As the service truck industry evolves over time, there is a lot of advice out there about what to buy, how to buy, how to service/care for your truck, and what the lifecycle should look like.
Unfortunately, a lot of that advice is backed by ages old presumptions and simple half truths. We aim to dissect these mythical tales and give you straight facts when it comes to service truck bodies, when to buy, how to buy, and how to get the best deal that benefits both your business and your bank account.
This article will be counterintuitive, as we examine some of the worst advice we commonly hear when it comes to service truck bodies, and what you should do instead.
Steel will last longer than aluminum because it is more durable
No, grandpa, it will not.
There is a heated argument anytime the actual construction material of the service body comes into question.
The bottom line is that with new innovations in aluminum truck body fabrication, steel does not make sense to use as a building material.
For one, it is highly susceptible to oxidation and rust. Rust is not only a cosmetic nightmare, but it will also lead to the demise of your service body, lost hours, and a poor investment.
Secondly, the added weight to the chassis (even when empty) will drastically increase the amount of wear on the truck chassis (so count on racking up maintenance costs).
It is like nails on a chalk board to hear someone suggest that steel truck bodies are stronger than aluminum, because it just isn’t true.
Anytime you find yourself on the fence about a new (or used) service body and someone is listing the benefits of steel, be weary.
If you are at the poker table and you don’t know who the sucker is, it is probably you.
Storage is storage, there is no perfect solution
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
WRONG.
All storage is not equal, there should always be a perfect solution, and if you are not seeking it you are doing yourself and your business a massive disservice.
Custom sized cabinets, roller drawers, and tool boxes should be a hard requirement for any service truck body. You should have options to choose from.
If your service truck body does not have roller drawers in place to maximize not only storage, but space on the truck body, you are wasting valuable real estate that could otherwise be utilized.
It should be an obligation when seeking a truck body that it is outfitted with features and options that will allow you to do your job most efficiently. Do not settle for less.
Many cookie-cutter truck body manufacturers and commercial dealers will tell you there is no perfect solution, and that you need to make due with the storage features available. That is a flat out lie.
You can get all of the storage features that are unique to you and your business needs (and you should, if you treat your service body as a tool for work).
THE WORST OF THE WORST: ALL TRUCK BODIES ARE BASICALLY THE SAME
Many manufacturers want you to believe this repulsive myth because they cut corners to cut production costs, stamp a logo on the bed, and hope that you never ask questions.
This breach of ethics is your duty to prevent. Ask questions, and know what you are investing in when it comes to a service truck body.
Always inspect the body itself, as well as cabinet doors, the service deck, the body construction, etc. Manufacturing and fabrication corner cutting can often be detected with a thorough inspection.
You deserve the best tools available to conduct your business and you should protect yourself against industry myths that are based on manufacturers maximizing profits.
At JOMAC, we fabricate aluminum truck bodies and cranes with the highest degree of craftsmanship, never cutting corners to sacrifice quality. If you would like to learn more about our aluminum truck bodies and hydraulic cranes please click here to request more information.
