New offerings, like the Freightliner Frameworks Truck Equipment Manufacturers program, are set to help fleets streamline the upfitting process. One of the challenges that light- and medium-duty fleets face is to provide body builders and equipment manufacturers with information that guides design and installation. Dimensions, mounting guidelines, frame modification, electrical system details and other information is essential when specifying vehicles. It also is most helpful early in the process for reducing the cost of body and equipment installation, and for eliminating potential problems once a vehicle is placed in service.

At the recent 2013 NTEA Work Truck Show, Freightliner Trucks introduced an initiative that complements the company’s overall strategy to develop solutions for truck equipment manufacturers that make the upfitting process as efficient as possible.

The Freightliner Frameworks Truck Equipment Manufacturers program provides members with a comprehensive suite of services and tools geared toward vocational body builders. Included are online and on-site training, 3D chassis layouts, updated Freightliner body builder books, a dedicated chassis upfit hotline for truck equipment manufacturers, and more.

Also at the Work Truck Show, Western Star Truck Sales introduced its new 4700SB AWD (set-back, all-wheel drive) model designed for construction and utility applications. The show model, equipped with a Terex Utilities Digger Derrick, is an example of how the OEM’s updated Body Builder book released last fall can provide for a smoother body and equipment integration process.

The Western Star guide features generic truck model layout drawings, and includes a downloadable power take-off (PTO) compatibility section. In collaboration with Western Star’s custom application engineering staff, body builders also can request pre-assembled 3D model drawings consisting of primary component groups. The 3D models include front and rear suspensions, axles, frames, cabs and optional calculated centers of gravity, and reflect exact build configurations. The drawings can be obtained within 20 days of a truck build to speed up the design process for body builders.

Body builders also can download generic 2D drawings of all Western Star truck models to quickly develop body configurations. Additionally, Western Star offers a 3DXml file format that does not require special CAD software in order to view model drawings on a personal computer.

The updated Western Star Body Builder book includes a new PTO compatibility section, featuring specs and schematics for PTO controls, hydraulic pumps and mounting. The guide helps determine compatibility between appropriate transmissions, engines and PTO mounting positions with respect to each Western Star truck model.

Other guides also are available to fleets from OEMs and upfitters. The Auto Truck Group, an upfitter of dump, platform, utility and van bodies, as well as a range of equipment including lift gates, air compressors, hoists and winches, hitches, snowplows and spreaders, and tool boxes, is offering its Work Truck Upfit Selection Guide. The guide includes charts and illustrations, study data, a list of industry resources and links for more information, and covers upfitter certification and regulatory compliance requirements and design and engineering capabilities.

Upfitting also was a key topic on the educational session agenda at the Work Truck Show, held in conjunction with the 49th Annual NTEA Convention where more than 60 educational sessions were offered to fleet owners and managers, as well as truck equipment suppliers and upfitters.

Included were chassis updates from all major OEMs and sessions covering chassis requirements, developing work truck body specs, and avoiding costly frame modifications.

Working with OEMs and body and equipment manufacturers to address critical upfitting details and considerations is essential, especially considering the increasingly complex process of specifying and building work trucks for all types of applications and operations. The latest examples of this activity—including the Freightliner Frameworks Truck Equipment Manufacturers program—help streamline the body and equipment design and assembly process for vehicle OEMs and body and equipment manufacturers, and ultimately for their fleet customers.