7/30/24

Building a "Legend" for Liebherr | Crane Service Van Upfit Featuring Legend Fleet Solutions


We were asked by Lieberr, to customize and outfit a new service van that would allow their teams to handle remote calls on heavy-duty cranes. It was an exciting project in many ways, and at the same time, it was also business as usual for the Expertec team. The first products we recommended came from Legend Fleet Solutions to provide a solid base to build from the ground up. Legend’s slip-resistance flooring was going to be critical to keeping the Lieberr team safe on the job in a variety of climates and temperatures. We then added in DuraTherm wall and ceiling liners to ensure a quieter and more pleasant ride and to provide “ax proof” protection for the van as well as the tools, shelving, and equipment that would ultimately find their home in the van. As a company with firm footing in technology, it was no surprise that the Lieberr team requested a specialized workstation, with some additional power to support the needs their crews would encounter. A GoPower inverter, as well as a Vanair, Super Boost-All system, were wired into the van, to give the team the power resources they needed. Ultimately, this Lieberr service van has all the tools, and comfort, to provide long-term service, from the most remote outpost in the country, to the middle of the busiest neighborhoods in Calgary. Expertec is proud to be able to call on Legend Fleet Solutions, and so many of its perfectly designed products, to meet our clients’ needs in a fast and economically responsible way. For more innovative driven solutions, visit https://expertec.ca

7/28/24

WARN New Products Video


Warn Industries has released a host of new product in time for the 2020 SEMA360 show. Have a look at our latest items that let you GOPREPARED for any situation. This includes - WARN HUB Receiver & App - WARN Epic Wheels - Elite Front and Rear Bumpers for Wrangler/Gladiator - The Ascent Family of bumpers including Ascent HD, Ascent XP, Ascent, and Ascent Rear Bumpers - New Trans4mer Gen III applications - New WARN Semi-Hidden Kit applications - Series G2 Industrial Winches - AXON and VRX powersports winches More at http://warn.com

7/26/24

Routine Vehicle Safety Recall Check


Maintaining a regular vehicle safety maintenance routine is important to keep your vehicle working as it should. Check for vehicle safety recalls as a part of your vehicle safety maintenance routine. Recall repairs are free. Check for recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls or by downloading the SaferCar App for iOS or Android.

7/24/24

Driving Defensively for CDL Drivers


This training video is for Commercial Drivers License CDL holders and teaches them how to drive defensively while operating big rig, semi trucks and other large delivery vehicles.

7/22/24

We Are VMAC: Learn About VMAC Global Technology Inc


VMAC manufactures innovative air compressors and multi-power systems for municipal, mobile mechanic, utilities, mining, oil and gas, and construction industries. In this story, you’ll see how VMAC’s people and culture, drive for innovation excellence, and passion for continuous improvement in manufacturing allow us to pursue our goal of improving the mobile compressed air industry for our partners and customers.

851 subscribers

7/20/24

Cognitive Distraction


Think you know all about distracted driving? Think again! New research reveals that voice-activated in-car technologies dangerously undermine driver attention.

7/18/24

Curt Payload Calculator | BetterWeigh™ Mobile Towing Scale


What is my payload weight? This video provides simple instructions for how to use the Payload function on the CURT BetterWeigh™ mobile towing scale. With this feature, you can get an active readout on your smartphone of the weight of your truck’s payload as you are loading cargo and materials.

The CURT BetterWeigh™ #51701 is a Bluetooth-enabled OBD2 device that wirelessly syncs with your smartphone to provide a variety of vehicle and trailer weights. This includes gross combined weight, payload and tongue weight, as well as weight distribution setup and trailer brake gain.

To measure the weight of your payload with BetterWeigh™, begin by selecting the weight readout range that best suits your vehicle. To change the readout, tap the gear icon and select Payload. Then, choose a weight range.

Next, select the Payload feature from the BetterWeigh™ app homescreen. Make sure your vehicle is parked in the spot where you intend to load it. Get out of the vehicle and tap Ready. Don’t touch the vehicle while it is taking its initial reading.

Once the pitch of the vehicle is measured, you can begin loading your truck bed and get your payload weight in real time.

7/16/24

7/14/24

The Story of GMC


Get ready to take a journey through time with GMC, the iconic American truck brand that has been a staple on roads and job sites for over a century. From its early days as a truck manufacturer in the early 1900s to its expansion into the SUV market in the 1990s, GMC has a rich history of innovation and durability. In this video, we'll explore the evolution of GMC's vehicles, from the classic pickups of the 1940s to the modern, tech-packed trucks and SUVs of today. We'll also take a closer look at the people behind the brand, including the engineers and designers who have helped shape GMC's reputation for quality and toughness. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn all about the story of GMC, a brand that has been a driving force in American culture for over 100 years

7/12/24

NHTSA’s New SaferCar App


Our new SaferCar app allows you to save your vehicles, car seats, equipment, or tires in a virtual garage on your smartphone. If a recall is issued, you’ll get an alert.

7/10/24

How to Install Vehicle Updates Over-the-air | GMC


Learn how to download and install vehicle update OTA (over-the-air) for your GMC vehicle. Check out more here:    • GMC Owners   Subscribe to GMC:    / gmc  

184K 

7/08/24

What If You Forget To Change Your Oil?


What if you forget to change your oil on time? Can you damage your car's engine by not changing the oil late? Do you really need to change your oil every 3,000 miles? Obviously, you should change your oil regularly, but exactly how much damage you will cause by changing the oil late? This video looks to answer this question. We'll discuss what happens to oil viscosity as it ages, and what happens to oil additives in over time.

7/04/24

Next Step in the UPFIT Process: Ensuring Proper Maintenance.

While mistakes may not often happen when maintaining upfits, they can occur. Having the right "tools" for the job is essential.  - Photo: GETTYIMAGES.COM/KARANDAEV

 - Photo: GETTYIMAGES.COM/KARANDAEV

Your upfit is installed, and you are now utilizing it in your operations. The next step in the upfit process is ensuring proper maintenance.

Top Upfit Maintenance Challenges:


A huge challenge many fleet managers face in maintaining upfits is simply communicating the value and importance of proper upfit maintenance to field personnel and drivers.


“Most drivers understand the importance of oil changes, brake services, etc., and will typically make sure their vehicle is serviced in a timely manner. But prioritizing upfit maintenance in a similar fashion typically isn’t something that comes naturally. The fleet manager must educate their frontline personnel on the critical aspect of properly maintaining the vehicle’s equipment; not only to maximize its effective lifecycle and control costs but also to ensure the safety of their fleet personnel in the field,” said Jeff Klinghoffer, regional engineering manager for Holman Enterprises.


At the end of the day, it comes down to education and awareness.


“As a fleet manager, you’ll need to communicate the importance of proper upfit and equipment maintenance to your drivers. Beyond that, you can certainly implement processes and procedures to assess the condition of the vehicle and its upfit regularly. You can also explore potential gamification or incentive programs to help secure buy-in from your drivers,” Klinghoffer added.


Let’s face it; fleet managers have a lot on their plate.


“Fleet managers face daily challenges mixed in with bigger picture issues that include building a safe, reliable, and appropriate truck for the job while making executives and stakeholders happy. Finding the time to answer all of the challenges can be difficult,” said Mathew Marcussen, director of customer relations for BrandFX. “Taking the time to do research and learn more, in the beginning, will reap great savings, benefits, and efficiency in the end. Also, purchase a body that maintains its good condition over a long period will reduce the cost of repairs and service.”


When it comes to the different types of materials used in upfitting, you need to select the right material for the job.


“Ladder racks on top of cargo vans are impacted by either the snow and ice removal chemicals in the Midwest or the salty air near coastal regions. Using aluminum and stainless steel in those products is a must to provide the customer a quality product that gets them a good return on their investment,” said Katie Groves, national fleet sales manager for Adrian Steel.


Don’t forget to depend on those who know upfitting best.


“Partner with an upfitter that has a national presence and a team that can support these instances,” Groves recommended.


6 Mistakes Maintaining Upfits


While mistakes may not often happen when maintaining upfits, they can occur. Here are a few top ones to avoid:


Mistake 1: Lack of Inspection


Just as drivers need to inspect your vehicle for leaks, tire wear, etc., they should examine their upfits, too.


“Constantly check routing and clipping for rub points, just because a battery cable was tied up nicely last time you inspected it doesn’t mean a clip didn’t break loose since then,” said Brad Howard, director of Operations for Fontaine Modification.


Mistake 2: Ignoring Preventive Maintenance


When it comes to the vehicles themselves, preventive maintenance (PM) second nature, but that may not be true for upfits.


“Fleet managers realize that adhering to a recommended PM schedule is vital to optimizing the vehicle’s lifecycle and controlling the total cost of ownership. However, the same methodology also applies to a vehicle’s upfitting and equipment, but preventive maintenance for these items is often overlooked,” said Kelly Klemisch, regional engineering manager, Holman Enterprises.


To avoid this mistake, work upfits into your PM strategy for your vehicles.


“Regular service for equipment such as air compressors, material handling units, and aerial devices should be included in the unit’s PM schedule. Additionally, you can also include inspections in the schedule as well, so drivers receive reminders for those items as well. Or, at the very least, take measures to keep these PM items top-of-mind for drivers and operators. For example, you can track crane or compressors hours on an interior door decal,” Klemisch added.


Mistake 3: Not Adjusting Upfits Correctly 


Make sure that ladder racks are correctly adjusted to your ladders. 


“A properly adjusted ladder rack will keep the ladder secured on the van during transportation, reduce noise that could cause driver distraction, and extend the life of both the ladder and ladder rack,” said Katie Groves, national fleet sales manager for Adrian Steel.


Mistake 4: Misusing Upfit Equipment


You should also ensure your drivers and frontline workers fully understand how to use the vehicle’s equipment properly.


“Many vocational vehicles feature sophisticated and complex attachments, so training your employees on the best practices for using these units will help to minimize premature wear and tear and maximize the equipment’s effective lifecycle. This also applies to something as simple as a vehicle’s storage units. We often see fleet personnel overloading a service body or interior shelving with more than it is intended to hold, and this really impacts the longevity of these items,” said Klemisch of Holman Enterprises.


Mistake 5: Wrong Service Timing


When you service certain upfit items is also essential.


“When you service trucks, and related upfits is a big item. One example is a snowplow: make sure to service at the end of the snow season AND beginning of the season,” said Patrick Clark, director of fleet sales for Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment.


Mistake 6: Improper Equipment Storage

Where you store your equipment has a considerable impact on its useful service life.

“Also storing equipment inside helps preserve the life. Work with the local upfitters to make sure you are servicing cranes, liftgates, plows etc correctly,” said Clark of Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment.


Source: https://www.worktruckonline.com/10120069/value-of-effectively-maintaining-upfits

7/02/24

Truck U #905: BOLT Locks



In this segment Bruno Massel and Matt Steele hosts of Speed channel's Truck U Talk about the benefits of using BOLT Locks. This segment was featured on Episode #905 "Tundra Daily Driver" which aired on March 30th 2013. To learn more go to http://www.boltlock.com/