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4 Fleet Vehicle Upfitting Strategies for a Stronger Fleet

Written by Grant Chitty | Oct 11, 2022 5:04:42 PM

Thinking about starting your next fleet vehicle upfit? Follow our helpful strategies to learn how you can optimize your next fleet vehicle upfit and keep your fleet running smoothly.

It’s important to remember that fleet vehicle upfitting isn’t just an added cost. It’s an opportunity to improve efficiency and boost driver satisfaction. Here are some key benefits of a smart fleet vehicle upfit:

  • Drivers are more productive, effective, and happier.
  • You can reduce driver turnover, which in turn lowers costs associated with hiring and training new employees. 
  • Better-equipped vehicles attract and retain better-qualified drivers.

 

Ultimately, a good upfit leads to a better ROI for your company - it’s a win-win situation for both you and your drivers. 

 

4 Fleet Vehicle Upfitting Strategies to Build a Stronger Fleet

Some companies try to standardize upfitting for all vehicle types in their fleet. However, each driver of each vehicle has their take on what they’d like. Even if you have a standard need, it’s important to know the driver’s needs.

If upfitting is a tool that adds to the employee's efficiency, and the result is decreased labour costs, then it only makes sense to provide employees with the right tool for the job.

Use these four strategies to make sure your next upfit is successful and is a worthwhile investment for your company.

1. Decrease Costs by Choosing the Right Simple Parts Supplier

Not all suppliers have the capability to upfit a vehicle properly. If you don't partner with suppliers who have experience with upfitted vehicles, the process can end up being very costly. So the first step is to work with competent parts and supply vendors. How can you find such a vendor?

First ask your fleet management company, your competitors, or other business operators who have working vehicles similar to yours. Recommendations from these sources will certainly give you a head start on finding a reliable option to get you what you need.

Here are some important considerations you will need to follow:

  • Be sure the upfitter is National Safety Mark Certified. Most are, but it’s better to confirm. This will ensure you avoid potential future legal issues if accidents occur. Also, the certification should give you better assurance the installation is being done correctly.
  • Research competitive pricing, and make sure any quotes you receive are fully detailed and complete. Your price comparisons should be equally based both on specification detail and the quality of the product.
  • One final and vitally important step is to address the upfit timing. Today it seems almost all the qualified suppliers are experiencing heavy order volumes and are stretching to keep up. You might need to pay a little extra to get your vehicles working for you when you need them, which will help you avoid the lost productivity of a vehicle sitting and waiting for the upfit.

 

Engaging suppliers that are well-versed in upfitting vehicles will help lower costs by making the process easier, faster, and more complete. Leveraging expert know-how helps you get what you need, on time and with consistent quality.

 

(Related post: Top 5 Ways Fleet Management Companies Help Save You Money)

2. Boost driver morale by mitigating conflicts

You can proactively address conflicts by looking at upfitting as a balance between the driver's needs and the upfitting cost to the company. Evaluate the upfitting cost against the savings in labour and the increase in driver happiness. Time and again, you’ll likely find the labour savings and happier drivers far outweigh the cost of the upfit.

You can proactively address conflicts by looking at upfitting as a balance between the driver's needs and the upfitting cost to the company. Evaluate the upfitting cost against the savings in labour and the increase in driver happiness. Time and again, you’ll likely find the labour savings and happier drivers far outweigh the cost of the upfit.

However, if a conflict escalates, we recommend bringing in a third-party coach or referee to help ease communication between the company and drivers. Remember, smart upfitting helps improve both the driver’s work and their happiness. 

3. Involve Drivers in the Planning Process

A common challenge is that drivers often want more upfitting equipment than the company is willing to pay for. Involving the drivers in the planning process can help them understand why the budget may be limited. 

In addition, the company may have one idea on how to upfit the vehicle, while the driver has an entirely different one. Let’s take a look at a common scenario. Your company needs shelving on both sides of a van and a rubber mat on the floor to prevent sliding. However, these changes make the driver's job more difficult and uncomfortable. Through driver input, you discover the bulkhead is unsatisfactory and the seat doesn’t go back. Also, the driver wants to know, "Why is there shelving on the right side when I don't need it there?".

By involving drivers in the planning process, you can eliminate situations like this. It also empowers them and allows them to contribute their insights on how the company can improve driver satisfaction in the future. Showing drivers that you’re aware of their needs will make them feel connected and valued. This is key in helping you bridge the gap between company goals and driver needs.

Pro tip: Permit upfitting experts to talk directly with your drivers. Good upfitters won’t try to force you in a direction you don’t want to go. But they can help provide insight into the realities of driver requirements. By looking at both sides, you gain the ability to control costs, improve driver morale, and reduce workloads.

Also remember that, with smart vehicle upfitting strategies, drivers will be happier and less likely to go to work for the competition. After all, you have an investment in your drivers and the longer you keep them, the greater the value of your investment.

(Related post: How to Reduce Fleet Costs and Boost Efficiency

4. Establish the vehicle’s end purpose to make your upfit more efficient

What will the vehicles be used for? This defines how to upfit the fleet.

As the business needs to change, the roles of the vehicles will change too. Make sure your fleet is keeping pace with job duties by making upfitting improvements that match those duties. By looking at the end purpose, you can create an effective and realistic plan for upfitting.

A good tip is to plan for future changes. That way, you can reduce the number of times you have to go back and make improvements.

Finally, choose upfitting experts that have a clear understanding of the vehicle's purpose, as well as what the driver's needs are. Successful planning not only improves the result but saves money by increasing efficiency and decreasing labor in the long run.

Final Thoughts

The key to good upfitting is approaching your vehicle upfitting strategy with purpose. 

Not only is vehicle upfitting a tool that improves driver performance, it also reduces the driver's stress and workload, along with yours!

Start with good planning and good supplier partnerships. By looking at the balance between the company and drivers, you gain insights. Along the way, you can implement the needs of the company, without hurting driver morale. And ultimately, happy drivers make every fleet manager's job easier. 

Next Step:

Download Factory Ordering: Purchase the Options Your Fleet Requires, For Less. It will help you learn how to plan your factory ordering for maximum savings.