This is Part Two of a two-part story. Click here to read Part One.
Managing the balance between paying for quality technicians and equipment and still making a profit can be a delicate endeavor, but a neccessary one. So, when should shops pony up on equipment for its long-term benefits and which brands should they trust?
In Part One of this story, we discussed how shops and fleets can use employee feedback to guide their efforts and delved into some equipment options for tire service and vehicle lifts. Now, let's examine some other shop equipment that could be worth upgrading and how various fleet operations selected what equipment needed the extra investment.
Specialty engine tools
When tough choices need to be made on shop equipment investments, it makes sense to lean in to your shop’s core competencies.
“We specialize in engine, transmission, and driveline diagnostics and repairs,” said Billy Bielsky, co-owner of Bay One Truck & Equipment Repair, an independent shop that services both on- and off-road equipment in Washington, New Jersey. “We like to have a lot of specialty engine tools, things like timing tools, front and rear main seal installers, and counterbore cutters. My business partner, Ben Allen, and I buy the tools, and all of our technicians have access to them. We’re constantly updating our inventory as new engines are introduced.”
Minnesota-based Blaine Brothers, which provides parts, repair, and towing services in Minnesota and Wisconsin, also emphasizes engine tools.
“It’s important to make sure we have all the current engine tooling for when we do our overhauls and other engine repairs,” explained Jason Kendrick, director of service operations for Blaine Brothers.
In many instances, the company will purchase a new specialty tool and house it at Blaine’s main facility. “Our headquarters is centrally located and handles the majority of the engine work we get,” said Tim Grabow, president of Blaine Brothers. “We can ship that tooling to our other locations if they need it. As vehicles start to age and we begin seeing more of a need for the types of repairs that require that tool, we often buy more of them to put in some other locations.”
Reliable hose reels
Another essential investment for Kirk Altrichter, EVP of fleet services for Kenan Advantage Group (KAG) in North Canton, Ohio, is hoses and electric (motorized) reels. “We like to avoid using drums in our shops, if at all possible,” Altrichter said.
Altrichter’s teams have tested many brands of reels. Some have held up, others haven’t. It’s typically a spring that breaks prematurely. If that becomes a recurring problem across KAG’s network of shops, it’s time to start looking for an alternative.
“From what we’ve learned over the years, we’ve migrated toward a couple of different brands that seem to be working well right now,” Altrichter said.
A/C service machines
Back in New Jersey, Bielsky said his shop’s new A/C service machine has been a hit with technicians. The interesting thing is that the machine he chose to invest in, the TEXA Konfort 750R, was not the most expensive out there. According to Bielsky, it lacks some of the bells and whistles of other more expensive units. But that’s just fine with Bielsky because his technicians enjoy all the functionality and convenience they’re looking for.
“We just use R134a right now, so we wanted our machine to be relatively simple with simple gauges,” Bielsky said. “The one thing we did want was longer hoses. A tractor-trailer is a lot taller than a pickup, and an excavator is a lot taller than a tractor-trailer. We were able to get longer hoses by purchasing a heavy-duty package.”
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Bielsky’s technicians also like a bigger tank, which reduces the time spent refilling. Some A/C machines only have a 20- or 30-lb. tank. The unit in Bielsky’s shop has a 50-lb. capacity.
Technicians also like the automation factor. The user simply selects the make and model of the truck and then allows the machine to perform routine functions like refrigerant recovery and recharge, oil and dye injection, and a leak test.
“When the system does detect a leak, it stops the sequence and alerts you via the app,” Bielsky said. “This makes things very easy on the technician.”
Computers and software
It’s pretty hard to talk about essential service equipment without mentioning software and hardware.
At KAG, Altrichter said there is one shared laptop in each shop. Aside from being loaded with the most current diagnostic software, those laptops are also “ruggedized” for the tough work environment they are in. Nonetheless, Altrichter said they budget to replace a laptop every two years.
Bielsky does the same thing for both laptops and tablets. His shop has also had a specific need with respect to diagnostic software. Because they service everything from dump trucks and tractor-trailers to truck-mounted cranes and off-highway equipment, they need a diagnostic solution that can cover everything. For simplicity’s sake, they’d rather not have to juggle multiple software licenses from multiple vendors. That’s why they’ve started using TEXA’s software.
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“There are different packages you can buy based on your needs,” Bielsky said. “Our initial cost might be more than if we went with a single solution from somebody else. But in the end, it’s actually a lot cheaper than if we had to buy individual software from all the different engine, truck, and equipment brands we service. When you add all of that up, we’re probably saving thousands of dollars.”
The technical support from TEXA has also been of great value to Bielsky and his team. Whether buying software, hardware, or any other type of shop equipment, vendor support should always be factored into the buying decision.
“Every piece of equipment is going to have its challenges from time to time,” said said Miguel Miranda, fleet maintenance manager at HD Repair in Plainfield, Illinois, the maintenance division of OTR provider MNS1 Express. “The question is, how will the company provide the support to help you overcome those challenges? If you’re looking at just price, there are probably some less-expensive options out there. But if it isn’t working and isn’t producing, then it isn’t so cheap anymore.”
Instead, it becomes “a thousand dollars of deadweight,” Miranda noted.
Joey Young, fleet maintenance operations manager for Publix Super Markets, agreed, adding that reliability is a major factor in the overall TCO of a piece of service equipment. When something has already proven itself, why take a chance on something else just to try and save a few bucks upfront? Today’s technicians want a pleasant working environment with good training and reliable equipment to work with. Simply put, they want to be successful—and it’s the shop’s job to set them up for that success.
