Your work van is your mobile office. It has everything you need – your tools, a space to work, and the parts you load each day to get the job done. Like a typical office, though, organization matters. Taking the time to upgrade your vehicle with a proper work van upfit isn’t just for convenience, it has a notable affect on your ability to generate revenue and enjoy your work.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of a work van upfit for your business and how Semi Service can help you get the best upfit for your vehicle.
The Primary Benefits from Upfitting Your Work Van
Organization & Efficiency
No professional can complete the job without their tools. Whether you work in PHVAC, electric, carpentry or anything else, you rely on various tools throughout every work day to get the job done. Some of these are staples of your daily life, and some are unique to the jobs you’re working that day. Moreover, your van is likely to be loaded up with specialized equipment or parts you purchased to complete the day’s work.
Keeping all of that in the cargo area of your van can quickly turn into an organizational nightmare. From figuring out where to put your stuff, to finding it when you need it on the jobsite, organization matters. Spending just 10 minutes shuffling around your van at the jobsite may not sound like a big deal, but when you do it every time it adds up. Over the weeks, months, and years, you’re potentially losing thousands in revenue from reducing the number of jobs you can work in a day due to disorganization.
A work van upfit is more than just to keep organized – it keeps you focused on what matters. When you need a specific tool, you know right where to find it, and can get back to the job at hand. A place for every part is something that makes every day go a bit faster and, as an added bonus, makes your business look better. That means more repeat business and increased profits.
Improved Safety
Safety may not be on the top of your mind but it should be. Working out of your van means you’re on the road a lot – that alone increases your risk for on-the-job injuries significantly. But a van full of metal tools, ladders, and other heavy equipment means safety needs to be a priority to keep you and others on the road safe.
The typical work van upfits like shelving or bins can be considered a safety upfit. They keep tools and parts in their place while you’re on the move, especially if you have lockable storage for them. But there are other upfits that help dramatically with safety, such as partitions.
A partition or bulkhead keeps your cargo area separate from your cab. This gives you two main benefits, depending on what type of partition you invest in. The first is a physical barrier between you and the tons of cargo you’re carrying. In an accident, that partition adds a wall that can stop weighty tools from turning into projectiles that may put your life at risk. We’ve seen the aftermath of a work van accident, and a partition is something that’s worth its weight in gold when it comes to safety.
Secondly, specialized partitions can reduce cab noise. You’d be surprised how deafening your work van really is when you finally get a chance to drive without hearing the cacophony! In addition to helping you focus on the road, this may make it easier for you to chat with clients or your coworkers on the move. We hear from contractors all the time that their vehicle is so noisy, they have to pull off to the side of the road just to take a brief phone call. Talk about wasted time!
Saving Money
Is there a return on investment for a work van upfit? You better believe it! The number one benefit is, of course, the improved efficiency that’s allowed thousands of tradespeople to fit in additional jobs throughout the same work hours, which is a massive increase to revenue and profitability. But one hidden benefit you may not have considered is the actual savings an upfit can provide.
Lost or stolen tools are a popular concern we hear at both our Idaho and Utah locations – and we’re sure it’s a concern across the rest of the United States as well. Upfits help protect you against these burdens, which can have you paying a fortune to replace the tools you can no longer find. Locking storage means, even if your cargo area is accessed while you’re not paying attention, a potential thief can’t simply walk away with your most valuable tools.
On top of that, a lot of “lost” tools are simply misplaced. We can’t count the number of times we’ve heard new clients talk replacing an expensive tool only to find it later in a pile of rarely-used equipment. And tools aren’t cheap!
Reduced Stress
Lastly, upfitting your work van is one of the biggest steps you can take that’s guaranteed to make your day a little (or a lot) easier. By eliminating the common causes of stress like not being able to find a tool, having to make unnecessary trips to the hardware store or back to your warehouse, or just the feeling of dread from looking into your cargo van and seeing the disorganized mess of a stock van loaded with piles of equipment, you’ll be able to enjoy the work day a bit more.
Stress is more than just an annoyance. It can lead to mistakes on the job and potential health issues down the road. Reducing stress is something every professional can benefit from, especially when your job is so critical to the infrastructure that keeps America running!
Contact Semi Service Today
We service, repair, install, and upfit all types of trucks, vans, and trailers. Don’t know where to start? We can answer your questions and help you find what you need. Contact us online or give us a call at (801) 895-4419 to get started today!
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