Business Fleet, January/February 2018

WWW BUSINESSFLEET COM 14 BUSINESS FLEET January February 2018 recommended buyers perform a needs assessment before they start shopping A fleet manager should put together a list of pain points for their current vehicles and a wish list of what theyd like to have he says This helps our staff point them in the right direction For example if their vehicles carry a lot of weight they may need composite racks and bins If durability is a priority wed point them to steel or aluminum MacLeod of Masterack says getting technicians input should be a key part of a needs assessment Speaking with the techs in the field and the people who are going to be using the trucks every day is crucial she says Take the time to ride with them and ask what they like and dont like about the current vehicle storage options Culp of Dejana advises thinking through key questions like how the vehicle will be used in the field what the driver will be doing what the driver will need to carry and how often he or she will need to climb in and out of the vehicle Let the job requirements drive the storage spec he advises Think outside the van Just because you did it last year doesnt mean its the best thing to do this year If fleets are hesitant to try a new solution Cowie of Ranger Design recommends selecting a pilot vehicle then asking a variety of drivers to take a critical look at what worked and what didnt before rolling it out fleet wide WHAT QUALITIES SHOULD I LOOK FOR The qualities to look for may depend on your use but in general most fleets should look for a solution that is durable adjustable safe and offers a suitable warranty 1 Durability Culp of Dejana says durability is important because if racks and bins are damaged theyre not likely to be replaced and that means they lose their effectiveness Even with a well managed replacement cycle many fleets are going to keep these vehicles for a long time he says If the shelves bend warp or pull away from the wall anchor points they are going to stay that way for the remainder of the vehicle life For that reason Jose Reyna national fleet and commercial manager for equipment company A R E says longevity should take precedence over price Dont look at the price point look for quality and durability those are the features that will pay off he says Think about how the equipment will stand up to weather and how well it will carry your tools equipment and liquids Banda of Navistar says erosion protection can maintain the life of a rack and bin solution and recommends a galvanized powder protective anticorrosion coating to do the job He also suggested bins and racks designed with sliders that use bearings so they can be easily opened and closed and protect the technician too Its no different than when you open the silverware drawer in your kitchen You want it to open smoothly otherwise you force it and silverware goes all over the kitchen he says In that scenario your family is probably there to help you clean it up But in the field many technicians are working alone and worse they can get hurt if they drop their tools Overall a rack and bin solution should last the life of a truck at least once Banda says some are sturdy enough to get two truck cycles out of one body 2 Adjustability The ultimate goal of a rack and bin system is to maximize the available space To do so Culp says adjustability is key With fixed shelves say 15 inches apart if the cargo is only six inches tall youre wasting 9 inches of usable space he says Adjusting the shelves to fit the cargo allows fleets to use that remaining space Braun of Sortimo says another important factor is the ability to actually remove bins and transport them easily to the job site The technician is more productive if boxes and bins with tools and parts can be easily removed from the van and carried to the workplace in one run she says 3 Safety Fleets should make sure racks and bins are safe and easy to use in order to protect the well being of technicians and should also make sure equipment can be properly locked down to protect their investment Reyna underscores the importance of racks and bins to minimize liability Lets say you have a company of UPFITTING Full rack and bin systems can keep vans organized and tools and materials safely in place With various sizes and configurations there are systems available for all van sizes Make sure you take weight into consideration Look for lightweight options that will not sacrifice your payload capacity