Business Fleet, March/April 2016

WWW BUSINESSFLEET COM 12 BUSINESS FLEET March April 2016 As the pace of product development quickens in all facets of the automotive industry manufacturers of vocational work truck bodies and equipment must assimilate new technology trends and business demands faster than ever before To learn how upfitters are keeping up Business Fleet met with representatives of Adrian Steel Auto Truck Group Leggett Platt and Reading Truck Body They explained how new and emerging business segments demands from fleet managers new vehicle types new technology and an ongoing emphasis on safety and security are changing the way they design and install truck and van bodies 1 MEETING DEMAND IN GROWING BUSINESS SEGMENTS As vice president of sales and business at Reading Truck Body Craig Bonham has his finger on the pulse of new and emerging segments in the service industries He lists remodeling and repair energy waste management and pest control as examples of businesses for which market expansion is just amazing There are industries and vocational segments that are surfacing that are more reliant on service than ever Bonham says adding that business owners want to know how their partners are going to make their lives easier Vendors distributors ancillary component suppliers everyone has to be very agile to adjust to the customers demands Jenn Voelker director of product development and engineering for Leggett Platt has seen an influx of new service clients in growing industries over the past couple of years including pest control as well as telecom and insurance One insurance provider wanted a complete mobile office with a real desk and office chair in every van and thats exactly what the client got At Adrian Steel Marketing Manager Todd Goldmeyer points to a recent HVAC client as an example of building a vocational upfit around the task at hand The clients vans typically carry five Freon tanks all of which may be removed and replaced on a single run Adrians engineers devised a way to store the tanks near the side and rear door of the vehicle eliminating any need to climb into the van and drag the tanks out These are 20 to 30 pound tanks Goldmeyer says We want to give that technician as safe a work environment as possible 2 MOVING TO LIGHTWEIGHTING The popularity of the Class 2 Euro style vans utilized for their low operating costs and superior fuel economy has body makers turning to lightweight corrosion resistant technologies as well as aluminum bodies and parts to maximize fuel efficiency and payload Moreover Fleets have been and will continue to concentrate on lighter GVWs under 10000 pounds when possible to manage with commercial motor vehicle regulations says Bill Carey manager of fleet sales for Auto Truck Group At the upfit level the need to travel light is reflected in the decreased use of steel in favor of aluminum and compos UPFITS Vocational work truck and van body makers are keeping pace with rapidly changing models new vehicle segments expensive technology and new regulations 6 TRENDS in VOCATIONAL Truck Body Designs Right Craig Bonham Reading Truck Bodys vice president of sales and business says the roll up doors on this Classic Service Van CSV aluminum body can be an attractive option for tradesmen who have to load or unload vehicles on busy streets or in confined spaces Below Todd Goldmeyer marketing manager for Adrian Steel says todays fleet operators demand a higher level of customization than in years past pointing to this painters van designed by Adrian Steel as an example of an upfit designed to meet the specific demands of a given vocation BY TARIQ KAMAL COURTESY THE READING GROUP LLC COURTESY ADRIAN STEEL CO