Stocking A Service Truck

Written by Diane M. Calabrese | Published September 2024

A place for everything, and everything in its place.

Sounds good. But the proverbial does not always mesh perfectly with the practical.

What if a contractor must carry supplementary equipment not used in most jobs? Where will it be placed? Adjustments must be made.

Fold in the admonishment about “carrying everything except the kitchen sink,” and we realize that when outfitting the storage space of a service truck a contractor must make tough decisions. For instance, what’s the cutoff for contents? If a fuse is needed once a year, should a selection of fuses be carried? Fuses don’t take up much space.

What about warning signs like “wet pavement”? They can be clunky to store.

Insights Into Stocking Strategy

by George Erskin

Developing a stocking method—Our method of stocking service trucks is the result of a blend of hands-on experience and dedicated research. Initially we relied heavily on trial and error. We’d assess what tools and supplies were most frequently used and what items we found ourselves wishing we had on hand. This experience was invaluable in shaping our initial stocking procedures.

However, experience alone wasn’t enough. We also conducted research, looking into best practices from other industries, consulting with peers, and continuously staying updated on new products and technologies that could improve our efficiency. This combination of practical experience and ongoing research has been key to developing a robust and effective stocking system.

Importance of certain items—One crucial lesson we learned early on was the importance of always having spare parts and backup equipment. For example, there was an instance when a crucial fitting was missing, causing significant downtime and frustration. Now we ensure that every truck is stocked with a comprehensive set of spare parts, from small fittings to backup nozzles and hoses. These items may seem minor, but having them readily available can be the difference between completing a job efficiently and facing unnecessary delays.

The value of a checklist—Absolutely, contractors should use a checklist like a pilot’s pre-flight inspection. At Cyclone Eco Power Wash we’ve implemented a detailed checklist that our technicians review before leaving the base each day. This checklist covers everything from ensuring all essential tools and supplies are loaded to verifying that the equipment is in proper working order. This routine has significantly reduced the likelihood of arriving at a job site unprepared and has instilled a sense of responsibility and thoroughness in our team.

Ease of access to exactly what’s needed is the priority when stocking a truck. Decisions begin there.

Let’s turn to someone who has given a great deal of thought to how to optimally stock a truck: George Erskin, the cofounder of Cyclone Eco Power Wash in Sacramento, CA.

“Ensuring that our service trucks are well stocked has always been a critical aspect of our operations,” says Erskin. “Over the years I’ve developed a system that combines both experience and research, and I’m pleased to share some insights that could benefit contractors in the field.”

Erskin frames his response in terms of three components. They are developing a stocking method, the importance of certain items, and the value of a checklist. See the sidebar Insights into Stocking Strategy, for his elaboration on the three components.

“While our system is not perfect and is always evolving, the combination of learning from past experiences, conducting ongoing research, and utilizing a comprehensive checklist has greatly improved our operational efficiency,” says Erskin. “For any contractor looking to optimize their service truck stocking process, I highly recommend these approaches.”

In some regions of the country, it’s now possible to hire companies that arrive at residences to organize closets, kitchens, and garages. The staff at the companies sell not only their expertise in storage but also everything from the containers and shelving to new closet, shelf, or cabinet construction required to make a new storage scheme possible.

We are not aware of companies that do the same for owners of service trucks. But no doubt some exist.

Companies that sell service trucks offer abundant advice at their websites about how to best organize the trucks, and there are, as expected, many consistent recommendations. One recommendation that runs through all advice is to put safety first.

We recently had the reminder that carrying a fire extinguisher safely in the cab of a truck requires securing it with brackets. No one wants a fire extinguisher or any other object to become a projectile in a cab.

Similarly, contents of the storage area of a truck—whether a bed or a van space—must be anchored. If contents shift around, they can alter the way the vehicle handles for the driver. In the worst-case scenario they, too, could become projectiles.

Commit to safety. Then proceed.

Start with a sketch. Do a rendering on paper (or digital device) of the storage space and include dimensions.

Make a list. Which machines, ancillaries, etc. are carried to every jobsite?

Make a wish list. Recall and jot down wishes expressed during the last month, such as, “I wish this tool were in the truck,” or “I wish I could secure this machine faster with a more streamlined anchoring system than bungee rope.”

Combine the first list and the wish list and use the consolidated one to decide what the storage area of the truck should contain on each trip. Then, think about accessibility. How often has it been necessary to move one machine to reach another? Are there too many different tools in a single box—in other words, could they be separated?

Are hoses being stored in a way— preferably sequestered—that ensures they are not damaged in transport? (The tiniest protruding object has a way of contacting and snagging a hose—it’s just some rule of the universe that we can’t counter.)

Could the storage area of the truck benefit from more shelf space (matched with lockdown doors)? Is the interior of the truck too dark? Would the addition of light help with retrieval and initial organization?

And it’s no time for sentimentality. Why am I still carrying around that old wrench? Okay, it might have been among the tools on day one, but it’s never used now.

There’s also no place for laxity. Carrying old boxes or expired chemicals takes up space. It’s also unsafe. (Plan for a thorough cleaning of the interior of the storage area of the truck and the cab at least once per week.)

Don’t stop with the body of the truck when recalling questions that recur while at job sites. Think about the cab too. Is paperwork in a metal binder? Is the metal binder secured in the cab?

Commit to do what it takes— time and possibly an investment of money— to reconfigure spaces. Instead of shoving a ladder in the storage space of a truck for the short trek to home base or the next job, invest in a top-of-van or side-bed ladder rack that is easy to load and unload.

With candid self-appraisal—and talks with colleagues in the industry— each contractor can stock a service truck in a way that simplifies retrieval and replacement and maximizes safety. Take the time to get it right.

The organized interior of a service truck benefits the contractor beyond improving activity on the jobsite. It sends a positive message to passersby who may get a look at the storage area and who always have a clear view of the cab. Make the view a good one.