]When purchasing a vehicle for your business, you want it to suit the needs of your job. This may mean working with a dealer to get the best cargo solutions, customizing using accessories, or exploring aftermarket vendors.
Nevertheless, when the task at hand demands something more heavy-duty, you and your workers may want to look into upfitting.
What Is Vehicle Upfitting
Vehicle upfitting is a process where you customize or upgrade an already existing vehicle to meet your specific needs. Upfits include shelves, cab protection, lights, racks and hooks, cranes, storage cabinets, reverse sensing systems, blind-spot detection systems, GPS monitoring, and more. When upfitting, it's crucial to ensure you get the right upgrades to enjoy the most return on your investment.
Benefits of Upfitting
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Increased Productivity
Choosing the appropriate upfit for your vehicles can enhance your drivers' productivity on the road. Maybe your driver needs space to fit new equipment or more shelving space. Ergonomic upgrades such as grab handles, more comfortable seats, or extra steps can also help your drivers be more efficient. In addition, the added advantage of extra comfort while in the vehicle greatly helps keep them healthy and safe.
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Increased Safety
Upfits such as walk ramps, running boards, video systems, mirrors, blind-spot detection systems, access ladders, step bumpers, and more enhance drivers' safety. Study actually shows that vehicles with upfits such as blind-spot detection systems make everything safer.
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Better Return On Investment
Generating upfit specifications can help your company to reduce new vehicle purchases, maintenance, fuel, and operating costs. Additionally, you'll prevent potential accidents as well as insurance claims, leading to a better ROI.
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Reduce Driver Turnover
It's no secret that there's a driver shortage in the trucking industry, so investing in upfitting goes a long way in keeping quality drivers from wanting to quit as well as giving you an edge when hiring new drivers. If your drivers see that you care about their welfare and are willing to provide the tools they need for their job while keeping them comfortable and safe, they'll be much more willing to work for you. This, in turn, lowers the cost of recruiting as well as training new drivers.
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Reduced Stress
Upfitting your vehicles also make it a lot easier for your drivers by eliminating the normal causes of stress such as making unnecessary trips to your warehouse or a hardware store, not being able to find a tool, seeing a disorganized mess of a vehicle loaded with piles of equipment and much more.
Tips for Upfitting Your Vehicles
Upfitting is essential in ensuring that your drivers can complete their tasks as well as helping your business stay competitive. To enhance your vehicle upfitting process, here are some tips to guide you along the way:
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Decide The Perfect Time to Upfit Your Vehicles
Find time in your schedule when you can receive the upgrades without affecting too much of your business.
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Capitalize On Your Drivers' Efficiency
When deciding the upgrades to put on your vehicles, ensure that you look at things that make your drivers safer and more comfortable. In addition, make sure you talk to the drivers in order to know what kind of upgrades on the vehicles would make their tools more accessible and their working area more efficient.
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Anticipate Future Needs
Like every other investment, it is crucial to consider where you want your organization to be 5 to 10 years from now. Although it might be hard to see how enhancements can immediately help your organization, it's prudent to consider how they fit into the picture in the long term.
Bottom Line
Upfitting your vehicles can increase the value of your vehicle, improve your driver efficiency and give you a greater return on investment in the course of your vehicle's life cycle. Although the process can be overwhelming, it doesn't have to be so difficult to navigate.
At Wilmar, Inc., we can guide you through upfitting your commercial fleet and, most importantly, help you manage the process from start to finish using our fleet management services. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
