Service Trucks - Chevrolet - Voyager I by Load King

Service trucks and mechanics trucks, the lifelines of industries like mining, rail and civil utility, are heavy equipment with powerful engines and bodies. Typically, they are more expensive than delivery or utility trucks, which is why buyers often choose new service & mechanics trucks with only the upfront cost in mind. Such decisions, however, can prove costly in the long run.

Below, we are listing 6 common misconceptions that have been known to guide people when they’re in the marketplace for a new unit:

# 1: All mechanics trucks can accommodate longer booms

Longer booms give you longer reach, but they get heavier as their height increases, which in turn impacts the payload (weight of job-critical items like tools and equipment that also have to be factored in).

# 2: There’s no need to match the chassis with the body size

The chassis GVW (gross vehicle weight) cannot be exceeded, which means the body weight, along with payload, has to be suitable for it. Configuring all these factors is important to make sure the service truck does not exceed weight limits which can result is costly re-configurations afterwards.

# 3: All manufacturers use similar specs for the design of bodies and cranes

Not true. Which is why you should do your research and work with providers with the largest product inventory in mechanics trucks to find the one that best suits your business needs.

# 4: It’s just simpler to replace an old mechanics truck with the same model

Big mistake. A lot of fleet managers want to take this route, to avoid the homework involved in choosing a different one, but there are many reasons – like more stringent emission laws coming to pass in the future – that make it necessary. Only approach providers with a variety of mechanics trucks in their inventory and discuss needs, wants and good-to-haves in order to find the perfect fit. It may not be the same model, but it may be much more suited for your future business goals.

# 5: Service or mechanics trucks make a good investment decision when they are run until they die

The problem with this approach is rising maintenance costs. The older a truck gets the more work – and money – they need to keep them in running order. Instead, if a few mechanics trucks in the fleet are replaced every couple of years or so, it saves you money, and lot of operational problems, in the long run.

# 6: Smaller service or mechanics trucks keep operational costs down

Again, not true. Upfront cost of smaller trucks may be less, but when you calculate cost-per-mile, operational expenses and other incidentals, they may not make as much financial sense for your business.

 

Interested in buying or renting a service truck or mechanics?

Contact us at Custom Truck One Source, the nation’s single-largest provider of specialized trucks and heavy equipment. We have the widest range of products with varying specs and we’ll match you up with a unit that suits both your needs and your budget.