Commercial Truck Success

IdeaLetter
 
Visit the Ever-Growing Commercial Truck Information Source:
CommercialTruckSuccess.com  or comtrk.com June 23, 2009  -  Number 47
  
"The miracle is this: the more we share, the more we have."
- Leonard Nimoy
 
"Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away."
- Elvis Presley
 
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain
way to succeed is always to try one more time." 
- Thomas Edison
 
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.
The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do.
You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure,
the process is its own reward."
- Amelia Earhart
 
"The best job goes to the person who can get it done
without passing the buck or coming back with excuses."
 - Napoleon Hill
 
"Silence will save me from being wrong (and foolish),
but it will also deprive me of the possibility of being right."
- Igor Stravinsky
 
"Along the way, we settle.
The only way to get mediocre is one step at a time. . .
You don't have to settle. It's a choice you get to make every day."
- Seth Godin
 
In This Issue
First US Built Electric ZeroTruck
Knapheide Knap Kap
Hackney & Same Day Service Plumbing
Douglass Interesting Solutions
Solutions by Sortimo
Caseco Crane Bodies
Load Grief
Here's Something Fun!
Need Some Ideas?
New Commercial Truck Dealer Success Website
4x4 Van
More Favorite Links
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Knowledge Cafe
 
 
Do you know the #1 reason that stops people from getting what they want? It's lack of focus. People who focus on what they want, prosper. Those who don't, struggle. Between these covers you'll discover the specific focusing strategies used by the world's most successful men and women.
 
What some top achievers are saying about this book:
 
"If you only read one book this millennium. . . The Power of Focus should be it!" - Harvey Mackay
 
"This is the best book ever written on focus, targeting, and developing successful habits. Keep it close for frequent reference. It's a real winner." - Nido R Qubein
 
"Clear, concise instructions for a better life." - Michael Gerber
 
The link above takes you to Amazon.com where the book is available for less than $11. What a deal. If you're a Kindle owner, it is available for the Kindle as well.
 
This book will give you greater insight into the many small things that can change your life for the better. I love the approach of this book and have learned much from it, and it continues to inspire me each time I pick it up. It is not the kind of book you read once and forget it. Re-open it anytime to any page and immediately, you are re-energized. 
 
 

 
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Welcome! 

CartoonMe
Welcome to the Commercial Truck Success Idealetter!
 
Published every other week, the Idealetter is be a brief one-page thought starter and news source for busy commercial sales professionals and managers with numerous links to the Commercial Truck Success website and many other links to useful information, tools and inspiration!
 
Please feel free to offer comments and suggestions for future topics that are of interest to you. Also, please forward this to others you wish to share it with. There is a forward email link at the bottom of this page. I wish you success! Keep up the good work! And, never stop learning! - Terry Minion, Editor
First US Built Electric ZeroTruck
 
 
 
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CONTINUES ITS "CLEAN LEADERSHIP"
ORDERS FIRST US BUILT
COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC ZEROTRUCK


LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, June 19 2009 - The City of Santa Monica has purchased the first ZeroTruck all-electric zero emission medium duty truck. The vehicle will be equipped with a Scelzi utility body for use in the City of Santa Monica. Fleet Superintendent Rick Sikes explains what this means for the City's fleet. "This truck meets the needs of our Water Division and the goals of our Sustainable City Plan to reduce emissions and reduce our use of petroleum. A zero emission medium-duty truck is something that has never been available to us until now."

The ZeroTruck is an all-electric zero emission medium duty trucks based on the Isuzu N- series chassis and is the only US built electric truck offered for sale in the United States in 2009. The ZeroTruck offers a low cab forward design, a fully automated transmission, up to 100-mile range with full highway capability, advanced lithium batteries, an onboard battery charger, regenerative braking, and powered by a UQM! PowerPhase! 100 advanced electric motor. Delivery will be through South Bay Truck Center of Carson, CA (a ZeroTruck dealer).

Electrorides CEO Tedd Abramson states, "the vehicle is a realistic solution for fleets to go "zero emission" and will be used for evaluation and demonstration to other state and local governments who are expected to continue to reduce emissions with the number one choice, electric. By encouraging fleets to go zero-emission with future vehicle purchases makes sense and we commend the SCAQMD and Santa Monica for taking leadership positions with the plug-in electric/zero emission approach."

Electrorides electric drive integration system (EDIS) converts class (3-5) trucks to run on electric power with a highway speed of 55 mph, and up to 100 miles per battery charge using lithium polymer battery technology. This range is ideal for the medium-duty market, as most usage for this type of vehicle is less than 100 miles/day using dozens of body configurations.

The ZeroTruck is currently listed on the GSA buy list under alternative fueled vehicles.

ELECTRORIDES, INC., based in Southern California, is a developer and producer of commercial electric trucks for public and private fleet operators.

For more information on Electrorides - ZeroTruck, please contact: Ariel Shafir: [email protected], Director Public Relations/Media (714) 675-7117
www.zerotruck.com
Knapheide Knap Kap
 
Along with Knapheide's legendary service bodies and flatbeds, Knapheide makes a number of different commercial caps like the great looking Knap Kap (TM) above.
 
In addition to the best protection against rust--the K-Coat, Knapheide's state-of-the-art, custom designed electrocoating prime paint system with a 6-year warranty, here are a number of features that speak very highly of Knapheide's commitment to quality:
  • Center high mounted safety lamp
  • Double spring-loaded, over-center retainers with vertical doors eliminate involuntary swing
  • Durable double panel galvanneal door for easy access
  • 4 1/2" T-handle twist lock with 3 point contact for positive closure and door security
  • "Pry Proof" stainless steel hinges for security
  • Bulkhead window for safety and visibility
  • Spacious cargo storage area accommodates 48" wide materials
  • Automotive door seals on side and rear doors protect tools and materials against the elements
  • Adjustable gas cylinder door struts for easy and safe operation
  • Rugged A40 galvanneal steel body shell assures strength and corrosion resistance
The Knap Kap (TM) is available in 25" and 33" heights. It is available in full height double vertical doors that provide 49 1/2" wide clear door openings, single horizontal flip up door that matches up to the truck tailgate, and full height single vertical door for compact trucks. Knapheide has a full range of options to customize your cap to make the best use of your particular work needs. Add a bed slider and you've got one awesome package.
The best part is the large distributor network all across the country to serve your needs with local support. See more information on all the great caps and other products Knapheide has to offer by visiting Knapheide's website at www.knapheide.com.
Mini Trucks Strut Their Stuff
 
  
 
Small spaces call for a different tool. Enter the Mini Truck. Check out all kinds of variations at America's Mini Truck Center.
Hackney & Same Day Service Plumbing = Match
 
 
  
 
 
The photo at the top of this post is of Carwin H Brice II, the President/CEO of Same Day Service Plumbing. We featured Carwin's brand new trucks on February 12th in our blog. We ran across him at a service station in the summer of 2008 (Previous post). So, we called him up to see if we could do a piece on how his trucks are looking now and how they are working out for him. He made the investment and we wanted to see if it was paying off. It is.

Carwin just loves the Hackney Plumbing Bodies that he took a lot of time researching and planning for to replace his aging cutaway body fleet. Since Same Day Service works a large geographical area (Woodland, Davis, Dixon, Winters, Vallejo, Benicia, Vacaville, Fairfield, West Sacramento and all parts in between!), he wanted bodies that could carry the equipment and supplies needed for a whole day's work without returning for supplies. He worked with engineers at Hackney to get the right options to make this body do the best job for Same Day Service. He said it was a gruelling task, but he is extremely pleased that he took the time and energy.

You can see by the interior that there is storage for water heaters and much more along with ladders inside on top of the shelf system. Then there is the awesome shelves themselves. Each fitted with a HD plastic drawer and the shelf has a stop on it keep the drawer in its place while travelling. You have to lift up the drawer to pull it out. Of course, the drawer as shown has no sliders, so you can remove it, restock it and replace it or take it inside to the job site. Very functional and good size as well.

Look also at the ramp that we built into the unit. It is a ramp just like those used on van bodies and it tucks away nicely in a small compartment with a separate door. When needed, it is just the thing to load the truck or offload heavier items and save the backs of the technicians.

The body is all aluminum including the interior shelving system, so the body is lightweight, yet extremely durable. Carwin says he will wear out the truck long before the body. For this body he is using two different chassis: the Ford F450 84" CA and the Dodge 4500 84" CA. It seems pretty obvious that he is partial to the Dodge and gives it extremely high ratings for fuel economy, power, performance and stability. They tow trailers with these units from time to time and he says you don't even notice the trailer with the Dodge and the Dodge has a jake brake which is a real brake saver. He's always been a Ford guy, but is really paying attention to the Dodge and its attributes.

The Hackney body is nicely designed inside and out. Look at the smooth exterior and how the lettering just flows. It looks elegant even. It appears from our conversation with Carwin and the added work that is getting done more efficiently, that this Hackney Body is a match for Same Day Service Plumbing. We appreciate Carwin and his team taking the time to let us come to his facility and take these shots and learn more about his great company. Check out their effective website at www.samedayserviceplumbing.com.
 Douglass Makes Some Interesting Solutions
 

Douglass Truck Bodies does a lot of custom work and they show many of them on their very progressive website. I thought this piece was quite interesting. Notice the service body with a dump insert which is rare and interesting enough, but the side Tommy Gate lift and space between the cab and main body section makes this truck unique. After you look at it a minute, I'm sure you will see all kinds of possibilities of use.

See this and hundreds more at www.douglasstruckbodies.com

More Interesting Solutions From Sortimo

 
 
Look for a very wide range of storage and work solutions for vans, SUV's and much, much more from Sortimo. Go to www.sortimo.com 
 
Caseco Crane Bodies
 
The shot above is of the MMJ6428012 Crane Body by Caseco Manufacturing, Inc., in Claremore, Oklahoma. I love the photos on their website because they show them both sides open and closed and they put lots of drawers and other interesting things in them so you can get a taste of the good life.
 
The truck above has an EC series, 3200 lb service crane made by Stellar Industries, Inc. Notice the outriggers as well. You can see the other photos of this truck at www.caseco.us
 
Now, I'm attracted to this truck because it is out of the norm for crane bodies. It is a single rear wheel light duty truck with a service body on it and a crane that has a capacity that likely exceeds the cargo capacity of the truck. I ask why? Why a 3,200 lb crane on a typical 9900 GVWR truck? Doesn't seem right and yet I think its cool. It's just a great looking little work monster. Every time I go to the Caseco website, I look at this truck and smile. Pretty bold offering. You go Caseco! Get on with your bad self!
Load Grief
 
 
 
Overloading trucks began pretty much with the advent of the truck--and it continues to this day. Who needs power steering? This thing steers so easily, it is almost like the wheels aren't touching the ground. . . It must be the air suspension!

Here's Something Fun!

Strange and fun! 

Tennis Anyone?

 
World's record:
 

Moving quickly:
 
 

Redesigned and Improved


Check out the redesigned and improved Commercial Truck Success reference website at www.comtrk.com. New larger size, center line main menu, easier navigation. Growing daily with currently over 120 pages, over 1,000 photographs and hundreds of links to suppliers and product websites all across the country for common and not so common bodies and other applications.
 
 
Keep telling us your thoughts on making it better and we'll keep changing it for the better. It will be expanding dramatically in the next 30-90 days, so keep looking! 

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I wish for you an exciting and successful week!
 
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