial truck segment in the coming years as suppliers provide better and better equipment. Be proactive The technology to improve your fleet's operations is out there. Take the time to learn what is available and then determine how you can utilize it in your fleet. This means reading articles in trade magazines, attending trade events and talking to your peers. In many cases, you will have to sell your ideas to upper management, so be sure to do your homework before approaching them. Keeping up with the latest technology developments and how they can improve your fleet operations is not easy. However, if you make the effort, you will likely discover that, in the long run, it will make your job easier, reduce your costs and improve your operational efficiency. All in all, that is not a bad return on your time. LI Robert "Bob" Johnson is a former fleet manager and currently serves as director of fleet relations for NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry. The technology applications mentioned in this article and many others will be addressed in educational sessions at The Work Truck Show 2013 or the associated Green Truck Summit in Indianapolis. The Work Truck Show 2013 runs March 6–8, 2013, with educational sessions, including the Green Truck Summit, kicking off March 5. For a complete Work Truck Show schedule, visit www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/. In addition to the educational sessions, more than 550 companies will exhibit the latest vocational trucks and technologies on the show floor. Let's go even further As a fleet manager, it's important to review your maintenance program every year. In the process, you will probably discover that you need significantly different maintenance schedules for vehicles based www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation 13