\u201cLook at the stats of safety within your industry. You\u2019ll find that on average, workers\u2019 comp claims affect 2.8 out of every 100 workers that work out of their pickups and vans. Those claims average about $40,000 per incident and result in a loss of work,\u201d Haag said. \u201cIf a company operates vans, pickups, or service bodies, they know the drivers are working out of the back of those trucks on every call they make \u2014 every day. Those same companies have a responsibility to their drivers to provide them with a safe environment when they\u2019re on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most importantly, a well-upfitted truck<\/a> that is spec\u2019ed with safety in mind can lead to safer and healthier drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cSpace planning and storage improve technician safety by reducing clutter in the van\/truck which reduces exposure to trips and fall hazards. Slips, trips, and falls are the second-leading cause of accidental death on the jobsite, behind motor vehicles, and one of the most frequently reported jobsite injuries,\u201d said Julie Allen, business development manager \u2013 service fleets for Ranger Design<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ensuring your truck is safe is more than adding an extra grab handle. Fleets should consider safety at all stages of designing a truck, from initial purchase to upfitting.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to get the right-sized chassis, body, and crane not only for operational use but also for safety,\u201d said Adam Oppermann \u2013 product manager for Stellar Industries<\/a>. \u201cIf the crane is too small for the job, the operator won\u2019t be able to do their job and may try to use the equipment in a way it\u2019s not intended for. Factors to consider include what the crane will be lifting. This determines the appropriate size of crane, body, and chassis to support it.\u201d<\/p>\n Upfit partners will often offer advice and guidance, and step in when an upfit has room for improvement. But it\u2019s best to establish what you want, and how that upfit aligns with your fleet\u2019s safety needs.<\/p>\n The custom reel system (bottom left corner) designed for a telecommunications company reduced overall wear and tear on their drivers\u2019 lower backs. These specific reels are extremely heavy and previously the driver had to pick them up several times a day. The custom reel cabinet allows for safe storage and easy access, while also reducing overall work-related injuries. Photo: Ranger Design<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Step one should be deciding what your company considers a safe truck.<\/p>\n Allen of Ranger Design noted a few questions fleet managers should consider when planning a truck upfit:<\/p>\n \u201cThese few questions can provide critical insight on developing a design\/layout which solves for safe storage and separation. One of the best investments for any upfit is a properly fitted and tested safety partition,\u201d Allen explained.<\/p>\n When designing an upfit, it helps to think about how the driver moves around the truck and interacts with the tools and equipment in and around it. Katie Groves, national fleet manager for Adrian Steel<\/a>, noted that a fleet\u2019s safety priorities vary depending on the company. In her experience, when a company is managing fleet assets through an environment health & safety department or HR, safety goals are clearly defined and communicated up front. But a fleet managed under finance or procurement may need to be asked about safety initiatives when putting together the specifications.<\/p>\n These safety priorities might include compliance. Groves noted that many companies might set standards for a\u00a0specific brand or sizes of ladders that must be used by the operator, a requirement not always known by the person making decisions about the upfit \u2014 especially if that individual\u2019s performance is measured by upfront year-over-year savings.<\/p>\n Groves also pointed to electrical work, which can be an oversight for fleet decisionmakers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really important if we\u2019re installing an inverter to understand what the customer is plugging into it and how he or she is using it within the cargo solution,\u201d Groves explained.<\/p>\n Chris Rolsen, national business development manager – fleet for Knapheide<\/a>, noted that Knapheide\u2019s truck solutions are designed with OSHA and DOT compliance in mind to maximize safety for the driver.<\/p>\n Weight requirements are another feature of upfitting where compliance is vital.<\/p>\n \u201cA well-spec\u2019ed upfit with an optimal weight distribution helps the driver best utilize all the safety features of the chassis and their equipment. If the weight is distributed optimally, there is a reduced risk for rolling, better drivability, etc. Additionally, trying to limit the number of times an operator needs to climb in and out of the load bed to access tools reduces the risk of accidents,\u201d explained Oppermann of Stellar Industries.<\/p>\n Once parameters are set, the next step is defining what is needed. This involves familiarizing yourself with the operator \u2014 what they need, how they utilize the vehicle, and where safety needs are not yet met.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important factors are how the driver can do his job with the least strain on his body,\u201d explained Jose Reyna, national fleet and sales director for A.R.E<\/a>.<\/p>\n This often means storage solutions that maximize space and are easy to access.<\/p>\n \u201cA properly designed upfit solution should focus on how the driver utilizes the cargo area of their van. Tools, equipment, and components that are frequently used should be easily accessible while being safely stored. Heavy equipment that may require a hand truck, lift, or ramp should be placed closest to the rear of the vehicle,\u201d said Allen of Ranger Design.<\/p>\n Putting yourself in the operator\u2019s position can help understand how<\/p>\n Upfit needs can vary widely depending on the job and the industry. A simple starting point is listing the tools an operator might keep on hand and determining how they will be stored.<\/p>\n \u201cBins and toolboxes should be viewed with the safety of the driver first and foremost,\u201d said Haag of Decked. \u201cMost upfits store equipment and tools. The real question should be \u2018will they do so and also be safe for my drivers?\u2019 Our slide-out drawer for pickups, full-sized vans, and service bodies allows the driver to pull out the drawers and easily grab their tools, parts, and more, without having to reach or climb into the back of the truck. The No. 1 and No. 2 workers\u2019 comp claims are slip and falls and strains \u2014 both of which can be reduced or eliminated using the right system.\u201d<\/p>\n Rolsen of Knapheide noted the company\u2019s upfits include vented compartments and strobe lights when needed and three points of contact. \u201cAll of this and many other steps are taken to make sure we provided the best product and safety design possible to the customer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In addition, there are solutions that enhance the operator\u2019s experience but may often be overlooked in daily use.<\/p>\n The Stellar CDTplus crane remote allows the operator to use the crane at a safe distance and with optimal visualization of the work area. It also gives visual and tactile feedback to the operators, allowing them to keep their eyes on the lift. Photo: Stellar Industries<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n \u201cWhen upfitting a truck, the main focus is to maximize efficiency,\u201d explained Reyna from A.R.E. \u201cHowever, you must also consider the effects the upfit has on the driver\u2019s field of view while operating the vehicle, changes in the vehicle\u2019s handling characteristics, and how the changes affect ergonomics while accessing the equipment at the job site.\u201d<\/p>\n James Muiter, product manager for Reading Truck Group, pointed to lighting, which allows operators to work day or night, and respond to emergency calls when necessary. Supplemental lighting (such as strobe or work lights) can be chassis-mounted or body-mounted.<\/p>\n Visibility is another factor to consider. \u201cInstalling a backup camera warning system or shelving and drawers that eliminate the need to climb in and out of the vehicle are all positive things that an upfit can do to enhance the safety of the driver,\u201d Rolsen said.<\/p>\n Already have a backup camera? It doesn\u2019t hurt to look past this, allowing operators to see more.<\/p>\n \u201cRear-view camera systems are now mandatory for many vehicles, so the next frontier is 360-degree camera systems that can be especially relevant on larger custom upfits which are complex to maneuver,\u201d Muiter explained.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to prepare for the worst case scenario as well. Groves of Adrian Steel pointed to first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and reflective triangles that can often be forgotten during the order process.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Originally posted on Work Truck Online<\/a><\/p>\n by Roselynne Reyes<\/a><\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/www.truckinginfo.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The audit is a key tool to know the overall status and provide the analysis, the assessment, the advice, the suggestions and the actions to take in order to cut costs and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the fleet. We propose the following fleet management audit.<\/p>\n Photo: Knapheide Knapheide\u2019s ABS thermoformed partition is crash-tested up to 7,000 pounds, partially sealed to keep HVAC systems up front with the driver, and designed to allow full driver seat travel. All this is done with the safety of the driver in mind. Fleet managers often feel pressure to design the most productive truck possible….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[354],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9773"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9773"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9775,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9773\/revisions\/9775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"The](\"https:\/\/fleetimages.bobitstudios.com\/upload\/work-truck-online\/content\/article\/2019-12\/20191210-ranger-design_new-__-720x516-s.jpg\")
Set Your Safety Goals<\/h2>\n
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Elements of a Truck Upfit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nJames Muiter, product manager for Reading Truck Group, shared a few examples of specific solutions that ensure a safe worker and job site:<\/p>\n\n
Understand the Driver\u00a0and the Job<\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/fleetimages.bobitstudios.com\/upload\/work-truck-online\/content\/article\/2019-12\/20191210-stellar-__-720x516-s.jpg\")
CUT COTS OF THE FLEET WITH OUR AUDIT PROGRAM<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/nueva-ley-auditoria.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"