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With the constant increasing cost of running a fleet, finding ways to cut these costs is a priority for fleet managers. The following three strategies explain how to reduce major expenses and help fleets to become more profitable.

Encourage Fuel-Efficient and Safer Driving

Fuel costs are known to be one of the main expenses for fleets and the best way to reduce these costs is to develop a company policy handbook. The purpose of a company policy is to make employees aware of their expectations when driving a company-owned vehicle and to encourage safer, more fuel-efficient driving. The handbook should include a list of all the rules and responsibilities of drivers, consequences if drivers fail to comply, and an agreement form which all drivers must agree to and sign. To ensure the driver policy is a success, fleet managers are responsible to ensure every driver understands and agrees with the expectations. Having a company policy handbook will reduce liabilities, decrease your insurance rates and encourage more fuel-efficient driving in order to cut fleet costs.

Implement a Preventive Maintenance Program

Unexpected vehicle downtime can be very costly for fleets which is why frequent checkups and maintenance is required. It has been proven that scheduled servicing leads to a more reliable fleet, reduction in unexpected breakdowns, extended lifespan of the vehicles, and increased resale value. To develop the program, start by creating a checklist of maintenance tasks such as checking tire pressure, brakes, steering, and wipers. The next step is to determine how often you should perform checkups. It is recommended to perform a service checkup on your vehicle every three months, or 6000 miles, whichever occurs first. However, it is important that you decide this based on your fleet’s requirements. Implementing a preventative maintenance program in your fleet will help you avoid unscheduled repairs and downtime and is a great strategy for preventing unnecessary costs in your fleet.

Spec’ing Fleet with Cost Reduction in Mind

There are many ways to spec your vehicles to save money both during the process and in the long run. When selecting your chassis frame, choose one that is tough enough to support whatever you carry in your vehicle, but light enough that it doesn’t result in unnecessary fuel costs. Another way to save money when spec’ing is to choose your interior storage cabinets and shelving wisely to accommodate your heavy equipment. Many fleets use wood shelving since it is a cost-effective option however, wood is heavy and does not last as long as other materials. Fleet departments have been moving towards aluminum interiors as it lightweight and and is just as durable. It is important when spec’ing your truck that you do so in the most cost-efficient way to save money both in the present and in the future.

Each of these strategies will contribute to cutting major fleet costs helping to increase productivity and improve your company’s bottom line.

EZ STAK has been in business since 1998 delivering configurable fleet solutions for any vehicle.

EZ STAK is a manufacturer of aluminum interiors and turnkey solutions for any vehicle in the utility, construction, oil & gas, and communication industries.  Whether you are looking for a full electrical installation, interior cabinets, or a custom storage solution, our design team will work with you to ensure your vehicle upfit is specific to your needs.

Call Calvin Lawrenson at 630-944-3300 x214 or send us an email to get started.

When upfitting your fleet, it is important that each component fits your vehicle seamlessly to avoid expensive manufacturing changes. That’s why EZ STAK’s Build Your Own application is the ideal tool when designing your interior workspace.

At EZ STAK, we are always looking for ways to make it easy for our to customers find the perfect layout for their van or trailer. We understand every fleet department has different equipment and layout requirements, so instead of selecting a standard package, they now have the option to design their own layout with the Build your Own Application.

Easy 3D Configuration

Using 3D technology, Build Your Own allows you to create a layout with a practical set up that suits your fleet needs. Start the process by choosing from 12’, 14’ or 20’ vehicle sizes. Whether you have a step van, a cargo van, or a trailer, this application can be used to design a layout for a variety of vehicle types. Since the layout is 3-Dimensional, it is extremely easy for you to visualize the final upfit.

Drag & Drop

To start designing your layout, drag and drop your choice of EZ STAK standard products into the driver and passenger sides. Create your ideal workspace using lockers, closets, drawers, shelving, chest units, and countertops. Choose from 4-5 sizes available for each product to ensure correct fitting. If you choose a cabinet size that doesn’t work with your layout, simply drag it into the trash can and instead choose a different size. The Build Your Own tool was designed to be easy enough for anyone to use. It only takes an average of three minutes to complete your layout.

Quick Quote & Easy Ordering

Once you are happy with your interior design, save it as a picture or PDF and share with your end-user for feedback. From there, you can click ‘Quick Quote’ and fill out the short form with your vehicle make, model and year. The EZ STAK team will send you a quote based on the cabinets selected which makes it exceptionally easy for budget approvals. Our design team will create an updated concept with your actual vehicle size and send it to you for your final approval.

Consider using EZ STAK’s Build Your Own application when planning for your next vehicle upfit. We guarantee it will speed up the design process, help you stay within budget, and let you create a storage system that will suit your needs. To start designing your walk-in interior today, visit www.ezstak.com

EZ STAK has been in business since 1998 delivering configurable fleet solutions for any vehicle.

EZ STAK provides aluminum interiors and turnkey solutions for any vehicle in the utility, construction, oil & gas, and communication industries.  Whether you are looking for a full electrical installation, interior cabinets, or a custom storage solution, our design team will work with you to make sure your needs are being addressed down to every inch and dollar.

Call our customer care team at 630.944.3300 or send us an email to get started.

If you are looking for a one-stop-shop for all your upfitting needs, EZ STAK is the right place. We will not only make the process easy for you, but we will also work alongside you through the entire process, from spec’ing to the final upfit. With over a decade of experience in working with fleet managers to find the right layout, we are confident we will be able to design the storage solution to suit your specific needs. Here are three reasons why EZ STAK’s upfitting process is easy.

One-on-One Consultation

Unlike other vehicle upfitters, we work with you throughout the entire fleet planning process. We have knowledge on the latest trends in the industry and therefore will be able to provide helpful recommendations for the design of your upfit. We will personally visit your site to view your fleet and be able to understand your specific needs to ensure accuracy and precision on the final upfit. EZ STAK’s director of business development, Paul Lawrenson says, “We roll up our sleeves and get in there. We take the time to understand what the vehicle is going to be used for, who is going to use it and what it’s going to be carrying.” Gathering this information from each customer allows us to design a layout that will fit the vehicle seamlessly and suit it’s end purpose.

Configurable Solutions

Instead of having our customers choose standard options from a catalogue, we come up with a three-dimensional concept that will accommodate their needs specifically. We can provide anything from a simple upfit including aluminum drawers and cabinets to a full turnkey solution with power, lighting, insulation and flooring. Our exterior cabinets make it easy to access your tools and equipment while working outside. We can even include an enclosed office space so you can get work done while out on the road, with a sliding door to prevent distractions. If you need power while out on the road, choose from our Onan generator or Pure Sine inverter so you can have power wherever you need it, whenever you need it. Once we come up with a design that you are happy with, our design engineers will create a 3D concept so you can visualize your interior.

Customer Care Team

Another way we differ from other vehicle upfitters, is we ensure great customer service through your whole experience. Whether you need a quick quote, or if you have a question about your upfit, we are just a call away. Even if your account rep is out of office, another member of our staff would be more than happy to assist you. We will even follow up with you after your purchase to ensure that your storage solution fits how you work. The quality of our products ensures, on average, a 12-year life expectancy, however if you are unhappy with any of your purchases, we have limited lifetime warranty on all our products.

If you are looking to upfit your vehicle with the ideal layout, give us a call today at 630.994.3300 and we can work with you to design an upfit that will suit your needs.

EZ STAK has been in business since 1998 delivering configurable fleet solutions for any vehicle.

EZ STAK provides aluminum interiors and turnkey solutions for any vehicle in the utility, construction, oil & gas, and communication industries.  Whether you are looking for a full electrical installation, interior cabinets, or a custom storage solution, our design team will work with you to make sure your needs are being addressed down to every inch and dollar.

Call our customer care team at 630.944.3300 or send us an email to get started.

Every year, when it comes to upfitting fleet vehicles, you learn ways to improve the process to ensure that the upfit will suit your end user’s needs and fits within budget. At EZ STAK, we work with customers daily to design and develop fleet vehicles and from our experience, here are four ways to a more cost-effective and simpler upfitting process.

Consider Safety and Payload

It is easy to forget the importance of safety standards when spec’ing your work truck. One way to ensure your vehicle complies with road safety requirements is to determine the max payload. Plan to use less than max payload, as this will save you from redesigning the specs and ultimately a longer lifespan of the vehicle. To help stay under the payload, plan on using aluminum for your upfit as it is lightweight and durable, so you can store more equipment and still be under the weight requirements.

Keep it Simple

A common mistake made when upfitting fleet vehicles is over-complicating the process. Purchasing different parts from separate vendors can result in an increase of lead-times, costs, and delays for a finished vehicle. Instead, find a vendor that can either provide everything you need, or narrow it down to a few suppliers. If possible, plan to standardize all fleet vehicles with the same or similar layout. Different upfit solutions for every vehicle can be costly and increase maintenance costs.

Identify equipment needed in advance

Before beginning the spec’ing process, be sure to include the equipment and tools you will be using to store in the vehicle. Ask your team, how will the equipment be used? How much does it weigh? How will it be secured to the vehicle? How easily accessible can it be for the end users? These are all important questions to consider so the upfit can be completed with functionality and practicality in mind.

Carefully review specs and quote

An easy way to avoid unnecessary delays is to remember to thoroughly go through your specs and quote. It is both parties’ responsibility to ensure everything is accurate. Any changes to the specs after the approval stage can be very expensive and potentially unable to do. Communication is key when it comes to writing your specs – if you are not happy with something, be sure to make it clear to the vendor. By eliminating guesswork and approving all specs and design will result in a smooth process.

At EZ STAK, we can help design and spec your fleet vehicles. We work with you to design your ideal interior. Call us today at 630.994.3300 for a one-on-one consultation to start planning your vehicles specs to the final upfit.

EZ STAK has been in business since 1998 delivering configurable fleet solutions for any vehicle.

EZ STAK provides aluminum interiors and turnkey solutions for any vehicle in the utility, construction, oil & gas, and communication industries.  Whether you are looking for a full electrical installation, interior cabinets, or a custom storage solution, our design team will work with you to make sure your needs are being addressed down to every inch and dollar.

Call Paul Lawrenson at 630-944-3300 x207 or send us an email to get started.