Jason from BEDROCK is here at Earl Owen today to tell us all about BEDROCKS granite series flatbed. You can find it on earlowen.com
12/03/24
BEDSLIDE Max Extension Sliding Bed Drawer System
Available in 1,500 lb and 2,000 lb versions, the Max Extension Sliding Bed System from BEDSLIDE provides 100% sliding extension out of the truck bed for safe and easy access to cargo at the front of the bed. Just squeeze the 36” easy-grab handle and pull. The honeycomb material is lightweight and water resistant and doesn’t have to be protected by a cover. Backed by BEDSLIDE’s 5-year warranty.
12/01/24
Why DuraLiner? Benefits of DuraLiner Premium Drop-in Bedliners
11/29/24
Smart Solutions for Smaller Fleets with Dave Prusinski | Workshops | Ford Pro™
Dave Prusinski, the Global Chief Revenue Officer for Ford Pro™ Intelligence, delivers a workshop on how Ford Pro helps to level the playing field for small businesses. Our always-on, cloud-based Ford Pro™ Intelligence platform combines data from your vehicles, charging hardware, and daily fleet activity in one place to help simplify your business operations and accelerate productivity. Learn more at https://ford.to/3WgGG1S
11/27/24
Next Step in the UPFIT Process: Ensuring Proper Maintenance.
- Photo: GETTYIMAGES.COM/KARANDAEV
Top Upfit Maintenance Challenges:
A huge challenge many fleet managers face in maintaining upfits is simply communicating the value and importance of proper upfit maintenance to field personnel and drivers.
“Most drivers understand the importance of oil changes, brake services, etc., and will typically make sure their vehicle is serviced in a timely manner. But prioritizing upfit maintenance in a similar fashion typically isn’t something that comes naturally. The fleet manager must educate their frontline personnel on the critical aspect of properly maintaining the vehicle’s equipment; not only to maximize its effective lifecycle and control costs but also to ensure the safety of their fleet personnel in the field,” said Jeff Klinghoffer, regional engineering manager for Holman Enterprises.
At the end of the day, it comes down to education and awareness.
“As a fleet manager, you’ll need to communicate the importance of proper upfit and equipment maintenance to your drivers. Beyond that, you can certainly implement processes and procedures to assess the condition of the vehicle and its upfit regularly. You can also explore potential gamification or incentive programs to help secure buy-in from your drivers,” Klinghoffer added.
Let’s face it; fleet managers have a lot on their plate.
“Fleet managers face daily challenges mixed in with bigger picture issues that include building a safe, reliable, and appropriate truck for the job while making executives and stakeholders happy. Finding the time to answer all of the challenges can be difficult,” said Mathew Marcussen, director of customer relations for BrandFX. “Taking the time to do research and learn more, in the beginning, will reap great savings, benefits, and efficiency in the end. Also, purchase a body that maintains its good condition over a long period will reduce the cost of repairs and service.”
When it comes to the different types of materials used in upfitting, you need to select the right material for the job.
“Ladder racks on top of cargo vans are impacted by either the snow and ice removal chemicals in the Midwest or the salty air near coastal regions. Using aluminum and stainless steel in those products is a must to provide the customer a quality product that gets them a good return on their investment,” said Katie Groves, national fleet sales manager for Adrian Steel.
Don’t forget to depend on those who know upfitting best.
“Partner with an upfitter that has a national presence and a team that can support these instances,” Groves recommended.
6 Mistakes Maintaining Upfits
While mistakes may not often happen when maintaining upfits, they can occur. Here are a few top ones to avoid:
Mistake 1: Lack of Inspection
Just as drivers need to inspect your vehicle for leaks, tire wear, etc., they should examine their upfits, too.
“Constantly check routing and clipping for rub points, just because a battery cable was tied up nicely last time you inspected it doesn’t mean a clip didn’t break loose since then,” said Brad Howard, director of Operations for Fontaine Modification.
Mistake 2: Ignoring Preventive Maintenance
When it comes to the vehicles themselves, preventive maintenance (PM) second nature, but that may not be true for upfits.
“Fleet managers realize that adhering to a recommended PM schedule is vital to optimizing the vehicle’s lifecycle and controlling the total cost of ownership. However, the same methodology also applies to a vehicle’s upfitting and equipment, but preventive maintenance for these items is often overlooked,” said Kelly Klemisch, regional engineering manager, Holman Enterprises.
To avoid this mistake, work upfits into your PM strategy for your vehicles.
“Regular service for equipment such as air compressors, material handling units, and aerial devices should be included in the unit’s PM schedule. Additionally, you can also include inspections in the schedule as well, so drivers receive reminders for those items as well. Or, at the very least, take measures to keep these PM items top-of-mind for drivers and operators. For example, you can track crane or compressors hours on an interior door decal,” Klemisch added.
Mistake 3: Not Adjusting Upfits Correctly
Make sure that ladder racks are correctly adjusted to your ladders.
“A properly adjusted ladder rack will keep the ladder secured on the van during transportation, reduce noise that could cause driver distraction, and extend the life of both the ladder and ladder rack,” said Katie Groves, national fleet sales manager for Adrian Steel.
Mistake 4: Misusing Upfit Equipment
You should also ensure your drivers and frontline workers fully understand how to use the vehicle’s equipment properly.
“Many vocational vehicles feature sophisticated and complex attachments, so training your employees on the best practices for using these units will help to minimize premature wear and tear and maximize the equipment’s effective lifecycle. This also applies to something as simple as a vehicle’s storage units. We often see fleet personnel overloading a service body or interior shelving with more than it is intended to hold, and this really impacts the longevity of these items,” said Klemisch of Holman Enterprises.
Mistake 5: Wrong Service Timing
When you service certain upfit items is also essential.
“When you service trucks, and related upfits is a big item. One example is a snowplow: make sure to service at the end of the snow season AND beginning of the season,” said Patrick Clark, director of fleet sales for Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment.
Mistake 6: Improper Equipment Storage
Where you store your equipment has a considerable impact on its useful service life.
“Also storing equipment inside helps preserve the life. Work with the local upfitters to make sure you are servicing cranes, liftgates, plows etc correctly,” said Clark of Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment.
Source: https://www.worktruckonline.com/10120069/value-of-effectively-maintaining-upfits
11/25/24
Get Things Done | Ford®
No matter how you want to power up, or what you want to build with that power, we've got a Ford® F-150® for you. Hybrid, all-electric, or gas. The power is yours.
11/23/24
The Power is Yours | Ford Pro™
When it comes to power, Ford Pro™ has options. Whether it’s gas, diesel, hybrid, or all-electric, the power is yours.
About Ford Pro: Ford Pro™ is a productivity accelerator designed to drive business forward, delivering solutions to commercial customers of all sizes. We offer the right tools, software and services designed to keep your business on track and your crews on the road.
The Power is Yours | Ford Pro™
/ @fordpro
/ @fordpro 
11/19/24
CURT CrossWing™ Lightweight 5th Wheel Hitch | Features & Benefits
The CrossWing™ 5th wheel hitch #16600 by CURT gives you the best of both worlds by packing extraordinary strength into one lightweight hitch. With the main body weight of only 60 pounds, it is 65% lighter than most traditional 5th wheel hitches while still offering a 20,000 lb. weight capacity, so strength and muscle are not sacrificed.
Its patent-pending ShockDrop technology provides a smoother towing experience by reducing jerking and jarring, and its structure allows fore, aft and lateral head articulation when connecting on uneven terrain, so you can be comfortable and confident in your ride no matter what type of rugged roads you encounter.
The CrossWing™ also features a reinforced head connection point that provides exceptional strength, along with a unique coupling system that eliminates guesswork by offering a visible contact surface.
Features and benefits of the CURT CrossWing™ lightweight 5th wheel hitch:
- Premium steel construction offers robust 20,000-lb. capacity
- Features patent-pending ShockDrop technology to reduce jerking and jarring
- Reinforced head connection point for superior strength and peace of mind
- Easy, one-person installation and removal (fits industry-standard rails)
- 65% lighter than most traditional 5th wheel hitches (main body weighs 60 lbs.)
- Unique coupling system eliminates guesswork by offering visible contact surface
- Head channel guides kingpin into place for easier hookup
- Allows fore, aft and lateral head articulation when connecting on uneven terrain
- Easy-to-reach release handle for ergonomic operation
- Three points of height adjustment from 16-3/8" to 20-3/8"
- Coupling point offset 5" rearward for added turning clearance
- Premium, carbide textured black finish for lasting rust resistance
- High-grade steel design for added strength vs. aluminum
- Tested for safety in accordance with SAE J2638
11/17/24
Building a "Legend" for Liebherr | Crane Service Van Upfit Featuring Legend Fleet Solutions
We were asked by Lieberr, to customize and outfit a new service van that would allow their teams to handle remote calls on heavy-duty cranes. It was an exciting project in many ways, and at the same time, it was also business as usual for the Expertec team.
The first products we recommended came from Legend Fleet Solutions to provide a solid base to build from the ground up. Legend’s slip-resistance flooring was going to be critical to keeping the Lieberr team safe on the job in a variety of climates and temperatures.
We then added in DuraTherm wall and ceiling liners to ensure a quieter and more pleasant ride and to provide “ax proof” protection for the van as well as the tools, shelving, and equipment that would ultimately find their home in the van.
As a company with firm footing in technology, it was no surprise that the Lieberr team requested a specialized workstation, with some additional power to support the needs their crews would encounter.
A GoPower inverter, as well as a Vanair, Super Boost-All system, were wired into the van, to give the team the power resources they needed.
Ultimately, this Lieberr service van has all the tools, and comfort, to provide long-term service, from the most remote outpost in the country, to the middle of the busiest neighborhoods in Calgary.
Expertec is proud to be able to call on Legend Fleet Solutions, and so many of its perfectly designed products, to meet our clients’ needs in a fast and economically responsible way.
For more innovative driven solutions, visit https://expertec.ca
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